U.S. NATIONALS: Paulson twins storm into freestyle finals
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by Craig Sesker
Trent Paulson takes down Doug Schwab in the semifinals of the U.S. Nationals. Photo by Larry Slater.
LAS VEGAS - Twins Trent and Travis Paulson dreamed about winning an NCAA title together.
That didn't quite happen.
But their dream of winning World and Olympic titles in freestyle wrestling is still very much alive and both wrestlers are primed to make it happen this year.
Top-seeded Trent Paulson advanced to the finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and top-seeded Travis Paulson reached the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. during the first session of the U.S. Nationals on Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
"We've been training our butts off for this opportunity," Trent said. "We've been doing all the right things - going to all the training camps, wrestling overseas as much as we can, working with all the different coaches, taking advantage of all the resources that are available to us. We've been competing against some of the best guys in the World and it is paying off."
Said Travis: "We're on a mission. The things we have worked on are working and that's encouraging. I didn't make the Olympic Team last year, but I'm going to make the World Team this year. Trent and I are really pushing each other to do this. We want to be the best."
Champions in each weight class draw the No. 1 seed for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The top seven finishers in each weight class qualify for the World Team Trials.
The U.S. Nationals finals are set for 5 p.m. Saturday in Las Vegas.
Trent Paulson beat 2008 Olympian and 2007 World Team member Doug Schwab 1-0, 1-2, 1-0 in the semifinals. Travis downed Ryan Churella 1-0, 3-0 in the semifinals.
The World Team Trials will be a homecoming for the Paulsons, who are both from Council Bluffs.
"It's going to be great, wrestling at home," said Trent, who won an NCAA title for Iowa State. "It would mean the World for us to be able to wrestle in the World Championships together. We're planning on being on World and Olympic teams together, and working to win gold medals together."
Said Travis: "We're so pumped about wrestling in Council Bluffs. I couldn't ask for anything more. We're so excited to wrestle there. I talked to Brandon Slay and he said making the Olympic Team in front of his friends and family in Texas was better than winning the Olympics. This is a great, great scenario for us, having a chance to make a World Team at home in front of our friends and family."
2008 Olympian and No. 1 seed Andy Hrovat was pinned by Tom Meester in the first round at 84 kg/185 lbs. Hrovat hit a chest lock against Meester, but ended up being caught and pinned late in the second period. Hrovat won the first period 4-0 and was in control of the match.
Meester was a two-time NCAA Division II champion for Augustana (S.D.).
University of Iowa standout Brent Metcalf, upset in the NCAA finals by North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell, came back strong to reach the U.S. Nationals finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
The seventh-seeded Metcalf beat No. 2 seed Chris Bono and No. 3 seed Brian Stith to reach the finals. Metcalf will face Trent Paulson in the finals. Metcalf beat Paulson in the 2008 Olympic Trials, but Paulson rebounded to place third while Metcalf fell short of placing.
Travis Paulson will face World University bronze medalist Keith Gavin in the finals. Travis Paulson placed third at the 2008 Olympic Trials.
College stars Jake Herbert and Jake Varner also reached the finals. Herbert, the Hodge Trophy winner from Northwestern, is in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. Varner, an NCAA champion for Iowa State, made the finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
2008 Olympians Steve Mocco (120 kg/264.5 lbs.) and Mike Zadick (60 kg/132 lbs.) also advanced to the finals.
Mocco will face World University champion Tervel Dlagnev, who beat Mocco earlier this season in the finals of the New York AC International. Zadick will battle No. 1 seed Shawn Bunch in the finals.
U.S. NATIONALS FREESTYLE - FINALS MATCHUPS
55 kg/121 lbs.
Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) vs. Obe Blanc (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) vs. Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Trent Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) vs. Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Travis Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) vs. Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Eric Luedke (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) vs. Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, N.Y./New York AC) vs. Jake Varner (Bakersfield, Calif./Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) vs. Tervel Dlagnev (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)
LAS VEGAS - Twins Trent and Travis Paulson dreamed about winning an NCAA title together.
That didn't quite happen.
But their dream of winning World and Olympic titles in freestyle wrestling is still very much alive and both wrestlers are primed to make it happen this year.
Top-seeded Trent Paulson advanced to the finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and top-seeded Travis Paulson reached the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. during the first session of the U.S. Nationals on Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
"We've been training our butts off for this opportunity," Trent said. "We've been doing all the right things - going to all the training camps, wrestling overseas as much as we can, working with all the different coaches, taking advantage of all the resources that are available to us. We've been competing against some of the best guys in the World and it is paying off."
Said Travis: "We're on a mission. The things we have worked on are working and that's encouraging. I didn't make the Olympic Team last year, but I'm going to make the World Team this year. Trent and I are really pushing each other to do this. We want to be the best."
Champions in each weight class draw the No. 1 seed for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The top seven finishers in each weight class qualify for the World Team Trials.
The U.S. Nationals finals are set for 5 p.m. Saturday in Las Vegas.
Trent Paulson beat 2008 Olympian and 2007 World Team member Doug Schwab 1-0, 1-2, 1-0 in the semifinals. Travis downed Ryan Churella 1-0, 3-0 in the semifinals.
The World Team Trials will be a homecoming for the Paulsons, who are both from Council Bluffs.
"It's going to be great, wrestling at home," said Trent, who won an NCAA title for Iowa State. "It would mean the World for us to be able to wrestle in the World Championships together. We're planning on being on World and Olympic teams together, and working to win gold medals together."
Said Travis: "We're so pumped about wrestling in Council Bluffs. I couldn't ask for anything more. We're so excited to wrestle there. I talked to Brandon Slay and he said making the Olympic Team in front of his friends and family in Texas was better than winning the Olympics. This is a great, great scenario for us, having a chance to make a World Team at home in front of our friends and family."
2008 Olympian and No. 1 seed Andy Hrovat was pinned by Tom Meester in the first round at 84 kg/185 lbs. Hrovat hit a chest lock against Meester, but ended up being caught and pinned late in the second period. Hrovat won the first period 4-0 and was in control of the match.
Meester was a two-time NCAA Division II champion for Augustana (S.D.).
University of Iowa standout Brent Metcalf, upset in the NCAA finals by North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell, came back strong to reach the U.S. Nationals finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
The seventh-seeded Metcalf beat No. 2 seed Chris Bono and No. 3 seed Brian Stith to reach the finals. Metcalf will face Trent Paulson in the finals. Metcalf beat Paulson in the 2008 Olympic Trials, but Paulson rebounded to place third while Metcalf fell short of placing.
Travis Paulson will face World University bronze medalist Keith Gavin in the finals. Travis Paulson placed third at the 2008 Olympic Trials.
College stars Jake Herbert and Jake Varner also reached the finals. Herbert, the Hodge Trophy winner from Northwestern, is in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. Varner, an NCAA champion for Iowa State, made the finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
2008 Olympians Steve Mocco (120 kg/264.5 lbs.) and Mike Zadick (60 kg/132 lbs.) also advanced to the finals.
Mocco will face World University champion Tervel Dlagnev, who beat Mocco earlier this season in the finals of the New York AC International. Zadick will battle No. 1 seed Shawn Bunch in the finals.
U.S. NATIONALS FREESTYLE - FINALS MATCHUPS
55 kg/121 lbs.
Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) vs. Obe Blanc (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) vs. Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Trent Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) vs. Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Travis Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) vs. Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Eric Luedke (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) vs. Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, N.Y./New York AC) vs. Jake Varner (Bakersfield, Calif./Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) vs. Tervel Dlagnev (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)
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