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April 29, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy junior Scott Steele (Baltimore, Md.) put together a 5-2 record to finish seventh in the 120 kg weight class at the 2008 U.S. Freestyle National Championship held last weekend in Las Vegas, Nev. By virtue of finishing among the top seven in his weight class, Steele has earned the right to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas on June 13-15.

Prior to getting into the competition bracket, several of the wrestlers were forced to qualify via a "mini" tournament with the top eight moving into the competition bracket. Steele swept both his competitors in the qualifying tournament, posting a 6-0, 3-0 win over OCU Stars' Corey Johnson in the opener, followed by a 3-0, 1-0 victory over two-time NCAA qualifier Mark Ellis, a redshirt sophomore at Missouri.

Steele extended his winning streak in the opening round of the competition bracket where he handed Penn State junior John Laboranti a 1-0, 1-0 setback to advance to the quarterfinals.

While Steele owned a 3-0 record heading into the quarterfinal round, he would face perhaps the toughest competitor he's seen during his collegiate career. The most decorated wrestler in Ohio State history, Tommy Rowland was a four-time All-American for the Buckeyes, winning national titles in 2002 and '04. Now a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Rowland is a former U.S. World Team medalist who came into the tournament as the reigning U.S. Freestyle National Champion. Steele hung tough in the opening match, sparring to a 3-1 loss before succumbing in the match in the second, 2-0.

Now in the consolation bracket, Steele faced North Carolina's Justin Dobies, a redshirt freshman for the Tar Heels whom Steele defeated at the University Nationals a week prior. Steele was once again the victor, earning back-to-back 1-0 wins over Dobies, a 2008 NCAA qualifier.

Steele would once again square off against on of the premier heavyweight wrestlers in the country, 2005 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, Tolly Thompson. Thompson, who would go on to finish fourth in the tournament, is also a past U.S. World Team medalist who was the 1995 NCAA National Champion. A Nebraska graduate, he has spent the last six years as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa. Steele fought off Thompson in the opening round, 1-1, but Thompson caught Steele in a vulnerable position and pinned him.

The loss sent Steele to the seventh-place match, giving him a final opportunity to earn a spot in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in a month and a half. Steele was matched up against Dom Bradley, who just finished up his rookie season at Missouri. Though a young talent, Bradley came into the year as the nation's top-ranked freshman at the heavyweight division. Bradley claimed the opener, 1-0, but Steele rallied to even the match at one apiece by taking the second, 1-0. Steele earned the match win, 1-1, by scoring the last point of the match.

In addition to Steele, freshmen Joey Breen (Pasadena, Md.), Matt DeMichiel (Whitesboro, N.Y.) and Bryce Saddoris (Spring Creek, Nev.) competed in the FILA junior freestyle bracket. DeMichiel (74 kg) and Saddoris (70 kg) each produced 3-2 records and were just one win away from medaling, while Breen (63 kg) finished with a 1-2 record.

"I'm extremely proud of how all four of our young men competed and represented the Naval Academy," said Navy head coach Bruce Burnett. "I'm really excited for Scott and what he's accomplished. His two losses were against two established wrestlers who have been past world medalists. The level of competition across the board was very high at this event and while not all of our guys were as successful as Scott, they were afforded a great experience that will help them strengthen their skills and make them better wrestlers down the road."