NORFOLK, Va. -- ODU redshirt freshman Emilio Saavedra entered the national rankings for the first time in his young career on Tuesday after capturing the 133 lb. crown at the 53rd Ken Kraft Midlands Championships last week. The Open Mat ranks Saavedra, now 13-2 on the season, No. 8 in the nation heading into the Virginia Duals this weekend.
En route to becoming Old Dominion’s second-ever Midlands Champion, Saavedra knocked off Nebraska’s No. 13 Eric Montoya in the round of 16, Lehigh’s two-time All-American and 17th-ranked Mason Beckman in the quarterfinals and Northern Iowa’s No. 18 Josh Alber in the finals to catapult the California native into the national rankings.
Junior Brandon Jeske moved back into the national rankings at 125 according to WIN Magazine after placing eighth at the Midlands. Jeske, who upset Rutgers’ previously ranked Sean McCabe in the round of 16, surfaced as high as No. 19 in the polls.
Remaining in the top 20 for the Monarchs were Chris Mecate, ranked as high as No. 5 by FloWrestling, Alexander Richardson, ranked as high as No. 6 by The Open Mat and WIN Magazine, and Jack Dechow, ranked as high as No. 3 by The Open Mat.
RANKINGS AS OF 1/5/15
Old Dominion
WIN Magazine Tournament: Tied for 14th
InterMat Tournament: 20
WIN Magazine Dual: 22
InterMat Dual: 23
USA Today/NWCA: 24
Brandon Jeske - 125
WIN Magazine: 19
Emilio Saavedra - 133
The Open Mat: 8
InterMat: 12
FloWrestling: 13
WIN Magazine: 13
Chris Mecate - 141
FloWrestling: 5
WIN Magazine: 6
The Open Mat: 9
InterMat: 9
Alexander Richardson - 149
The Open Mat: 6
WIN Magazine: 6
InterMat: 7
FloWrestling: 7
Jack Dechow - 184
The Open Mat: 3
InterMat: 6
FloWrestling: 7
WIN Magazine: 10
NEXT UP
ODU is back in action this weekend at the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Virginia on January 8-9.
VOUCHER BOOKS
Take advantage of the great offer to attend ODU wrestling matches through the ODU Wrestling Season Ticket Voucher Book available online here. Voucher books can also be purchased at the gate prior to any home event. Each voucher book contains 12 vouchers. These vouchers are good for any regular season ODU home wrestling match during the 2015-2016 season.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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