HSWrestling.net’s High School Wrestling National Individual Rankings

January 2011

140:

1. Cam Tessari (12)  —  Monroeville, OH
2. Jason Tsirtsis (11)   —  Crown Point, IN
3. Jake Sueflohn (12)  —  Arrowhead, WI
4. Terrel Wilbourn (12)  —  Howell Central, MO
5. Evan Henderson (12)  —  Kiski Prep, PA
6. Brandon Kingsley (11)  —  Apple Valley, MN
7. Luke Frey (12)  —  Montoursville, OH
8. Nick Brascetta (12)  —  St. Paris Graham, OH
9. Nik Pena (12)  —  Selma, CA
10. Jake Short (10)  —  Simley, MN
11. Isaiah Martinez (10)  —  Lemoore, CA
12. Taylor Moeder (12)  —  St. James Academy, KS
13. Jacob Crawford (11)  —  Millbrook, VA
14. Devon Gobbo (11)  —  Delbarton, NJ
15. Dan Neff (12)  —  Solanco, PA

HONORABLE MENTION:

• Brian Murphy  (10)  —  Glenbard North, IL
• Travis Shaffer  (12)  —  Derry, PA
• Trevor Jauch  (12)  —  Crystal Lake Central, IL
• Ryan Lubeck  (11)  —  Wisconsin Rapids, WI
• Matt Cimato  (11)  —  LaSalle College, PA
• David Ferry  (12)  —  Oakdale, CA
• Joey Lavelle  (10)  —  Reno, NV
• Elijah Sullivan  (12)  —  Iowa City West, IA
• Lucas Smith  (12)  —  Wheeling, IL
• Bo Schlosser  (12)  —  Bettendorf, IA

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Corey Hill isn’t much for the hype these days. And the 31-year-old mixed martial artist isn’t really too concerned about getting back into the spotlight.

“Screw the hype, you know,” said the Brooksville, Fla. product. “I’m 31 years old and blessed with some talent and potential and I’m at the point in my career where I want to fight tough guys. This fight is a personal goal and will let me and my team know where I’m at.”

Hill (4-3) will be featured in the co-main event of Tachi Palace Fights’ “High Stakes” against former World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion Rob McCullough (18-6).

“He’s a former champ and tough as hell,” Hill explained. “He’s done a lot of great things in the cage. We are just excited and blessed with this opportunity to fight him.”

McCullough will make his return to the cage after a first-round technical knockout of Fresno, Calif.’s Isaac DeJesus (9-2) in July.

“It was good to be back fighting on the reservation and channeling that warrior spirit,” said the Huntington Beach native of his return to the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. in July. “I think being back out there really helped me get back in the zone. I think that Isaac was the favorite and had all that crowd support, but I was really able to feed off being back in Lemoore.”

McCullough returned to his roots, fighting back at the Palace after losing two of his last three bouts in the WEC.

Hill has also had to fight back through some serious adversity. In December 2008 he severely broke his leg in a fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with Dale Hart, but has since comeback to win two of three bouts, including a July submission victory over Kit Cope.

“I know that he’s tall,” McCullough joked about the 6-foot-4 Hill.

“He’s coming off of a good win over Kit Cope and trying to establish his career,” McCullough added. “I think this is a veteran versus newcomer type of fight. I know he has somewhat of a wrestling pedigree and might try and take the fight to the ground. I think we will definitely see my hand raised at the end of the night, though.”

Tickets can be purchased at www.tachipalace.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Gift Shop and start at a low price of just $30 for general admission seating.

The 9-bout card also features a middleweight main event that pits Visalia, Calif.’s Doug Marshall (12-3) against Sacramento, Calif.’s Kyacey Uscola (18-15). Marshall is currently unbeaten in the middleweight division and carries a 5-fight win streak into the bout. Meanwhile, Uscola is coming of a stint on Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” show.

Tachi Palace Fights will crown its first-ever middleweight champ, as Coarsegold, Calif.’s Anthony Ruiz (25-13) clashes with Oakland, Calif.’s Leopoldo Serao (16-7).

Also on the card in a featherweight special attraction, Athens Ga.’s Micah Miller (14-4) battles Atlanta, Ga.’s Diego Saraiva (18-9-1).

