June 4, 2012

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AKRON, Ohio - Maryland All-American Josh Asper won six matches to capture the 79 kg/174 lbs Freestyle division championship Sunday at the 2012 ASICS University & FILA Cadet National Championships at the Louis and Freda Stile Athletic Field House on the campus of the University of Akron.

Asper defeated three 2012 NCAA tournament participants en route to the title including fellow All-American Conrad Polz, who wrestles at Illinois, in the semifinals.

In the finals, Asper knocked off former Ohio State standout Colton Sponseller by decision (1-0, 0-1, 3-1). Asper's performance qualifies the Parkton, Md., native for the 2012 University World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Aug. 17-18.

Also at 79 kg/174 lbs, rising redshirt junior Jimmy Sheptock went 5-2 including a quarterfinal victory over Illinois All-American Jordan Blanton to take fourth place. Sheptock defeated Blanton in a 2-1, 3-1 decision before falling to Sponseller in the semifinals.

Sheptock won a decision over John-Mar Cannon in the consolation bracket before dropping a 2-0, 2-0 decision to Polz in the third-place match.

In the Greco-Roman division, rising redshirt junior Danny O'Malley defeated Carter McElhany by a 1-0, 4-1 decision in the fifth-place match at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.