MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Four athletes with ties to the West Virginia University wrestling team represented the program with strong performances at the ASICS University and FILA Cadet Nationals freestyle competition last weekend in Akron, Ohio.
Having placed in the top eight within their respective weight classes, current WVU team members Colin Johnston and Alex Meade and former Mountaineers Brandon Rader and Mike Rowe were named freestyle All-Americans at the event.
Johnston had the best performance of the group as he finished in third place in the 60 kg / 132-pound weight class. After losing in the first round, he ran off eight straight victories to arrive in third. In the second-place match, he lost a close decision to Iowa’s Tyler Clark (3-1, 8-0) but rebounded with a win over Virginia Tech’s Erik Spjut by a decision (4-5, 2-0, 1-0) to solidify third place. He will compete as a redshirt junior for the Mountaineers next season.
Meade, who recently completed his redshirt sophomore year at WVU after transferring from Oklahoma State, ended the tournament with a 5-2 mark to place fifth overall in the 74 kg / 163-pound class. In the fifth-place match, he defeated Virginia’s Nick Sulzer by decision (0-3, 1-1, 1-1).
Having just completed his final year as a Mountaineer, Rader came in fifth place overall in the 66 kg /145.5-pound class with a 7-2 mark at the tournament. In his final match, he defeated Sunkist Kids’ Nathan Hoffer by decision (4-2, 6-4). A Parkersburg, W.Va., native, Rader had 70 victories throughout his career and ended the 2010-11 season with a 14-11 record.
Rowe, a 2010 WVU graduate, went 5-2 at the event, placing fourth overall and one place ahead of Rader in the 66kg / 145.5-pound class.
Current WVU wrestlers Gage Swartz and Brian Foy also competed at the event.
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