Okada Qualifies for World Junior Wrestling Meet

Tony Okada of Savanna High School won the 132-pound division of the Cadet National Freestyle wrestling tournament at Warrensburg, Mo., to qualify for the World Junior Championships in August.

Okada, who just completed his sophomore year at Savanna, defeated Ohio’s Blake Clement, 9-5, in Sunday’s final. The Cadet tournament is for competitors born in 1973 and 1974.

Okada, who also placed fifth in this year’s state wrestling tournament, went 8-1, with his only loss to Clement, 10-6, in pool competition.

Okada will train at the U.S. Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs the week before the world championships, also at Warrensburg. The tournament will begin Aug. 10.

Four other Orange County wrestlers competed but did not place in the tournament--Jason Mitchell (5-2) and Dave Gayer (3-2) of Canyon, Brad Belanger (2-2) of Savanna and Richard Rice (0-2) of Marina.

Okada also is a member of the United States national judo team and recently placed third in the Pan-American judo competition.