U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in men's freestyle at 84 kg/185 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
2005 World Team member Mo Lawal has dropped back down to this weight class after placing second behind Daniel Cormier at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. at the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials.
Lawal, athletic and strong, won a tough finals match over 2006 World Team member Andy Hrovat at U.S. Nationals. Hrovat has an unorthodox style and is a difficult matchup for Lawal. Hrovat pinned Lawal, who was the top seed, in the semifinals of the 2006 U.S. World Team Trials.
Lawal has clinched a berth in the best-of-3 finals for the Olympic Trials. Hrovat will have to fight through the Challenge Tournament to gain a rematch with Lawal.
Veteran Joe Williams moved up a weight class last year before placing fifth at the 2007 Worlds. Williams was upset by B.J. Padden in the first round of U.S. Nationals. Veterans Bryce Hasseman and Clint Wattenberg placed 3-4 at U.S. Nationals. Wattenberg placed second at the 2006 World Team Trials. Padden placed fifth at U.S. Nationals and past Missouri All-American Matt Pell was sixth.
Two-time NCAA runner-up Jake Varner of Iowa State finished seventh at U.S. Nationals. Veteran Lee Fullhart, a past Olympic Team Trials and World Team Trials runner-up, is another experienced wrestler in this division. Fullhart did not place at U.S. Nationals.
2007 NCAA champion Jake Herbert could do some damage in this division. Herbert, who took an Olympic redshirt this past college season, won the 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International and the 2008 University Nationals. Chris Pendleton, a two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State, has been ranked as high as No. 3 on the national team ladder.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Mo Lawal, Temecula, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor Mich. (New York AC), 1-1, 1-0
3rd - Bryce Hasseman, Bloomsburg, Pa, (New York AC) inj. dft. Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club)
5th - B J Padden, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC),
7th - Jake Varner, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrel Todd (New York AC), 2-0, 7-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for Best-of-3 finals: Mo Lawal, Temecula, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
Challenge Tournament Seeds
1. Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
2. Bryce Hasseman, Bloomsburg, Pa. (New York AC)
3. Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
4. B.J. Padden, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Joe Williams, Belvidere, Ill. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
7. Jake Varner, Bakersfield, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Jake Herbert, Wexford, Pa. (New York AC)
9. Chris Pendleton, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
10. Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
11. Tyrel Todd, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
Lawal, athletic and strong, won a tough finals match over 2006 World Team member Andy Hrovat at U.S. Nationals. Hrovat has an unorthodox style and is a difficult matchup for Lawal. Hrovat pinned Lawal, who was the top seed, in the semifinals of the 2006 U.S. World Team Trials.
Lawal has clinched a berth in the best-of-3 finals for the Olympic Trials. Hrovat will have to fight through the Challenge Tournament to gain a rematch with Lawal.
Veteran Joe Williams moved up a weight class last year before placing fifth at the 2007 Worlds. Williams was upset by B.J. Padden in the first round of U.S. Nationals. Veterans Bryce Hasseman and Clint Wattenberg placed 3-4 at U.S. Nationals. Wattenberg placed second at the 2006 World Team Trials. Padden placed fifth at U.S. Nationals and past Missouri All-American Matt Pell was sixth.
Two-time NCAA runner-up Jake Varner of Iowa State finished seventh at U.S. Nationals. Veteran Lee Fullhart, a past Olympic Team Trials and World Team Trials runner-up, is another experienced wrestler in this division. Fullhart did not place at U.S. Nationals.
2007 NCAA champion Jake Herbert could do some damage in this division. Herbert, who took an Olympic redshirt this past college season, won the 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International and the 2008 University Nationals. Chris Pendleton, a two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State, has been ranked as high as No. 3 on the national team ladder.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Mo Lawal, Temecula, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor Mich. (New York AC), 1-1, 1-0
3rd - Bryce Hasseman, Bloomsburg, Pa, (New York AC) inj. dft. Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club)
5th - B J Padden, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC),
7th - Jake Varner, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrel Todd (New York AC), 2-0, 7-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for Best-of-3 finals: Mo Lawal, Temecula, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
Challenge Tournament Seeds
1. Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
2. Bryce Hasseman, Bloomsburg, Pa. (New York AC)
3. Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
4. B.J. Padden, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Joe Williams, Belvidere, Ill. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
7. Jake Varner, Bakersfield, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Jake Herbert, Wexford, Pa. (New York AC)
9. Chris Pendleton, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
10. Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
11. Tyrel Todd, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
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