USOEC graduating 4 wrestlers
By BILL HARRIS Journal Sports EditorMARQUETTE -The United States Olympic Education Center on the campus of Northern Michigan University is losing four members of its Greco-Roman wrestling team due to graduation this spring.
Spenser Mango, Chas Betts, Andy Bisek and Kerry Regner are all moving on to their post-college lives, but will be leaving the USOEC with laundry lists of memories and accomplishments.
With titles and high-placing finishes ranging from U.S. National Championships and University World tournaments, to the Summer Olympics, these four wrestlers have been just about everywhere and have done just about everything.
Head Greco-Roman coach Dennis Hall said the USOEC will be sad to see them go.
"It's nice to see the program working and graduating a number of student-athletes," Hall said. "These young men have worked extremely hard to reach their goals both on and off the mat.
"I expect to see great things from them in the future."
Following is a collection of the athletes' individual accomplishments during their time at the USOEC:
Spenser Mango
Mango, 5-foot-2, 55 kilograms or about 121 pounds, is from St. Louis. He just finished his fifth year at the USOEC, where he was a physical education major.
2009-10: Gold medal at U.S. World Team Trials; ninth at 2009 World Wrestling Championship; fifth at Dave Schultz Memorial Open; 2009 All-Academic Team member.
2008-09: Gold medal at New York Athletic Club International Open; Gold medal at Dave Schultz Memorial Open; second at ASICS U.S. Senior National Championships: 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling team member at Summer Olympics in Beijing; 2009 All-Academic Team member.
2007-08: Second at Sunkist International Open; first at NYAC tournament; first at U.S. Nationals; first in Olympic Team Trials for Olympic team berth; eighth overall at Olympics.
2006-07: Second at Dave Schultz Memorial Open; bronze at 2006 FILA-Junior World Championships; won first World Championship title at 2006 University World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships; 2006 FILA-Junior Greco-Roman national champion.
2005-06: Fifth at USA Wrestling's Greco-Roman World Team Trials; silver at 2006 U.S. Senior Open Greco-Roman National Wrestling Championships; gold at 2006 University Greco-Roman Wrestling World Team Trials; bronze at NYAC Christmas Tournament; bronze at '05 Sunkist International Open Tournament; seventh at 2005 University World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships.
Mango likes to listen to music, watch movies and enjoys fishing. He was the Greco athlete of the month in June 2006 (USA Wrestling).
Chas Betts
Betts is a 5-foot-8, 84 kg (185-pound) St. Michael, Minn., native. He just completed his fifth year at the USOEC as an electronic imaging major.
2009-10: Gold medal at U.S. World Team Trials; bronze at Dave Schultz Memorial Open.
2008-09: Silver at Dave Schultz Memorial open; third at ASICS U.S. Senior National Championships; third at Haparanda Cup; Winter 2009 All-Academic Team.
2007-08: Second at Sunkist International Open; All-Academic Team.
2006-07: Bronze at 2006 American Airlines/NYAC Holiday International; fifth at Sunkist International Open; silver medalist at 2006 Greco-Roman University World Championships; fourth at ASICS U.S. National Wrestling Championships; gold at University National Championships.
2006-06: Silver at Greco-Roman University National Championships; Greco-Roman FILA Junior National Champion; fourth at U.S. Senior Open National Wrestling Championships. Ninth at Greco-Roman Junior World Championships.
Betts enjoys graphic design, video production and collecting international souvenirs.
Andy Bisek
Bisek is a 5-foot-10, 74 kg (163-pound) wrestler from Chaska, Minn. He was with the USOEC for six years, and an environmental conservation major.
2009-10: Second at Sunkist International Open; All-Academic Team member.
2008-09: Second at 2008 Senior Nationals; sixth at 2008 Olympic team trials.
2007-08: Finished 2-2 at Dave Schultz Memorial Open.
2005-06: Fifth at Greco-Roman University National Wrestling Championship; FILA Junior Greco-Roman National Wrestling Champion.
Bisek likes fishing, hunting and being outdoors, as well as spending time with family and playing disc golf.
Kerry Regner
Regner is a 5-foot-7, 66 kg (145-pound), seven-year USOEC member. He majored in communication studies.
2009-10: Competed at the U.S. World Team Trials; sixth at U.S. Senior Nationals; second at Dave Schultz Open; second at Sunkist International Open.
2008-09: Sixth at ASICS U.S. Senior National Championships.
2007-2008: First at University Nationals.
2006-07: Silver at '06 Sunkist International Open University National Championship Gold medalist; seventh at ASICS United States Wrestling Championships.
2005-06: Fifth at '06 University National Wrestling Championships; fifth at '06 FILA-Junior National Wrestling Championships.
2004-05: Bronze at University National Wrestling Championships; seventh at U.S. Senior Open Greco-Roman National Wrestling Championships.
2003-04: Bronze medal at NYAC Christmas Tournament.
Regner likes sports, playing the guitar, music, movies and concerts.
Bill Harris can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His e-mail address is bharris@miningjournal.net.













