Three talented wrestlers were named Outstanding Wrestlers after spectacular performances at the New York Athletic Club Holiday Championships on Sunday, November 20 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.

Named as Outstanding Wrestlers were Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in men’s freestyle, Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in women’s freestyle and Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/Gator WC/USOEC) in men’s Greco-Roman..

Cejudo, a high school senior who has quickly become a force on the Senior level, scored a 1-2, 4-1, 10-2 win over Ekhkhtur Badamsakian (Advanced Training) in the gold-medal finals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Cejudo hit a five-point throw in the deciding third period to finish the match for the win.

In the semifinals, Cejudo defeated 2005 Junior World champion Besik Kudukhov of Russia, 3-1, 7-0.

“This tournament is just the beginning of my World and Olympic titles,” said Cejudo. “This is just a sample. That is why I do this instead of high school. There is more competition in freestyle. The guy that won the Junior Worlds, I beat in the semis. I feel like a World champion. I got it back.”

In a tight battle at 112.25 pounds, Wong, a 2003 World bronze medalist, defeated 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Sunkist Kids). Miranda, who has moved up in weight from 105.5 lbs., was competing in her first event since the 2004 Olympic Games. Wong was a member of the 2005 U.S. World Team at this division.

“I am really happy it went like this. I have been working on my offense. To win with a takedown is a big deal, Patricia is a tough competitor, and this was a satisfying win for me,” said Wong.

Lester, who was a member of the 2005 U.S. World Team, stopped Mark Rial (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator), 6-0, 7-0.

“This is definetly a confidence builder. I wrestled really well. I felt I got off my moves. I wrestled well on my feet. On the mat, I did well with par terre defense. I felt strong on my feet. I felt better than I usually do,” said Lester.

All four U.S. Greco-Roman World Team members who entered the competition won their weight classes.

Along with Lester, the other 2005 World Team members winning titles were Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs., and 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. All three of these wrestlers were also champions at the NYAC Holiday Open last year as well.

Durlacher beat Joseph Betterman (Chicago, Ill./NYAC), 3-1, 1-1 in the finals. It was a rematch of the Sunkist Kids Open finals, won by Betterman.

Warren beat Willie Madison (Metarie, La./Gator/USOEC), 5-0, 3-0 in the finals. Warren was ninth in the World Championships in Hungary this year.

Byers stopped Russ Davie (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC), 1-1, 6-0, 2-0. These are the top two ranked wrestlers in this weight class in the nation.

The women’s division featured a number of highly competitive matches between talented stars.

At 67 kg/147.5 lbs., 2003 World bronze medalist Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) defeated two-time World champion Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., 2-0, 1-0. It was a rematch of the finals of the 2005 World Team Trials, won by Downing.

2005 U.S. World Team members Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) stopped 2004 Olympic Trials runner-up Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs/Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 5-0, 2-0. Murata, a past World silver medalist, has competed as low as 48 kg, often wrestling at 51 kg or 55 kg in the past. Chun defeated 2005 World bronze medalist Carol Huhyn of Canada in the semifinals to earn her spot in the finals against Murata.

In the men’s freestyle division, only one returning champion was able to defend his title.

Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist) defeated Pat Cummins (State College, Pa./NYAC), 1-1, 6-4 in the finals at 120 kg/264.5 pounds. Rowlands was the champion at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. last year.

NYAC Holiday Championships

11/19/2005
New York, NY
Entered by Gary Abbott

Results By Weight

55 Kg
1st –Henry Cejudo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Ekhkhtur Badamsakian (Advanced Training), 1-2, 4-1, 10-2
3rd - Mikeil Japaridze (Canada) pin Jess Zobeck (Grapplers Edge), 3-0, 1:24

1st round
Ekhkhtur Badamsakian (Advanced Training) dec. Jess Zobeck (Eagles), 1-0, 6-0
Luke Eustice (Hawkeye) dec. Gilberto Bauzo (UDR), 6-0, 6-0
Mikhail Japaridze (MWC) dec. Vince Cormier (Canada), 2-1, 1-0
Mark McKnight (NYAC) dec. Brandon Eyer (Guelph), 6-0, 6-0
Henry Cejudo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kevin Christiens (Guelph), 7-0, 7-0
Jason Powell (Gator WC), bye
Besik Kudukhov (Russia) pin Promis Murenga (Canada), 6-0, 0:41
Roger Stewart (Gunston WC) won by forfeit over Yoani Martinez (Illinois)

Quarterfinals
Ekhkhtur Badamsakian (Advanced Training) dec. Luke Eustice (Hawkeye), 1-0, 3-0
Mark McKnight (NYAC) dec. Mikhail Japaridze (MWC), 0-2, 2-2, 3-2
Henry Cejudo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jason Powell (Gator WC), 3-3, 6-0
Besik Kudukhov (Russia) pin Roger Stewart (Gunston WC), 6-0, 0:56

