AAU - Wrestling

Written by: Rachel AAU News

AAU United States Youth Nationals were held January 27th, 2007. The event took place in Sioux Falls, SD at the Elmen Center. See story below for more details.

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Story Originally found at http://www.argusleader.com

Kids like knowing 'it's just you there'

More than 600 competed at wrestling tournament

By Dave Martin
damartin@argusleader.com

Grant Henderson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (left) wrestles with Blake Stone of Rapid City in the novice 90-pound class Sunday at the AAU National Youth Wrestling Tournament at Augustana College. Both wrestlers ended up with All-American honors. Elisha Page - Argus Leader

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Jaydan Bullerman was just one of 59 young wrestlers who earned a first-place medal and All-American status in the AAU United States Youth National Championships held in the Elmen Center at Augustana this weekend.

The 11-year-old from Adrian, Minn., a wrestling veteran in his eighth year of competing, won the 70-pound novice division title.

There were 638 kids from kindergarten through eighth grade competing for medals in 59 divisions, ranging in weight classes from 35 pounds to more than 200.

The top three in each of those weight classes earned the AAU All-American distinction in one of only two national youth tourneys sponsored by the AAU. The other will be this spring in Tennessee.

Although there were no pre-qualifying requirements, the youngsters were highly motivated and eager for competition.

Nine-year-old Zach DeVries, one of the relative "newcomers" who has only been wrestling for four years, won four matches, two by pin, in the 85-pound midget division.

One of those victories was in triple overtime over a competitor from Lennox.

"The most fun is winning - that's my favorite," he said.

Zach said he started wrestling after a friend came home with a trophy. "That's when I told my dad I wanted to be a wrestler too," he said.

Justin Haffield, an 11-year-old from Sioux Falls, placed eighth in the 105-pound novice division.

The six-year mat veteran was excited to place in the national event.

"I didn't place at state last year, so this is really cool," he said. "I'm really competitive and its really fun to wrestle against other people."

He lost his final match when his opponent pinned him with the dreaded "double-chicken wing" hold.

Ryan O'Connor, a Sioux Falls 12-year-old, earned a sixth-place finish at the 75-pound Schoolboy division.

He likes wrestling, "because its not really a team sport," he said. "It's just you out there, so you can't blame it on anyone else (if you lose). It makes it a little harder, but I kind of like the pressure."

Bart Jones, president of the sponsoring Sioux Falls Midwest Wrestling Club, said he doesn't know of any other sport that builds discipline and develops good sportsmanship more than wrestling.

"It teaches them how to deal with losing, but at that youngest level, it should just be about fun," he said.

He said he tells parents not to push their kids, but to let it be fun for them.

"Once they get into high school, then it gets to be about winning," Jones said.

"It's the kids who aren't pushed who end up being the better wrestlers," he added. "A wrestler has to be on the mat to wrestle and win for themselves - not for Mom and Dad - and when it gets to be the other way, then they need to step back."

From all accounts, the tourney was a smashing success.

"These people did a tremendous job," said Bob Johnson, national AAU chairman from Brookings. "This was so well organized, and that is unusual for a first-time host. It's a big testimony to the Midwest Wrestling Club."

AAU YOUTH WRESTLING NATIONALS A SUCCESS