In other bouts;

-Hanford, Calif. flyweight Luis Gonzalez (2-2) vs. Chino, Calif.’s Darrell Montague (7-1).

-Thousand Oaks, Calif. middleweight Joseph Henle (3-0) vs. Santa Rosa, Calif.’s Collin Hart (2-1).

-Hanford, Calif. flyweight Paulina Ramirez (1-0) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Stephanie Frausto (2-2).

-Lemoore, Calif. middleweight Andrew Martinez (6-2-1) vs. Sacramento, Calif.’s Mark Matthews (3-4).

-Fresno, Calif. featherweight Gabriel Solorio (5-2) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Art Becerra (2-1).

LEMOORE, Calif. - Former WEC lightweight champion "Razor" Rob
McCullough returned to the site of his first professional MMA
contest in Lemoore, Calif., and earned a much-needed stoppage win over
current Tachi Palace Fights featherweight champion Isaac de Jesus.

The 160-pound catchweight contest served as the main event of Friday
night's "Tachi Palace Fights 5: Stars & Strikes" event at the Tachi
Palace Hotel & Casino.

MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan was on
hand as part of the broadcast team for the GoFightLive.tv stream.

LEMOORE, Calif. - MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's "Tachi Palace Fights 5:
Stars & Strikes" official fighter weigh-ins in Lemoore, Calif.

Today's weigh-in ceremonies took place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and
Casino, the same site as Friday night's GoFightLive.tv-broadcast fight
card.

Main-event competitors Isaac de Jesus and former WEC lightweight
champion "Razor" Rob McCullough, who meet in a 160-pound catchweight
affair, made their bout official, while big-show veterans John Alessio,
Cole Escovedo, David Kaplan, Gabe Ruediger, and War Machine, as well as
top prospects Stephen Abas, David Bollea, Michael McDonald and David
Mitchell, all hit the scales, as well.

Lemoore, Calif. – John Alessio didn’t stress too much over his opponent change for Friday, July 9’s Tachi Palace Fights “Stars and Strikes” mixed martial arts show at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

“I definitely want to first just say that I hope (Brad) Blackburn heals up soon and that I was really looking forward to that fight. I’m very happy that Tachi Palace Fights didn’t have me sitting around waiting for an opponent and they didn’t just cut the fight. They had some one right away and I really appreciate that,” said Alessio, who will take on War Machine in the co-main event at the Palace.

War Machine (11-3) will replace Blackburn, who had to withdraw from the bout because of a cut.

“War Machine has a good record at 11-3 and won six of his last seven fights. I will be ready, but I don’t see any problems for me in this fight. I don’t see any aspect of the game that he is better than me at. He is a tough dude and probably come in swinging to take my head off.”

This will be War Machine’s final fight before he is scheduled to spend a year in a San Diego jail, according to his Twitter account. War Machine was a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter 6″ and previously was known as Jon Koppenhaver before a legal name change.

He was arrested May 30 outside Thruster’s Lounge in San Diego under suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

“I’m glad I got this fight. I need to make some money to leave with my wife while I’m locked up. Took this fight on very short notice, but a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. Jail is going to suck and be so boring can’t wait to get out and fight again,” said War Machine, who last saw action May 15 when he submitted Zach Light.

“I actually trained with Alessio all last year at Xtreme Couture. He’s a well-seasoned vet, real tough with great skills. We had many good sparring sessions the last year. I remember back when I was a youngster; before I ever started fighting I saw him fight in the UFC. John was young, but did great. I thought wow this dude is going to be good,” War Machine added.

Tickets can be purchased at www.tachipalace.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Gift Shop and start at a low price of just $30 for general admission seating.

If you can’t attend the fights you can watch them live on GoFightLive.tv at 6 p.m. PST. Cost of the stream is just $9.99.

In the main event, “Razor” Rob McCullough returns to his roots at the Palace in a catch weight bout with fast-rising star Isaac DeJesus of Fresno, Calif. DeJesus (9-1). DeJesus is the Tachi Palace Fights Featherweight champ and makes the jump up in weight to take on Huntington Beach, Calif.’s McCullough (17-6) at 160 pounds.

