randy.cruz@me.com Sunday, October 24, 2010, Tempe, AZ
Matt Valenti, LVAC, won the prestigious Sunkist Open at 132 lbs to claim his first major freestyle title and did it by avenging last year’s loss for 3rd place to 2007 NCAA Outstanding Wrestler at 141, Derek Moore of the U.S. Army.
A former 2x NCAA champion, Valenti scored shutouts in six of nine periods, with a collective 36-6 edge in total points scored.
132lb/60kg- MATT VALENTI
WTFall 6-0,7-0 Luke Goetl (Cyclone WC)
W dec 4-2,6-0 Craig Barker (Husky WC)
W dec 3-0,1-3,7-0 Drew Headlee (Sunkist Kids)
W dec 1-1,1-0 Derek Moore (U.S.Army)
In last year’s Sunkist, Moore edged Valenti by the same 1-1,1-0 margin of victory. This year, Moore did his own storm trooping, winning his 1st three bouts by total score of 40-0, including 6-0,6-0 TF vs Seshito Shimuzu, Japan–who was unscored upon in his first 3 wins, including a WBF vs. Franklin Gomez (NCAA 1,3) before losing 1-0,0-1,1-2 to Headlee for 3rd.
264lb/120kg- BLAKE GILLIS
Bye
WTF 6-0,6-0 Levi Cooper (Sunkist Kids)
W dec 8-2,3-1 Matt Gibson (Cyclone WC)
L dec 0-6,0-5 Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist Kids)
It was Blake’s 2nd straight Sunkist 2nd place finish, as he was also 2nd last year before joining the LVAC. In 2009, he beat 2010 U.S. World Team member, Les Sigman, 2-0,4-0 and 2010 NCAA David Zabriskie (Iowa St) 0-2,4-2,4-0. He then lost in the finals 1-1,1-2,1-1 to current #5 ranked Aaron Anspach (Nittany Lion WC)
This year’s champion, Rowlands, was NCAA 2,1,6,1 for Ohio State, Pan Am Championships 1,2,2 and also placed 5th at the 2007 World Championships.
This was the 2nd straight Sunkist International Open in which every LVAC entry placed. Last year, five men went, with Mike Poeta winning, Valenti (4th), Keith Gavin (5th), Joey Rivera (6th) and Corey Jantzen (6th).
Matches of the Sunkist tournament can be easily viewed at:
http://www.flowrestling.org/videos/coverage/view/237755-2010-sunkist-open
Interviews and other matches can be found at the You Tube Channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2DD26ECD71B6F778