Wild cards complete 156-wrestler field for Euros
Published: February 14, 2012
DODDS-Europe athletic director Karen Seadore released a list of the wild-card entries Tuesday for this weekend’s DODDS-Europe wrestling championships at Wiesbaden Army Airfield.
Forty-four wild cards joined the 112 wrestlers who qualified automatically by finishing first or second at last Saturday’s four sectional qualifying meets.
Chief among the wild cards was Lakenheath’s Devon Parrish, who was selected by Seadore and her committee of wrestling coaches for the 152-pound field after he finished third at the Northern Sectional at Alconbury.
Parrish, unbeaten going into Saturday's qualifier, was stricken with vomiting and fever on Saturday and far from full strength, according to his coach, Darryl Brock. Parrish, fourth in Europe last year at 152, dropped a 3-2 decision to Vincent Alonso of Brussels, third last year at 140, to fall out of the championship round. Parrish rallied in the consolations, however, to pin Justin Vozzo of Brussels in 3:10 and edge Eric Carter of Ramstein 1-0 to finish third.
Carter also received a wild card into the European meet, scheduled to begin at 8:55 a.m. Friday at the Airfield gym. European semifinals and finals are scheduled for Saturday.
Other intriguing wild cards include Alconbury freshman Dallin Cazier at 120 and 220-pounder Luke Narug of AFNORTH, the only wrestler so far this season to defeat Ramstein's Anthony Zafir.
As always, some potential matches for the ages are possible at this year’s Europeans, which welcome back no fewer than 10 returning champions.
Are you planning to attend Euros? If so, how about letting us know which matches or potential matches you’re hoping to see?
See you there.