U.S. World Team Trials freestyle preview at 74 kg/163 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
Past Iowa State three-time All-American Travis Paulson has enjoyed a superb season.
Paulson won a tight match over past NCAA champion Keith Gavin in the U.S. Nationals finals last month in Las Vegas.
Paulson will be the No. 1 seed for the World Team Trials at 74 kg/163 lbs. Paulson will also be competing in his hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Paulson's twin brother, Trent, will be the No. 1 seed at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
The Paulsons have already qualified for the finals of the Trials by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals titles.
Paulson and Gavin have gained momentum by competing extensively overseas this year.
Paulson, third in the 2008 Olympic Trials, placed third in the Henri Deglane Challenge and second in the Dimitri Korkin International this season.
Gavin, a World University bronze medalist in 2008, placed fifth in the Henri Deglane Challenge and fourth in the New York AC International this season.
Past NCAA champion Dustin Schlatter has looked very strong this season. Schlatter took a redshirt season prior to his senior year at Minnesota and placed third at the U.S. Nationals. Schlatter also took third at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Past Michigan All-American Ryan Churella was fourth in Vegas. Current Iowa State All-American Jon Reader placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals and followed that by placing second at the Pan American Championships in Venezuela.
2009 NCAA runner-up Andrew Howe of Wisconsin finished sixth in the U.S. Nationals and past Missouri All-American Matt Pell placed seventh.
Past NCAA champion Zack Esposito, who has moved up a weight class, is another wrestler who could be a factor in this division.
Lloyd Rogers and Ryan Morningstar placed 1-2 at University Nationals to earn berths in the World Team Trials.
2009 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS - 74 KG/163 LBS.
1st - Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
3rd - Dustin Schlatter, Massilon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm) pin Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 1-0, 1:12
5th - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC) dec. Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Wis. (New York AC), 5-1, 3-0
7th - Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC) dec. Cyler Sanderson, Heber City, Utah (Sunkist Kids), 3-2, 6-0
2009 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS - 74 KG/163 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Dustin Schlatter, Massilon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Ind. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion - Eren Civan, Bethesda, Md. (Sunkist Lions)
Northern Plains Trials Champion - To be determined
Past U.S. Olympic Team member - Ben Askren, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
University Nationals Champion - Lloyd Rogers, Chattanooga, Tenn. (unattached)
University Nationals Runner-up - Ryan Morningstar, Lisbon, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
09 Cerro Pelado (CUB) silver medalist - Zack Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
Paulson won a tight match over past NCAA champion Keith Gavin in the U.S. Nationals finals last month in Las Vegas.
Paulson will be the No. 1 seed for the World Team Trials at 74 kg/163 lbs. Paulson will also be competing in his hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Paulson's twin brother, Trent, will be the No. 1 seed at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
The Paulsons have already qualified for the finals of the Trials by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals titles.
Paulson and Gavin have gained momentum by competing extensively overseas this year.
Paulson, third in the 2008 Olympic Trials, placed third in the Henri Deglane Challenge and second in the Dimitri Korkin International this season.
Gavin, a World University bronze medalist in 2008, placed fifth in the Henri Deglane Challenge and fourth in the New York AC International this season.
Past NCAA champion Dustin Schlatter has looked very strong this season. Schlatter took a redshirt season prior to his senior year at Minnesota and placed third at the U.S. Nationals. Schlatter also took third at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Past Michigan All-American Ryan Churella was fourth in Vegas. Current Iowa State All-American Jon Reader placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals and followed that by placing second at the Pan American Championships in Venezuela.
2009 NCAA runner-up Andrew Howe of Wisconsin finished sixth in the U.S. Nationals and past Missouri All-American Matt Pell placed seventh.
Past NCAA champion Zack Esposito, who has moved up a weight class, is another wrestler who could be a factor in this division.
Lloyd Rogers and Ryan Morningstar placed 1-2 at University Nationals to earn berths in the World Team Trials.
2009 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS - 74 KG/163 LBS.
1st - Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
3rd - Dustin Schlatter, Massilon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm) pin Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 1-0, 1:12
5th - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC) dec. Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Wis. (New York AC), 5-1, 3-0
7th - Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC) dec. Cyler Sanderson, Heber City, Utah (Sunkist Kids), 3-2, 6-0
2009 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS - 74 KG/163 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Dustin Schlatter, Massilon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Ind. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion - Eren Civan, Bethesda, Md. (Sunkist Lions)
Northern Plains Trials Champion - To be determined
Past U.S. Olympic Team member - Ben Askren, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
University Nationals Champion - Lloyd Rogers, Chattanooga, Tenn. (unattached)
University Nationals Runner-up - Ryan Morningstar, Lisbon, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
09 Cerro Pelado (CUB) silver medalist - Zack Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
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