Willham Earns All-America Honors at UWW Junior Nationals
11/16/2020 1:51:00 PM | Wrestling
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.– IU wrestlers Nick Willham and Jack Chesman competed this past weekend at the UWW Junior Nationals in Omaha, Nebraska.
Willham wrestled at 92kg, while Chesman wrestled at 74kg.
In the first round Willham beat top 100 recruit Ben Vanadia then proceeded to take down Pittsburgh starter and 2019 top 100 recruit Austin Cooley. He also prevailed against Gabe Christenson, 2020 top 100 recruit and Iowa freshman.
Willham, a sophomore who started several matches last year, finished in sixth-place at the tournament.
"Nick used this quarantine to his advantage and made huge improvements in his wrestling," IU head coach Angel Escobedo said. "His effort was tremendous, his defense was really stingy, and he was executing the techniques we have been working on in practice. This is the toughest freestyle tournament for his age group and for him to walk away as an All-American is a great accomplishment. The thing I love about Nick is that he is eager to get back on the mat to keep improving."
Willham wrestled at 92kg, while Chesman wrestled at 74kg.
In the first round Willham beat top 100 recruit Ben Vanadia then proceeded to take down Pittsburgh starter and 2019 top 100 recruit Austin Cooley. He also prevailed against Gabe Christenson, 2020 top 100 recruit and Iowa freshman.
Willham, a sophomore who started several matches last year, finished in sixth-place at the tournament.
"Nick used this quarantine to his advantage and made huge improvements in his wrestling," IU head coach Angel Escobedo said. "His effort was tremendous, his defense was really stingy, and he was executing the techniques we have been working on in practice. This is the toughest freestyle tournament for his age group and for him to walk away as an All-American is a great accomplishment. The thing I love about Nick is that he is eager to get back on the mat to keep improving."
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