More Thoughts on Cedar Falls

Here is what I remember from the matches at Cedar Falls.
First about Michael...
Michael had to wrestle a preliminary round match against a boy from Missouri - Max Darrah. Max was in Michael's bracket at Winter Nationals and did not place, where Michael took 5th, so we felt pretty good about that match - that Michael had a chance to win it. Which he did. I don't remember the details, but I think he got a takedown and an escape against Max's escape to win 3-1. In the second round, Michael went up against the Wisconsin state champion at 105 lbs - Tony Britton. Michael started with a 1 point lead, because Tony forgot to tape his shoes. Tony gets a takedown 5 seconds into the match and rides Michael out for the whole first period. In the second period, Tony chooses neutral and can't get a takedown, but gets warned for stalling. Two stalling calls in the third period where Michael chose bottom give Michael the 3-2 victory - his third over a state champion this year. Michael later commmented that "we're in the big-boy's side of the bracket now". He was right. His next two opponents were much stronger and bigger than him. He ended the tournament with a 2-2 record.

Now about Lenny...
Lenny was lucky enough to get a bye in the first round and punished his second round opponent 17-0. He didn't wrestle very well his third round and lost 6-2 to Trevar Bigelow from Kearney, Ne. Trevar ended up taking 5th. Next, Lenny had a very exciting match. He was facing David San Miguel - the California state champion. Lenny gave up an early takedown in the first period. He started the second period on the bottom and couldn't escape - and, in fact, got turned for 3 points in a cradle. Down 5-0. Then, David performed an illegal move resulting in a 1 point penalty.. 5-1. The third period started with the wrestlers on their feet and David got in deep on a shot with his head to the outside where he neck-wrenched David to his back for a 5 point move - nearly pinning him - and a 6-5 victory. Lenny thought he was done for the night, and left to change his clothes. About 5 minutes later they called him to the mat to wrestle Chase Englebrecht - state qualifier at 74 pounds from Illinois. In fact, Chase is from Dakota, IL. The same IKWF Section as Lenny. Lenny handled Chase easily winning 4-1 and advancing to the second day. Lenny got to participate in the "grand march", but lost his first match 4-0 ending his tournament with a 3-2 record.