SPORTS News

Sgt Depatto, Sgt Mclean place in Greco-Roman Nationals, Capt Ramos captures 5th in Sombo
Steven Dinote, Marine Corps Sports

Members of the Marine Corps Wrestling Team competed at the 2007 USA Wrestling National Championship in Las Vegas, NV.  Sgt Donavan Depatto (MCB Camp Lejeune) and Sgt Jeremy Mclean (MCB Camp Pendleton) placed 4^th and 8^th respectively in the 60 kg Greco-Roman weight class.  Competing in the Sombo competition, Capt Juan Ramos (MCB Camp Lejeune) placed 5^th in the 74 kg weight class.  

After receiving a bye in the first round, Sgt Depatto (60 kg) won his first match by tech fall over Bobby Lorenz (Unattached) (TF 6-0,6-0).  In the quarterfinals, Sgt Depatto defeated James Johnson from the U.S. Army by decision (Dec 5-2,1-5,3-3).  Sgt Depatto faced his first defeat in the Semifinals against the second ranked wrestler (60 kg) in the nation, Joe Betterman (NYAC/USOEC), by decision (Dec 4-0,6-0).  Sgt Depatto regained his stride in the consolation semifinals defeated his second Army opponent, Jason Tolbert, with the decision (Dec 2-1,6-0).  During the third place match, Sgt Depatto lost a close decision to Jeremiah Davis (Sunkist Kids) (Dec 4-1,1-1,1-1).

Also in the 60 kg Greco-Roman weight class, Sgt Mclean won by decision over Jose Sanchez (Elite) (Dec 4-0,6-0) in the second round, after receiving a first round bye.  Also facing Joe Betterman (NYAC/USOEC), Sgt Mclean lost by decision (Dec 6-0,5-1) in the quarterfinals.  In the consolation round-four, Sgt Mclean defeated Jared Moreland from the U.S. Air Force by decision (Dec 4-3,5-0).  In consolation round 5, Mclean lost by decision to Jake Swensen (NMU/USOEC) (Dec 4-3,2-3,4-3) and then to Karry Regner (A. Fish/USOEC) by decision (Dec 2-0,2-2) in the 7^th Place Match. 

Defending National Champion, Sgt Jacob Clark received the second seed in the 84 kg Greco-Roman weight class.  In his first match, Sgt Clark handed Matthias Piasecki (WCPB) a tech fall (TF 7-0,7-0) in the championship round 1.  During the quarterfinals, Sgt Clark was off to a great start winning the first period 6-0 against Chas Betts (Minn. Storm/USOEC).  During the second period, Sgt Clark rolled his ankle and then struggled the rest of the match, losing by decision (Dec 0-6,1-1,1-1).  The injury was significant enough for Sgt Clark to forfeit his next match against Brian Piasecki (Pinnacle Performance) in the consolation round.   

Other results by Marines in the Greco-Roman competition are: 

Mens Qual 74 KG / 163 lbs - Juan Ramos's place is 8th and has scored 1.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Juan Ramos (U.S. Marine Corps) received a bye (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Paul Tice (Titan WC) won by tech fall over Juan Ramos (U.S. Marine Corps) (TF 6-0,5-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Juan Ramos (U.S. Marine Corps) received a bye (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Juan Ramos (U.S. Marine Corps) won by decision over Marco Toledo (NMU/USOEC) (Dec 2-1,7-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Juan Ramos (U.S. Marine Corps) won by decision over Charles Combs (Spring Hill WC) (Dec 3-1,2-1)

Men 55 KG / 121 lbs - Andrew Hogan's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Luis Salinas (Unattached) won by decision over Andrew Hogan (U.S. Marine Corps) (Dec 4-0,6-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Andrew Hogan (U.S. Marine Corps) received a bye (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Dan Bunts (Air Force) won by decision over Andrew Hogan (U.S. Marine Corps) (Dec 4-0,4-0) 

Men 74 KG / 163 lbs - Juan Ramos's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Talan Knox (NMU/USOEC) won by decision over Juan Ramos (U.S. Marine Corps) (Dec 2-0,6-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Brandon Mcnab (U.S. Army) won by decision over Juan Ramos (U.S. Marine Corps) (Dec 3-0,1-1) 

Men 84 KG / 185 lbs - Jeremy Pederson's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Justin Millard (Air Force) won by pin over Jeremy Pederson (U.S. Marine Corps) (Pin 8-0,1:04)
Cons. Round 1 - Jeremy Pederson (U.S. Marine Corps) won by decision over Sean Murphy (NMU/USOEC) (Dec 3-0,3-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Kenneth Cook (Sunkist Kids) won by decision over Jeremy Pederson (U.S. Marine Corps) (Dec 7-3,6-0)

In the USA Wrestling Sombo Championship, Capt Juan Ramos captured 5^th place honors in the 74 kg weight class.  Sombo is a hybrid of judo and wrestling, and is often participated in by elite wrestlers and judo competitors.  In 2006, Capt Ramos captured the Sombo National Championship. 

Capt Ramos' match-by-match results: