Sponseller falls short in World Team bid

Former West Holmes High School wrestling legend Colt Sponseller faced a gauntlet Friday, June 21 as the Glenmont native competed in the 2013 TEAM USA Freestyle World Team Trials held at the Gallagher-Iba Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla.

Sponseller, currently ranked No. 7 (74 kilograms/163 pounds.) on TheMat.com U.S. Senior Men’s Freestyle rankings (as of 6/12/13), finished the ‘Challenge’ portion of the tournament 2–2 and failed to make the 2013 TEAM USA Freestyle World Team.

Sponseller was a three-time Ohio high school state champion (2005–2007) and two-time national high school champion (2006 and 2007) for the Knights, as well as a three-time NCAA D-I national tournament qualifier (2009–2011) and All-American (fourth at 160 pounds in 2011) for The Ohio State University Buckeyes.

He opened the tournament with an 8–0 tech fall victory over Quinton Godley (Raleigh, North Carolina) before dropping his second round match, a 7–0 tech fall to Nick Marable (Columbia, Mo).

With hopes still alive of earning a spot on the World Team, Sponseller came back in the consolation rounds scoring a 9–2 tech fall win over Dan Vallimont (Long Beach, N.Y.) to stay alive. However, long-time nemesis Ryan Morningstar (Iowa City, Iowa) downed Sponseller in the consolation quarterfinals by a 3–1 decision to end Sponseller’s debut at the TEAM USA World Team Trials tournament.

Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y.), a four-time NCAA DI national champion, won the ‘Challenge’ portion of the tournament stopping Andrew Howe (Norman, Okla.) by a 4–2 overtime decision to earn the shot against defending World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb.) for the World Team berth.

In a best two of three match-up, Burroughs pushed his international record to a sparkling 56–0 with a 7–0 tech fall and 9–6 overtime decision against Dake to secure the TEAM USA World Team berth at 74 kilograms/163 pounds.

Sponseller, an assistant coach at Edinboro University, will continue to train and wrestle with hopes of making the 2014 TEAM USA World Team.