Semifinals
Ekhkhtur Badamsakian (Advanced Training) dec. Mark McKnight (NYAC), 1-0, 1-0
Henry Cejudo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Besik Kudukhov (Russia), 3-1, 7-0

Consolations
Jess Zobeck (Grapplers Edge) dec. Gilberto Bauzo (UDR), 3-0, 7-0
Vince Cormier (Canada) dec. Brandon Eyer (Guelph), 3-2, 1-0
Jess Zobeck (Grapplers Edge) dec. Roger Stewart (Gunston WC), 7-0, 7-1
Jason Powell (Gator WC) dec. Vince Cormier (Canada), 9-4, 6-3
Luke Eustice (Hawkeye) pin Promis Murenga (Canada), 1:38
Mikeil Japaridze (MWC) dec. Kevin Christiens (Guelph), 6-0, 3-0
Mikeil Japaridze (MWC) dec. Luke Eustice (Hawkeye), 1-0, 3-1
Jess Zobeck (Grapplers Edge) dec. Mark McKnight (NYAC), 2-0, 3-3
Mikeil Japaridze (Canada) won by disq. over Besik Kudukhov (Russia)

60 kg
1st - Travis Lee (NYAC) dec. Zach Roberson (Sunkist), 0-5, 3-1, 2-2
3rd - Angel Cejudo (Sunkist) dec. Jason Wichinski (Cabbagetown), 2-0, 4-0

1st round
Juravek Norov (Dushambe), bye
Travis Lee (NYAC) bye
Jason Wichinski (Cabbage Town) pin Peter Pappas (Amityville), 1:07
Angel Cejudo (Sunkist Kids), bye
Sahit Prizveni (NYAC) pin Andrew Townsend (Guelph), 6-0, 0:20
Tim Wadsworth (MWC), bye
Zach Roberson (Sunkist), bye
Jason Cucolo (Atlas)

Quarterfinals
Travis Lee (NYAC) inj. dft. over Juravek Norov (Dushambe)
Angel Cejudo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jason Wichinski (Cabbage Town), 4-2, 2-2
Sahit Prizveni (NYAC) dec. Tim Wadsworth (MWC), 6-4, 1-1
Zach Roberson (Sunkist) dec. Mike Celli (Hamilton), 6-0, 7-0

Semifinals
Travis Lee (NYAC) dec. Angel Cejudo (Sunkist Kids), 1-5, 1-0, 2-0
Zach Roberson (Sunkist) pin Sahit Prizveni (NYAC), 4-0, 1:36

Consolation
Jason Wichinski (Cabbage Town) dec. Andrew Townsend (Guelph), 3-0, 6-0
Mike Celli (Hamilton) default Peter Pappas (Amityville)
Jason Wichinski (Cabbage Town) default over Norov Jurabek (Dushambe)
Angel Cejudo (Sunkist) inj. dft. Mike Celli (Hamilton)
Jason Wichinski (Cabbagetown) inj. dft. Sahit Prizveni (NYAC)

66 kg
1st - Jared Lawrence (Minn. Storm) dec. Kazuhiko Ikematsu (unattached), 4-0, 2-2
3rd - Cliff Moore (Hawkeye) pin JaMarr Billmar (NYAC), 1:23

1st round
Jared Lawrence (Minn. Storm), bye
Tetsuro Aralei (NYAC), bye
Jamarr Billman (NYAC) dec. Ryan Weiker (Canada), 4-0, 5-0
Dylan Long (Panther) dec. Steve Rennals (Hamilton), 2-1, 6-0
Chris Haradu (Burnaby Mt.) dec. CC Fisher (NYAC), 1-3, 2-2, 5-0
Kazuhiko Ikematsu (unattached), bye
Cliff Moore (Hawkeye) dec. Cleopas Ncube (Brock), 6-0, 1-1, 4-0
Jason Mester (NYAC) dec. Aaron Holker (Army), 1-0, 6-1

Quarterfinals
Jared Lawrence (Minn. Storm) pin Tetsuro Aralei (NYAC), 1:20
Jamarr Billman (NYAC) dec. Dylan Long (Panther), 4-0, 7-0
Kazuhiko Ikematsu (unattached) dec. Chris Haradu (Burnaby Mt.), 2-0, 1-1, 1-0
Cliff Moore (Hawkeye) dec. Jason Mester (NYAC), 4-0, 1-0

Semifinals
Jared Lawrence (Minn. Storm) dec. Jamarr Billman (NYAC), 3-1, 6-1
Kazuhiko Ikematsu (unattached) dec. Cliff Moore (Hawkeye), 1-1, 3-0

