CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club’s Mike Poeta and Tyrel Todd punched their tickets for the 2012 Olympic Trials after capturing individual titles at 74kg/163 pounds and 84kg/185 pounds, respectively, at the Final U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier on Saturday evening (March 31) at the UNI Dome. Adding their performances, the CKWC has qualified all six members to next month’s Olympic Trials.
“Both Mike and Ty wrestled very well today,” said CKWC coach Andy Hrovat. “I told them before the tournament that they are better prepared than anybody else in the country. It doesn’t matter who they face, they are ready for it. They have had great, consistent training, and that’s what you need to be successful at the highest level. They’ve been doing everything right, and it showed today. They are just working toward the trials. Our goal is to have four guys on the Olympic team, and these two are a part of that goal.”
Poeta defeated Penn State’s Matt Brown, 2-1, 6-0, in the 74kg final. It was Brown who struck first in the match, scoring on an early takedown out of a flurry near the edge of the mat, but Poeta evened the score with a pushout with 30 seconds remaining in the first period and added an insurance takedown in the final 10 seconds. Poeta jumped out to a quick and significant lead in the second, using a scramble in the first 30 seconds to score a pair of two-point exposures before ending the bout early with two subsequent takedowns.
Competing in just his second freestyle competition since last summer, Poeta went 5-0 in the tournament and did not sacrifice a period, outscoring his opposition by a 46-4 margin. He earned a pair of technical falls, including a 6-0, 8-2 win over OCU Stars’ Derek Peperas in the semifinal round. Poeta scored on a pushout, a takedown and four exposure points in the first period and scored three takedowns, a pushout and six exposure points in the second.
“I am finally in wrestling shape,” said Poeta, “and I feel like I am mentally in it. I have a lot of confidence in the way we train and prepare, and I know now that I’ve had the appropriate time put in to start wrestling well and beating good guys.
“Today was a good step. When I freeze up and tense up, I’m not very good, and I did some of that here. But when I let loose and I’m free and try to score, that’s when good things happen. That’s what I need to be doing. I did that in some periods; I want to be doing that every period.”
Todd also went 5-0 on the day, capping his performance with a 5-0, 2-0 decision over Wyoming’s Joe LeBlanc in the 84kg final. Todd scored on a high crotch midway through the first period, earned a two-point gut wrench and was awarded another two when LeBlance illegally reached back with both hands. He shot in deep on another high crotch in the second period, scoring a two-point exposure out of the ensuing scramble.
Todd secured a big comeback win over Gator Wrestling Club’s Tyrone Lewis, 5-5, 4-0, in the semifinals. Lewis had struck quickly in the first period, using an inside trip to take Todd to his back for three points and holding him there for another to build a four-point lead in the opening 10 seconds of the match. After Lewis added another takedown moments later to pad his lead to five points, Todd started to chip away, finishing first on a front headlock before erasing the deficit with four points in the final 20 seconds of the period — a three-pointer with 17 seconds to go and a bodylock for one with just three seconds on the clock. Todd converted on four takedowns to cruise in the second period.
“Today was a big confidence booster, said Todd, “especially coming back from down 5-0 in that semifinal match. That took a lot of positive thinking to keep myself in it, and I feel like I really broke through some mental barriers today. It’s just a good time to be wrestling well, and I feel like I have some good momentum going.
“With the consistency and the plan that Sean [Bormet] and Andy have had us on, it’s allowed me to peak at the right time. I had a lot of confidence going into the tournament. My body feels good. Everything is coming together — mentally and physically. Having Jake, Mike and Andy out here with me, we’re such a tight-knit group, and we just really fed of each other’s positive energy. It was really just a great day.”
Jake Herbert also competed in the 84kg division, cruising to a pair of preliminary wins — and outscoring his opponents a combined 23-3 margin — before forfeiting to Todd in the quarterfinals and defaulting out of his only consolation match after getting head butted in the first period. It was the first competition for Herbert since he captured gold at the Pan American Games in October.
The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club will take three weeks to prepare for the Olympic Trials, scheduled for April 21-22 in Iowa City, Iowa. In addition to Poeta, Todd and Herbert, the CKWC has qualified Jimmy Kennedy (60kg), Josh Churella (66kg) and Andrew Howe (74kg).
CKWC Results
Mike Poeta, 74kg/163 pounds
First Round – tech. fall Josh Stewart (OCU Stars), 7-0, 6-0
Second Round – dec. Johnny Koepp (Army), 1-1, 3-0
Quarterfinals – dec. Michael Mitchell (The Olympic Club), 1-0, 6-0
Semifinals – tech. fall Derek Peperas (OCU Stars), 6-0, 8-2
Final – dec. Matt Brown (Nittany Lion WC), 2-1, 6-0
Finished as the 74kg champion with a 5-0 record
Tyrel Todd, 84kg/185 pounds
First Round – dec. Joshua McDonald (Empower WC), 2-1, 6-0
Second Round – dec. Doug Umbehauer (Nittany Lion WC), 1-0, 5-1
Quarterfinals – win by forfeit over Jake Herbert (CKWC)
Semifinals – dec. Tyrone Lewis (Gator Wrestling), 5-5, 4-0
Final – dec. Joe LeBlanc (Cowboy WC), 5-0, 2-0
Finished as the 84kg champion with a 5-0 record
Jake Herbert, 84kg/185 pounds
First Round – dec. Kamarudeen Usman (GRIT Athletics), 5-2, 5-1
Second Round – tech. fall Kevin Hardy (OCU Stars), 6-0, 7-0
Quarterfinals – forfeited to Tyrel Todd
Consolations – injury defaulted to Enock Francois (Team Florida)
Withdrew with a 2-1 record
For all USA Wrestling video from the Last Chance Qualifier, visit TheMat.TV
