By Journal Sports Staff

MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University Olympic Training Site Greco-Roman wrestling team has 23 athletes participating this weekend at the Bill Farrell International Open in New York.

Athletes will be vying for a trip to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials to be held in Iowa City, Iowa, on April 9 and 10. The highest-placed medal-winning USA athlete per weight category earns a spot in that event.

The NMU-OTS squad has two returning champions from Florida making the trip – Kendrick Sanders and Alex Sancho.

Sanders was the 2014 champion at 71 kilograms (156 pounds), scoring a technical fall over NMU alumnus Bo Beckman, 8-0.

Sancho was also dominant in the finals at 66 kg (145.5 lbs.), getting a technical fall over Manuel Lopez Salcedo of Mexico, 8-0.

The NMU-OTS team also has a trio of athletes who narrowly missed a spot on the podium last year returning to the event.

Orry Elor of Walnut Creek, California, Ethan Dondlinger of Slinger, Wisconsin, and Sammy Jones of Folsom, Louisiana, all finished in fourth place and will be looking to earn their Olympic trials ticket.

Information compiled by Senior Sports Writer Craig Remsburg. His email address is cremsburg@miningjournal.net.