Consolations
Ryan Weicker (Brock) dec. Steve Rennells (Hamilton), 7-3, 6-0
Aaron Holker (Army) dec. Cleopas Ncube (Brock), 4-1, 1-2, 7-6
Ryan Weicker (Brock) inj. dft. Chris Harada (Burnaby Mt.)
Dylan Long (Panther) dec. C.C. Fisher (NYAC), 2-3, 2-2, 4-0
Jason Mester (NYAC) pin Ryan Weiker (Brock), 4-0, 0-4, 5:59
Aaron Holker (Army) dec. Dylan Long (Panther), 2-1, 3-0
JaMarr Billmar (NYAC) dec. Jason Mester (NYAC), 1-0, 9-0
Cliff Moore (Hawkeye) dec. Aaron Holker (Army), 2-0, 3-1

74 kg
1st - Khubezhty Kakhab (Russia) dec. Donny Pritzlaff (NYAC), 6-8, 3-0, 6-4
3rd - Aliev Dzhamuludin (Russia) dec. Ramico Blackmon (NYAC), 0-1, 4-0, 1-0

Pigtails
Scott Owen (NYAC) dec. Thomas Gonzalez (unattached), 7-0, 7-0
Ramico Blackmon (NYAC) dec. Walter McCrindle (Guelph), 4-2, 7-0

1st round
Aliev Dzhamaludin (Russia) dec. Miguel Martin (Guelph), 6-0, 7-0
Scott Owen (NYAC) dec. Kazuyuki Nagashima (unattached), 2-1, 1-0
Donny Pritzlaff (NYAC) dec. Salihov Muboriz (Dushambe), 6-0, 6-0
Tim Foley (Sunkist Kids) dec. Dave Remmalis (Hamilton), 8-0, 7-3
David Bolyard (NYAC) dec. Jim Medieros (Sunkist), 0-2, 3-0, 2-2
Khubezhty Kakhab (Russia) pin Matthew Miller (Hamilton), 1:32
Matthew Gentry (Sunkist) dec. Sheldon Francis (Hamilton), 2-0, 5-3
Ramico Blackmon (NYAC) dec. Nathan Coy (Cobra), 3-1, 0-1, 6-0

Quarterfinals
Aliev Dzhamaludin (Russia) dec. Scott Owen (NYAC), 1-0, 1-0
Donny Pritzlaff (NYAC) dec. Tim Foley (Sunkist Kids), 10-3, 7-0
Khubezhty Kakhab (Russia) dec. David Bolyard (NYAC), 4-2, 4-0
Ramico Blackmon (NYAC) dec. Matthew Gentry (Sunkist), 2-0, 1-0

Semifinals
Donny Pritzlaff (NYAC) dec. Aliev Dzhamaludin (Russia), 1-1, 0-2, 2-1
Khubezhty Kakhab (Russia )dec. Ramico Blackmon (NYAC), 6-1, 3-0, 5-0

Consolations
Sheldon Francis (Hamilton) dec. Thomas Gonzalez (unattached), 6-0, 7-0
Miguel Martin (Guelph) pin Walter McCrindle (Guelph), 5-3, 0-3, 1:30
Nathan Coy (Cobra) dec. Sheldon Francis (Hamilton), 2-4, 4-0, 6-0
Dave Remmalis (Hamilton) inj. dft. Salihov Muboriz (Dushambe)
Kazayuki Nagashima (unattached) dec. Miguel Martin (Guelph), 6-0, 5-0
Jim Medieros (Sunkist) dec. Matthew Miller (Hamilton), 1-1, 2-0
Jim Medieros (Sunkist) default over Scott Owen (NYAC)
Matthew Gentry (Sunkist) dec. Dave Remmalis (Hamilton), 8-0, 6-0
Nathan Coy (Cobra) dec. Tim Foley (Sunkist), 6-0, 5-3
Kazayuki Nagashima (unattached) dec. David Bolyard (NYAC), 11-7, 1-0
Jim Medieros (Sunkist) dec. Nathan Coy (Cobra), 1-0, 1-0
Kazayuki Nagashima (unattached) dec. Matthew Gentry (Sunkist), 4-2, 2-1, 5-0
Ramico Blackmon (NYAC) dec. Jim Medieros (Sunkist), 4-0, 4-0
Aliev Dzhamuludin (Russia) dec. Kazayuki Nagashima (Japan), 3-2, 1-0

84 kg
1st - Andy Hrovat (NYAC) dec. Tyler Nixt (Hawkeye), 6-1, 4-2
3rd - Tony Gansen (USOTC) dec. Bryce Hasseman (NYAC), 3-1, 6-0

