Oklahoma State University Athletics
Harding, Rogers Win UWW Junior Freestyle Titles
May 11, 2015 | Cowboy Wrestling
LAS VEGAS -- Oklahoma State wrestlers Gary Wayne Harding and Chandler Rogers claimed United World Wrestling Junior Freestyle titles at 60 kilograms and 79 kilograms, respectively, this weekend in Las Vegas.
Harding entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed at 60 kg and produced a strong showing. The rising sophomore notched five wins to earn the gold. Of those wins, two ended in technical falls and one was a pin. Â Harding met up with Mitchell McKee, a high school wrestler out of Minnesota, in the bracket's championship match. The Cowboy trailed 3-2 after the first period, but went on to score eight points in the second period and earn the 10-7 victory. It was Harding's first UWW Junior Freestyle championship.
Rogers, who just wrapped up his redshirt year, represented the Pokes at 79 kilos, where he was the top seed. He bulldozed through his competition, winning three matches by fall and the other two by technical fall. He surrendered only four points throughout the event, making his way to the finals, where he took on Dominic Scalise. The bout didn't last long as Rogers stuck his opponent in only 1:20 to earn his first title at the event.
The two Cowboys earn automatic bids to the finals of their weight classes at the Junior World Team Trials, which will be held in Madison, Wisc., next month.
Several other Cowboys qualified for the Trials as well with their top-eight finishes. Finishing third was incoming freshman Tristan Moran (63 kg) and redshirt freshman Chance Marsteller (74 kg). Producing fifth-place finishes was Joe Smith at 74 kilos and Preston Weigel at 97 kilos. Redshirt freshman Mike Magaldo finished sixth at 63 kilograms.
Others who competed included Lincoln Olson (60 kg), Donald Cannon (60 kg) and Jonce Blaylock (70 kg).
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Harding entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed at 60 kg and produced a strong showing. The rising sophomore notched five wins to earn the gold. Of those wins, two ended in technical falls and one was a pin. Â Harding met up with Mitchell McKee, a high school wrestler out of Minnesota, in the bracket's championship match. The Cowboy trailed 3-2 after the first period, but went on to score eight points in the second period and earn the 10-7 victory. It was Harding's first UWW Junior Freestyle championship.
Rogers, who just wrapped up his redshirt year, represented the Pokes at 79 kilos, where he was the top seed. He bulldozed through his competition, winning three matches by fall and the other two by technical fall. He surrendered only four points throughout the event, making his way to the finals, where he took on Dominic Scalise. The bout didn't last long as Rogers stuck his opponent in only 1:20 to earn his first title at the event.
The two Cowboys earn automatic bids to the finals of their weight classes at the Junior World Team Trials, which will be held in Madison, Wisc., next month.
Several other Cowboys qualified for the Trials as well with their top-eight finishes. Finishing third was incoming freshman Tristan Moran (63 kg) and redshirt freshman Chance Marsteller (74 kg). Producing fifth-place finishes was Joe Smith at 74 kilos and Preston Weigel at 97 kilos. Redshirt freshman Mike Magaldo finished sixth at 63 kilograms.
Others who competed included Lincoln Olson (60 kg), Donald Cannon (60 kg) and Jonce Blaylock (70 kg).
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