Cathcart earns All-American honors

Geneseo’s West Cathcart captured USA All-American status by placing fourth in Greco-Roman style at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals in Fargo, N. D. July 18-24.

Cathcart, a member of Team Illinois, wrestled in the heavyweight division for wrestlers weighing up to 285-pounds.

In Greco-Roman style, Cathcart won seven straight matches, but fell in his final two bouts.

Cathcart pinned Tyler Blank of California in :21 seconds to start the tournament off, followed by a 0-2, 1-0 and 2-0 decision win over Blake Lucas of Ohio. He later pinned Chase Norlin of Oregon in :35; Jon Denner of Kansas in 1:27 and Tyler Henry of Wisconsin in 1:54.

Cathcart went on to defeat Parker Betts of Minnesota in a 1-0, 0-1 and 1-0 decision and pinned Kabe Fluiat of Washington in 1:43.

Cathcart’s first loss of the tournament was against Orry Elor of California, who pinned Cathcart in 1:35.

Cathcart fell in a 1-0 and 1-0 decision in the third-place bout to Niko Bogojevic of Wisconsin to take fourth place.

He also competed in the Freestyle Tournament in the 215-lb. weight class, but did not place in the top eight.

Cathcart lost his opening match to Scott Schiler of North?Dakota in a 1-3 and 0-1 decision, but then bounced back to win the next two bouts. He pinned Matt Linehan of Wisconsin in :30 and Carl Gaul of Washington in 1:09.

He fell in his final match of the tournament to Cody Krumwiede of Iowa in a 3-3 and 2-6 decision.

Cathcart is the son of Lance and Sue Cathcart of Geneseo and will be a senior at Geneseo High School in the fall.