“I see this fight being great. Lots of face punching and submission scrambles. I’m looking for an early KO, so I can grab a beer and get back to eating all the junk food I can find before going away,” War Machine said.

This fight is a lot more pivotal in the career of Alessio (28-13), who carries a 4-fight win streak into the contest.

“I’m more ready than ever to fight. I’ve really worked a lot harder than I ever have this last year and trying to get back to the UFC. I’m putting everything into this and been working so hard,” Alessio said. “This is the type of fight that I feel can really put me back in the UFC.”

The 9-bout card is also packed with three title fights, as welterweight champ David Mitchell (10-0) of Santa Rosa, Calif. defends his belt against Lemoore, Calif.’s Poppies Martinez (18-6) and bantamweight title holder Cole Escovedo (16-4) of Fresno, Calif. defends against Oakdale, Calif.’s Michael McDonald (9-1). Also, Rancho Cucamonga Calif.’s Gabe Ruediger (16-5) and Albuquerque, N.M.’s Lenny Lovato (8-0) battle for the Tachi Palace Fights vacant lightweight strap.

Also, UFC veteran David Kaplan (2-3) of Las Vegas, Nev. takes on Oakland, Calif.’s Dominique Robinson (4-4) in a lightweight tilt; Olympic Silver Medalist Stephen Abas (1-0) of Fresno, Calif. makes his return to the Palace in a bantamweight bout with Lemoore, Calif.’s Joey DeLaCruz (1-0); Las Vegas, Nev. lightweight David Bollea (2-0), who is the nephew of wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan, takes on Visalia, Calif.’s Cody Gibson (3-0); and Coalinga, Calif. bantamweight Francisco Loredo (4-5) fights Soledad, Calif.’s Drew Bittner (3-0).

Press Release

LEMOORE, Calif. (July 1, 2010) – Grapplers Quest will crown the “2010 World’s Best Grappler” on Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11 with a 32-Man Superfight Tournament at the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore, CA.

The 32-Man Superfight Absolute Tournament will feature Alexandre Ribeiro, Jeff Monson, Bill Cooper, Joao Assis, Lucas Leite, Chris Moriarty, Sean Spangler, Antonio Braga Neto and many more of the world’s best Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Judo and Sambo fighters battling for the largest cash prize and most prestigious No-Gi Submission Grappling title in American history: $11,500 in cash ($10,000 for 1st place, $1,000 for 2nd Place, and $500 for 3rd Place).

GoFightLive.tv will stream the entire 32-Man Tournament (all 30 matches) live starting at 4:00 PM PST and 7:00 PM EST and then on-demand worldwide for just $19.99. Purchase online at: http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?eventId=722

For amateur competitors, the event will also feature 200 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Submission Grappling, Judo and Wrestling Divisions for competitors of all skill and belt levels and $3,000 in cash prizes. For event information, competitor registration, tickets and more on the Grapplers Quest at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, California on July 10-11, go to http://www.grapplersquest.com/events/tachi-palace-challenge

“There was no other tournament in 2010 to truly crown The World’s Best Grappler, so Grapplers Quest wanted to step-up and challenge the grappling world with $11,500 in cash,” said Brian Cimins, Grapplers Quest President. “This has been a dream of mine since I started this event in 1998, to ultimately crown the World’s Best, and Tachi Palace Casino and GoFightLive.tv will make this dream a reality and you can witness it live around the world.”