1st round
Jason Conine (Sunkist) dec. Rysiek Kolanko (Guelph), 4-0, 2-0
Tyler Nixt (Hawkeye), bye
Artur Skodtawv (Russia), bye
Bryce Hasseman, bye
Travis Pascoe (Sunkist), bye
Andy Hrovat (NYAC) dec. Brock Nigg (Humble), 6-0, 6-0
Daniel Einhorn (Canada), bye
Tony Gansen (OTC), bye

Quarterfinals
Tyler Nixt (Hawkeye) dec. Jason Conine (Sunkist), 3-0, 7-0
Bryce Hasseman (NYAC) dec. Artur Skodtawv (Russia), 0-4, 3-0, 1-0
Andy Hrovat (NYAC) dec. Travis Pascoe (Sunkist), 7-1, 8-0
Tony Gansen (OTC) dec. Daniel Einhorn (Canada), 1-1, 1-0, 1-0

Semifinals
Tyler Nixt (Hawkeye) dec. Bryce Hasseman (NYAC), 3-2, 1-0
Andy Hrovat (NYAC) dec. Tony Gansen (USOTC), 7-1, 7-3

Consolations
Daniel Einhorn (BMWC) dec. Rysiek Kolanko (Guelph), 8-2, 7-0
Skodtawv Artur (Russia) dec. Brock Nigg (Humble), 6-0, 6-0
Travis Pascoe (Sunkist) dec. Daniel Einhorn (BMWC), 3-1, 1-1, 1-0
Skodtawv Artur (Russia) dec. Jason Conine (Sunkist), 2-0, 6-0
Tony Gansen (USOTC) dec. Skodtawv Artur (Russia), 3-0, 2-2, 8-1
Bryce Hasseman (NYAC) dec. Travis Pascoe (Sunkist), 7-0, 4-3

96 kg
1st - Nick Preston (Sunkist Kids) dec. Damion Hahn (Minn. Storm), 1-1, 1-1
3rd - Sean Stender (Panther) dec. Nik Fekete (NYAC), 2-0, 3-1

1st round
Steve Smidjers (Brock) dec. Kyle Grant (Guelph), 5-0, 6-0
Nick Preston (Sunkist Kids) dec. Scott Seeley (Canada), 6-0, 1-0
Octavious Bellamy (Illinois) dec. Chris Cox (Guelph), 0:55
Damion Hahn (Minn. Storm) dec. Marcell Scott (Guelph), 3-1, 4-0

Quarterfinals
Nick Preston (Sunkist Kids) dec. Steve Smidjers (Brock), 1-0, 6-0
Nik Fekete (NYAC) dec. Octavious Bellamy (Illinois), 6-0, 6-0
Sean Stender (Panther) dec. Josh Pearce (USOTC), 7-0, 1-0
Damion Hahn (Minn. Storm) dec. Lanre Olabisi (NYAC), 5-0, 6-0

Semifinals
Nick Preston (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nik Fekete (NYAC), 1-0, 1-1
Damion Hahn (Minn. Storm) dec. Sean Stender (Panther), 2-0, 1-0

Consolations
Kyle Grant (Guelph) inj. dft. Scott Seeley (Canada)
Lanre Olibisi (NY) dec. Kyle Grant (Guelph), 6-0, 2-0
Josh Pearce (USOTC) dec. Chris Cox (Guelph), 2-0, 2-1
Marcel Scott (Guelph) pin Steve Smidjers (Brock), 1:55
Josh Pearce (USOTC) dec. Lanre Olibisi (NY), 0-2, 5-1, 4-1
Octavious Bellamy (Illinois) dec. Marcell Scott (Guelph), 3-1, 1-1, 3-1
Nik Fekete (NYAC) dec. Josh Pearce (USOTC), 4-0, 3-0
Sean Stender (Panther) dec. Octavious Bellamy (Illinois), 5-0, 5-0

120 kg
1st - Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist) dec. Pat Cummins (NYAC), 1-1, 6-4
3rd - Marat Basiev (Russia) dec. Kellen Fluckiger (Sunkist), 1-0, 1-0

Quarterfinals
Marat Basiev (Russia) dec. Leonce Crump (Sunkist), 1-0, 4-0
Pat Cummins (NYAC), bye
Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist) pin Jaimie Cox (Guelph), 1:43
Kellan Fluckiger (Sunkist) dec. Mukhtorov Foteh (Dushambe), 6-0, 6-0

Semifinals
Pat Cummins (NYAC) dec. Marat Basiev (Russia), 0-4, 2-1, 2-0
Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist) dec. Kellan Fluckiger (Sunkist), 1-0, 5-0

Consolations
Jaime Cox (Guelph) default Mukhtorov Foteh (Dushambe)
Kellen Fluckiger (Sunkist) dec. Leonce Crump (Sunkist), 0-4, 3-1, 1-0
Marat Basiev (Russia) dec. Jaime Cox (Guelph), 6-0, 6-3