Week two results(132 Pounds):Quarterfinals:
#8 Scott Schatzman (Chicago Groove) decision over #1 Dennis Hall (California Claw), 13-2#5 Tony DeAnda (New York Outrage) decision over #4 Danny Felix (Texas Shooters), 8-4#6 Joe Warren (Oklahoma Slam) decision over #3 Jim Gruenwald (Pennsylvania Hammer), 16-6#7 Zach Roberson (Iowa Stalkers) decision over #2 Ryan Lewis (Minnesota Freeze), 16-12
Semifinals:DeAnda (New York Outrage) decision over Schatzman (Chicago Groove), 16-1Roberson (Iowa Stalkers) decision over Warren (Oklahoma Slam), 19-8
Finals (May 15th):DeAnda (New York Outrage) vs. Roberson (Iowa Stalkers)
TeamsCalifornia Claw; Chicago Groove; Iowa Stalkers; Oklahoma Slam; Minnesota
On Sunday’s installment of Real Pro Wrestling, which showed competition in the 132-pound weight class, it was an episode filled with drama, excitement, and dominating performances. However, upsets seemed to tell the story, as the top four seeds failed to reach the semifinals.
When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, two unlikely finalists emerged in Tony DeAnda of the New York Outrage, the fifth seed, and Zach Roberson of the Iowa Stalkers, the seventh seed. Both advanced to the Real Pro Wrestling finals, with dominating semifinal performances. The finals match-up between DeAnda and Roberson will air in episode eight on May 15th.
DeAnda, a 2003 Pan American Silver Medalist, used a pair of takedowns and an ankle lace to pace him to an 8-4 quarterfinal victory over fourth-seeded Danny Felix of the Texas Shooters.
In the semifinals, DeAnda completely dominated eighth-seeded Scott Schatzman of the Chicago Groove in every position. DeAnda wasted little time against Schatzman, scoring a takedown and three gut wrenches in the first forty-five seconds of the match to take an early 8-0 lead. He cruised to an easy 16-1 technical victory to advance to the finals. DeAnda, who came to the United States from Mexico (and is one of the few foreign-born wrestlers in RPW), was dominant in the par terre position, where he scored nearly half of his points.
“I knew that’s what I had to do early,” said DeAnda. “If I waited too long, until the end of the match, he was going to be too sweaty. There are no singlets here. We’re trying to show off the bodies, I’m ready to go. I knew that if I got him down early, I was going to turn him, no problem.”
Roberson, a 2004 NCAA Champion and three-time All-American for Iowa State, reached the finals by winning a 16-12 overtime thriller over second-seeded Ryan Lewis of the Minnesota Freeze in the quarterfinals. It was a back and forth battle, as both wrestlers traded leads throughout the match. In overtime, with the score tied at 12, Roberson shot a double leg and exposed Lewis’ back in the process, giving him the victory.The 24-year-old Roberson, who split matches with Lewis while in college, had high praise for his opponent after the match.
“I knew that it was going to be a tough match,” said Roberson. “Ryan Lewis is always coming after you, and he never stops wrestling.”
In the semifinals, Roberson dominated sixth-seeded Joe Warren of the Oklahoma Slam, 19-8, to advance to the finals.
“I knew that he was going to be coming after me the whole time, so I had to counter with some leg attacks and stay away out of his upper body stuff,” Roberson said after defeating Warren.
Throughout his first two matches, Roberson showed a diverse arsenal of attacks, scoring with excellent techniques both on his feet and in the par terre position.
Interestingly, the only two Olympians competing, Dennis Hall of the California Claw and James Gruenwald of the Pennsylvania Hammer, lost their opening round matches.
Hall, the top seed and a former Olympic Silver Medalist, sustained an injury to his head during his quarterfinal match against Schatzman, eventually dropping a 13-2 decision. Hall had trouble defending his legs, as Schatzman got in on multiple shots throughout the match.
Gruenwald, the third seed, had the unfortunate draw of wrestling against his Olympic training partner, Warren, in the quarterfinals. Last May, Gruenwald defeated Warren to qualify for the 2004 Olympic team in Greco-Roman. This time, however, Warren was able to turn the tables, using a relentless, attacking style to earn a 16-6 decision over the 34-year-old Gruenwald.