Brussels' Vincent Alonzo fights for control against Lakenheath's Devon Parrish at the DODDS-Europe Northern Sectionals at RAF Alconbury. Alonzo won the 152-pound match 3-2 to advance to the final round. (David Hodge/Stars and Stripes)
RAF ALCONBURY, England — Four returning champions led the field at the DODDS-Europe Northern Sectional wrestling championships Satuday, with everyone sharing a goal to get to the European finals next weekend in Germany.
And it was mission accomplished for all four. Adam Carroll and Austin Morrow of Lakenheath, Ramstein’s Adam Franz and SHAPE’s Matthew Lengyel will all be back to defend their titles.
Not all went according to plan, though.
One notable shakeup in 152-pound weight class saw Lakenheath’s Devon Parrish ousted in a semifinal match against Brussels’ Vincent Alonzo, 3-2. Parrish, battling an illness, had a 17-0 record before the loss. The two athletes have faced each other two times before this meeting, with Parrish winning them both. Each of their three matches has been decided by two points or less.
Parrish scored first with a takedown, but Alonzo said he was ready for the next attack.
“When you wrestle someone good, you have to think about what he’s going to do,” Alonzo said. “I knew he was going to do a shuck, so I was ready to counter with a single-leg takedown for two points.”
The difference in the match came when Alonzo escaped for the go-ahead point. The remaining minutes of the match were hard fought.
“It was a long time to maintain the lead,” Alonzo said. “It’s tough. He’s a great wrestler.”
With the victory, Alonzo had a 14-5 record and a guaranteed spot at Europeans. He previously placed second as a freshman and third as a junior at Europeans and he’s happy to be vying for a medal again. He said it would be nice if Parrish gets a wild card and the two could face off again.
Another surprise came in the lightest weight class as SHAPE freshman Alex Nguyen made the finals with an 8-7 record. He’ll be heading to Europeans in his first year of wrestling. Already a European finalist in golf, Nguyen is a quick learner and he wants to win, said coach Susan Oltmer.
“He wants to be here,” Oltmer explained. “He has the heart. Whoever gets him next year will be pleased.”
Overall, Ramstein had the most finalists among the weight classes, though the exact number couldn’t be determined as matches were still set as Stars and Stripes’ deadline passed.
“Our kids have worked really hard this year and it’s starting to show,” coach Tom Wright said.
For the home team Dragons, freshman standout Dallin Cazier had a tough loss in the semifinal match in the 120 pound weight class.
The Rota Admirals had a good showing with two of their five wrestlers making it to Europeans. They also had an opportunity at the 220-pound weight class, but that match was one of the late ones.
Coach Jim Regenor noted that this meet was the first time any of his kids have wrestled against anyone outside of Italy this season, and they haven’t competed in as many matches as other schools.
“It’s a disadvantage to the kids because wild-card selections are given based on overall record and head-to-head matchups,” Regenor said.
Four wild card slots in each weight class are set to be selected later this weekend.