University of Minnesota Athletics
Sonny Yohn Wins at University World Team Trials
6/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Colorado Springs, Colo. - University of Minnesota wrestler Sonny Yohn was champion in the University World Team Trials Freestyle finals on May 29.
The Alamosa, Colo. native, who just completed his sophomore season with the Golden Gophers, beat Micah Burak two matches to one. Yohn won the first bout 1-0, 3-0, but Burak came back for a 0-1, 3-2, 4-1 win to tie the match. Yohn then won with a 3-1, 3-0 performance in the third match to claim champion honors in the 96 kg/211.5 lbs weight class.
Alec Ortiz was also crowned a champion at the event, winning the Junior Greco-Roman 74 kg/163 lbs weight class. Ortiz, a Grand Rhonde, Ore. native, defeated Josh Castellano two matches to none, winning 4-0, 3-1 and 4-1, 2-0.
Champions in each weight class in the University World Team Trials position themselves for a trip to the University World Championships on Oct. 26-30 in Turin, Italy.
Any wrestler who finishes in the top three at next month's U.S. World Team Trials in freestyle, and is eligible for the University division, can challenge the University World Team Trials champion for the spot on the University World Team.
The Greco-Roman champions earn a trip to Italy.
Champions in each weight class in the Junior World Team Trials advance to the Junior World Championships on July 20-25 in Budapest, Hungary.
Yohn already qualified for the World Team Trials when he took fifth at the US Open in late April. He was also champion at University Nationals on Apr. 11.
The Gophers' Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) took second In University Freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs, falling two matches to none to Angel Escobedo.
Joining Ortiz as a Junior Champion was Gopher recruit Tyler Lehman (Fargo, N.D.), who was Junior Freestyle champion at 96 kg/211.5. Lehman was also Junior Greco runner-up at the same weight class. Also earning runner-up honors was Danny Zilverberg (Wayzata, Minn.) in Junior Freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
The World Team trials are June 11-12 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
- UM -
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