The 32-Man Tournament will feature Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro (multiple-time World Jiu Jitsu Champion and 3-time Grapplers Quest Pro Champion), Joao Assis (2010 UFC Fan Expo Absolute Champion), Jeff “Snowman” Monson (former World Champion, UFC Veteran), Bill “The Grill” Cooper (26-Time Grapplers Quest), Rustam Chsiev (K-Dojo, 5tTime Pro Grapplers Quest Absolute Champion), Lucas Leite (CBJJ World Champion), Kelly Anundson (American Top Team, 2010 USA Wrestling/World Grappling Champion), Sean Spangler (2009 World Series of Grappling Cruiserweight Champion, Robert Drysdale Black Belt), Brandon “The Animal” Olsen (Team Pain Cave, World Series Silver Medalist), Marcelo “Lapela” Mafra (2009 World Series of Grappling Champion), Cameron Diffley (AutismRadio.org Charity Superfight Champion), Chris Moriarty (ADCC Veteran), John Toth (Team Balance/2008 All-Star Pro Challenge Champion), Carlos Diego Ferreira Neves (Amazonas BJJ), Peter Iacavazzi (Sylvio Behring Black Belt, 7-time Grapplers Quest Advanced Champion), Brian McLaughlin (The Ultimate Fighter contestant, Precision MMA, Kardian MMA), Enrico Cocco (Zen Jiu Jitsu, 2009 ADCC North American Champion, 6-time Grapplers Quest Champion, Walter “Cascao” Vital (Mica/Machado/Cascao), Bruno Bastos (Nova Uniao, World Champion), Leopoldo Serao (World Champion from Fairtex), Stephen Martinez (Millenia MMA, 3-time Grapplers Quest Advanced Champion), Chris Downum (Camarillo Jiu Jitsu), Nathan “The Great” Ducharme (David Terrell), Antonio Braga Neto (Evolve MMA, Brazil and Singapore), Jason Manly (Jake Shields’ Gracie Fighter Berkeley), Paul Stark (2010 Canadian Absolute Champion), James Popoulo (Rafael Lovato Jr.), Alexandre Ceconi (2010 ADCC Pro World Black Belt Champion), and Luke Rockhold (American Kickboxing Academy/Strikeforce Contender). The card is subject to change. Alternate are spots available, submit resumes at: http://www.grapplersquest.com/contact

For event information, competitor registration, tickets and more on the Grapplers Quest at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, California on July 10-11, go to: http://www.grapplersquest.com/events/tachi-palace-challenge

In his final fight before a scheduled one-year jailing, War Machine takes on fellow UFC veteran John Alessio in the co-main-event of "Tachi Palace Fights 5: Stars and Strikes."

A source close to the fighter today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com that Brad Blackburn, who originally was slated to fight Alessio, was forced off the card with an undisclosed injury.

TPF 5 takes place July 9 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

Tachi Palace Fights featherweight champion Isaac de Jesus has
agreed to step up 15 pounds in weight and meet former WEC lightweight
champion "Razor" Rob McCullough in the main event of "Tachi Palace Fights 5: Stars and Strikes" on July 9 at The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore,
Calif.

McCullough was originally expected to face Thomas Denny in the featured
bout of a card loaded with other notable competitors, but the "Wildman"
was forced to bow out of the contest for for personal reasons.

The full nine-fight card is set for broadcast on GoFightLive.com, and
MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan will take to the broadcast
table to help call the action.

Lemoore, Calif. – The last few times “Razor” Rob McCullough saw action at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. he was walking away from the cage as one of the world’s top lightweights.

The Huntington Beach mixed martial artist’s brutal destruction of Randy Hauer at World Extreme Cagefighting 20 was his final bout at the Palace, but it was the world-class kickboxer’s vicious knockout of Olaf Alfonso that the fans still remember.

“It’s going to be a lot like the last time that I was out at the Palace,” said McCullough, who has won two of his last five fights in the WEC to some of the top up-and-coming fighters.

“We will get in the cage and trade. Have a fast-paced, exciting fight and I’m going to walk out with my hands high and he will be on a stretcher.”

McCullough (17-6) will make his Tachi Palace Fights debut in a 160-pound, catch-weight fight against Fresno, Calif.’s Isaac DeJesus, who grew up idolizing McCullough.

“That’s the guy I looked up to when I was coming up. A lot of guys have their heroes and their idols and Rob was that guy for me,” said DeJesus, who is the current Tachi Palace Fights World Featherweight champ.

“That’s why when I heard Tachi had signed Rob; I called Jeremy (Luchau) right away and asked for the fight. I mainly wanted to fight him out of respect and I thought it would be an honor. I didn’t care about having to come up in weight… this is just something that I wanted to do.”

DeJesus (9-1) would have to come up 15 pounds to meet McCullough, who had originally signed on to fight Thomas Denny. But when Denny pulled out due to personal reasons, DeJesus got the call.

“I probably would have never called Isaac to fight Razor had he not called me initially and asked to fight him. It’s not like having your 145-pound champ go up and fight a former lightweight champ in one of the world’s top promotions is the greatest idea,” said Tachi Palace Entertainment Coordinator Jeremy Luchau.

