U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in Greco-Roman at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
2002 World champion Dremiel Byers has made the last three U.S. World Teams and is a strong favorite to make his first Olympic Team this year. He was second behind two-time Olympic medalist Rulon Gardner at the 2004 Olympic Trials.
Byers won a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships that helped the U.S. capture the team title. Byers earned a spot in the best-of-3 finals for the Olympic Trials by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals.
Russ Davie is expected to be the top challenger for Byers. Davie, a 2007 U.S. Nationals champion, placed second to Byers at the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Davie was also second to Byers at the 2007 World Team Trials.
Tim Taylor, Byers' U.S. Army teammate, placed third at U.S. Nationals. Taylor upset Byers at the 2007 U.S. Nationals.
Erik Nye placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals. He has been on the last two Junior World Teams, and qualified in late May for the 2008 University World Team.
Peter Kowalczuk was sixth at the U.S. Nationals and qualified for the 2008 FILA Junior World Team. David Arendt was sixth at the U.S. Nationals, and won the 2008 Armed Forces Championships, pinning Byers in the finals.
Cole Konrad, a two-time NCAA champion for Minnesota, qualified by placing seventh at the U.S. Nationals. Veteran Mark Simmonds also joined the field by winning the final Regional Qualifier, the Rocky Mountain Trials.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2-1, 4-0
3rd - Timothy Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Erik Nye, Sacramento, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 2-2, 1-1
5th - Peter Kowalczuk, Oak Park, Ill. (NMU/USOEC) dec. David Arendt Jr, Port Washington, Wis. (U.S. Marine Corps), 5-1, 2-0
7th - Cole Konrad, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Brandon Ruiz, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sunkist Kids), 5-3, 3-0
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2. Timothy Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Erik Nye, Sacramento, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Peter Kowalczuk, Oak Park, Ill. (NMU/USOEC)
5. David Arendt, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
6. Cole Konrad, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
7. Mark Simmonds, Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Navy)
8. Max Lossen, Winona, Minn. (Cross Current)
Byers won a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships that helped the U.S. capture the team title. Byers earned a spot in the best-of-3 finals for the Olympic Trials by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals.
Russ Davie is expected to be the top challenger for Byers. Davie, a 2007 U.S. Nationals champion, placed second to Byers at the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Davie was also second to Byers at the 2007 World Team Trials.
Tim Taylor, Byers' U.S. Army teammate, placed third at U.S. Nationals. Taylor upset Byers at the 2007 U.S. Nationals.
Erik Nye placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals. He has been on the last two Junior World Teams, and qualified in late May for the 2008 University World Team.
Peter Kowalczuk was sixth at the U.S. Nationals and qualified for the 2008 FILA Junior World Team. David Arendt was sixth at the U.S. Nationals, and won the 2008 Armed Forces Championships, pinning Byers in the finals.
Cole Konrad, a two-time NCAA champion for Minnesota, qualified by placing seventh at the U.S. Nationals. Veteran Mark Simmonds also joined the field by winning the final Regional Qualifier, the Rocky Mountain Trials.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2-1, 4-0
3rd - Timothy Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Erik Nye, Sacramento, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 2-2, 1-1
5th - Peter Kowalczuk, Oak Park, Ill. (NMU/USOEC) dec. David Arendt Jr, Port Washington, Wis. (U.S. Marine Corps), 5-1, 2-0
7th - Cole Konrad, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Brandon Ruiz, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sunkist Kids), 5-3, 3-0
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2. Timothy Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Erik Nye, Sacramento, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Peter Kowalczuk, Oak Park, Ill. (NMU/USOEC)
5. David Arendt, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
6. Cole Konrad, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
7. Mark Simmonds, Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Navy)
8. Max Lossen, Winona, Minn. (Cross Current)
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