Simley Wrestlers Earn All-American Honors at World's Biggest Tournament

The world's largest wrestling tournament was held at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D. July 16-23. Over 4,000 wrestlers competed in the 41st annual ASICS/Vaughan Cadet and Junior Nationals, sponsored by USA Wrestling. High school competitors from across the country compete in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman competition at the weeklong event.

Among them were a number of Inver Grove Heights wrestlers, including Jake Short, Micah Barnes and Kyle Gliva, all who earned All-American honors by finishing in the top eight of their weight classes in freestyle competition.

Short went 9-1 in the tournament, finishing runner-up at 140 pounds. His only loss was in the finals to Jason Tsirtsis of Crown Point High School in Indiana. Tsirtsis, who will be a senior this fall, is a three-time state champion with a high school career record of 131-2 who is also regarded as the No. 2 overall recruit in the nation, according to Intermatwrestle.com, a Minnesota-based web site that provides national high school rankings. Tsirtsis is one of the most sought after recruits in the nation, but Short was right in there with him, losing 1-0, 1-0.

"Jake Short is carrying on the Short legacy at Simley," said Andrew Hipps, senior editor and owner of Intermat. "He is a tremendous competitor who continues to shine in the nation's biggest high school wrestling events. He's strong, technically sound, and difficult to score on."

Short, the ninth-ranked junior in the nation, according to Intermat, won a USA Wrestling folkstyle Junior National title in April.

"He has put together a strong spring and summer," said Hipps.

Barnes went 7-2 to finish seventh at the 160-pound weight class in Junior National competition, while Gliva went 7-3 to place sixth in the nation at the 112-pound weight class in the Cadet competition.The top eight wrestlers in each weight class earn All-American honors.

Other Inver Grove Heights/Simley wrestlers who competed include:

Junior Nationals
125 - Juan Torres, 1-2
152 - Nick Wanzek, 5-2

Cadet Nationals
91 - Kyle Nordstrom, 1-2
130 - Mack Short, 1-2

All wrestlers in the tournament did an outstanding job, said Will Short, head wrestling coach at Simley High School.

"The Cadet and Junior freestyle tournament is the biggest wrestling tournament in the country," said Short. "Any wrestler that competes in this tournament will get an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime. It also gives them an opportunity to be seen by the best college programs in the country. I am extremely proud of the Simley wrestlers and their achievements."