“But honestly, I could tell how much Isaac really wanted that fight so I gave him the opportunity and he jumped on it right away. I think it could possibly be one of the biggest fights that we’ve had at Tachi in a long, long time and that’s saying something.”

McCullough and DeJesus will main event a loaded 9-bout card that also features UFC veteran Brad Blackburn of Seattle, Wash. against Las Vegas, Nev. welterweight John Alessio. Alessio (28-13) is riding a 4-fight win streak and on the verge of breaking into the UFC. Meanwhile, Blackburn (15-11-1) has dropped two straight in the UFC after a 3-0 start on the world’s biggest stage.

“This is one of the most stacked fight cards that I’ve ever been a part of,” Tachi Palace Fights matchmaker Richard Goodman said. “From top to bottom we have exciting fights that feature former UFC and WEC stars and some of the best locals around.”

Tickets can be purchased at HYPERLINK “http://www.tachipalace.com” www.tachipalace.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Gift Shop and start at a low price of just $30 for general admission seating.

Most eyes will be centered on the main event and to see McCullough makes his return to action and which fighter shows up. He’s trying to bounce back after a split decision loss in November 2009 to Karen Darabedyan (9-2).

“I’ve been training my butt off. I started this camp 10 weeks out and I’ve been working on sharpening all my skills,” McCullough said. “It’s good to be back fighting at the Palace, I have some great memories fighting for the WEC there and I just love it there.

“I know this kid is scrappy and likes to stand in there and trade. He is coming off a knockout of Nam Phan and Nam’s a tough guy,” McCullough added.

The spotlight won’t solely be on McCullough, though.

“I’m going to have my people there from both Stockton and Fresno to watch me get in there and fight this guy,” DeJesus said. “It’s an honor just to be in there with a fighter like Rob. I’m really not that uncomfortable with the weight, because I started as a 55’er. For me to get in there and fight at my best really won’t be an issue.”

DeJesus is also coming off a minor injury that forced him to pull out a May bout against Fresno, Calif.’s Casey Olson. But DeJesus says the injury has completely healed.

“I’m doing everything the same. I’m working hard on my cardio and technique. The only thing I’m doing a little different is a little heavier lifting and sparring and rolling with a little heavier guys to help me adjust to Rob’s size. Rob will have the experience edge over me, but I’m young and hungry.”

The 9-bout card is also packed with three title fights, as welterweight champ David Mitchell (10-0) of Santa Rosa, Calif. defends his belt against Lemoore, Calif.’s Poppies Martinez (18-6) and bantamweight title holder Cole Escovedo (16-4) of Fresno, Calif. defends against Oakdale, Calif.’s Michael McDonald (9-1). Also, Rancho Cucamonga Calif.’s Gabe Ruediger (16-5) and Albuquerque, N.M.’s Lenny Lovato (8-0) battle for the Tachi Palace Fights vacant lightweight strap.

Also, grappling master Bill Cooper of Santa Barbara, Calif. makes his MMA debut against UFC veteran David Kaplan (2-3) of Las Vegas, Nev. in a lightweight tilt; Olympic Silver Medalist Stephen Abas (1-0) of Fresno, Calif. makes his return to the Palace in a bantamweight bout with Lemoore, Calif.’s Joey DeLaCruz (0-1); Las Vegas, Nev. lightweight David Bollea (2-0), who is the nephew of wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan, takes on Visalia, Calif.’s Cody Gibson (3-0); and Coalinga, Calif. bantamweight Francisco Loredo (4-5) fights Soledad, Calif.’s Drew Bittner (3-0).

The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., birthplace of the
WEC, plays host to a familiar face as former WEC lightweight champion
"Razor" Rob McCullough headlines the newest edition of Tachi
Palace Fights.

McCullough faces King of the Cage and EliteXC veteran Thomas Denny in the featured bout of Tachi Palace Fights 5 on July 9.

In Tachi Palace Fights' most talent-laden card to date, the event
features notables John Alessio, Brad Blackburn, Cole Escovedo, David
Kaplan, David Mitchell, Gabe Ruediger and the MMA debut of grappling
wizard Bill Cooper.