2014 World Team Trials preview in Greco-Roman at 98 kg/215.5 lbs.

Caylor Williams takes on John Wechter in the finals  of the 2014 U.S. Open. Tony Rotundo Photo.

VIDEO: 2014 U.S. Open Greco-Roman Finals at 98 kg/215.5 lbs. – Caylor Williams (U.S. Army WCAP) vs. John Wechter (Minnesota Storm)


Expect some high-flying action at 98 kg/215.5 lbs. at the 2014 Greco-Roman World Team Trials in Daytona Beach, Fla. this Friday. We witnessed throws a plenty in this weight class at the U.S. Open making this one of the most exciting and competitive division’s in Greco-Roman in the U.S.


2013 World Team member Caylor Williams (Greensboro, N.C./U.S. Army WCAP) appears to have taken charge of this weight class, solidifying his number one ranking in the U.S. with a golden showing at the U.S. Open in April. Williams defeated 2013 U.S. Open champion John Wechter (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) in the finals 2-0 giving him a win over every top competitor at 98 kg/215.5 lbs.


After a stellar U.S. Open performance in 2013, Wechter was upset in his first bout at the World Team Trials, losing to Tyler Lehmann 10-4. Since then, the Minnesota Storm star has returned to the mat taking first place at the Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup and second place at the U.S. Open.


2013 World Team Trials runner-up Marcus Finau (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) is poised to make another run at the World Team spot at 98 kg/215.5 lbs. Finau lost to Williams in two matches last year in the World Team Trials finals. This season Finau finished in fourth place at the U.S. Open, third place at the Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup and fifth place at both the Granma and Haavisto Cups.


Veteran Daren Burns (Boone, N.C./AppState RTC) has come close emerging on top at 98 kg/215.5 lbs. the past two years. Burns finished in third place at the 2013 World Team Trials with his only loss coming by fall to the eventual champion Williams. The two met again in the semifinals of the U.S. Open this year with Williams coming out on top in a 9-4 bout, filled with high amplitude throws.


2012 Olympic Team Trials finalist Pete Gounaridis (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) will be in the mix at 98 kg/215.5 lbs. as he looks to right the ship and return to the top of this weight class.


Making the transition from freestyle to Greco-Roman for this event is 2013 Freestyle World Team member J.D. Bergman. After finishing in third place at the Freestyle World Team Trials in Madison, Wis. last month, Bergman will look to return to the World Championships for the third time in his career, this time in Greco-Roman.


Young prospects Patrick Carey (St. Paul, Minn./Minnesota Storm), Tyler Lehmann, Fargo, N.D./Minnesota Storm) and Roy Nash (West Valley City, Utah/Ruiz Combat Grappling) are all looking to take the next step and emerge as serious competitors in the 98 kg/215.5 lbs. division.

2014 U.S. Open Greco-Roman Results at 98 kg/215.5 lbs.

1st - Caylor Williams, Greensboro, N.C. (Army WCAP) dec. John Wechter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 2-0

3rd - Daren Burns, Boone, N.C. (AppState RTC) pin Marcus Finau, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/USOEC), 1:12

5th - Pete Gounaridis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) tech. fall Patrick Carey, St. Paul, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 9-0

7th - Tyler Lehmann, Fargo, N.D. (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Roy Nash, West Valley City, Utah (Ruiz Combat Grappling), 8-0

2014 Greco-Roman World Team Trials Qualifiers at 98 kg/215.5 lbs.

2014 U.S. Open champion – Caylor Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)

2014 U.S. Open second place – John Wechter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

2014 U.S. Open third place – Daren Burns, Boone, N.C. (AppState RTC)

2014 U.S. Open fourth place – Marcus Finau, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)

2014 U.S. Open fifth place – Pete Gounaridis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)

2014 U.S. Open sixth place – Patrick Carey, St. Paul, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

2014 U.S. Open seventh place – Tyler Lehmann, Fargo, N.D. (Minnesota Storm)

2014 University Nationals champion - Orry Elor, Walnut Creek, Calif. (New York AC/USOEC)

2014 University Nationals second place - Nathan Schiedel, Caledonia, N.Y. (Unattached)

2014 FILA Junior Nationals champion – 96 kg – Kevin Beazley, Howell, Mich. (Virginia Beach RTC)

2014 FILA Junior Nationals second place – 96 kg – Roy Nash, West Valley City, Utah (Ruiz Combat Grappling)

2014 Northeast Senior Regionals champion – Donald Simmons, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)

2014 Northern Plains Senior Regionals champion – Kevin Ahearn, Jacksonville, Fla. (Ahearn Wrestling)

2014 U.S. Open third place, freestyle – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC)