2014 World Team Trials preview in Greco-Roman at 130 kg/286 lbs.

Robby Smith works a front-headlock on Toby Erickson in the finals of the 2014 U.S. Open. Tony Rotundo Photo.

VIDEO: 2014 U.S. Open Greco-Roman Finals at 130 kg/286 lbs. – Robby Smith (NYAC) vs. Toby Erickson (NYAC)


The big men will look to excite at the 2014 Greco-Roman World Team Trials in Daytona Beach, Fla. on June 13.


No wrestler is more exciting to watch on the Greco-Roman scene than 130 kg/286 lbs. standout for the U.S. Robby Smith. Since winning the World Team Trials last year, Smith has been on a roll, earning gold at the U.S. Open, Dave Schultz Memorial International, S.A. Lavriko Championships, Haavisto Cup and NYAC International. Smith finished in fifth place at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.


Smith automatically advanced to the best of three championship finals at 130 kg/286 lbs. after winning the U.S. Open and placing fifth at the World Championships in 2013.


Top competition for Smith will come in the form of David Arendt Jr. (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marines). Arendt emerged in strong fashion last season winning the U.S. Open before falling to Smith in the finals of the World Team Trials. This year Arendt won the Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup and took second at the Dave Schultz Memorial and S.A. Lavriko Championships, losing again to Smith in the final stanza of both tournaments. Arendt did not compete at the 2014 U.S. Open.


Young star Toby Erickson (Helena, Mont./NYAC) has etched his name amongst the top tier of wrestlers in the 130 kg/286 lbs. division after a stellar runner-up performance at the 2014 U.S. Open.


Two freestyle standouts in the heavyweight division are making the move over to the Greco-Roman circuit for the World team Trials in Dayton Beach.


Tyrell Fortune (Portland, Ore./Titan Mercury WC) finished in third place finish at the 2014 Freestyle World Team Trials and will seek to improve upon that performance in the Greco-Roman division. Fortune was the 2013 World Team Trials runner-up in freestyle. At the 2013 World University Games Fortune competed in both Greco-Roman and freestyle, placing fifth in Greco-Roman and third in freestyle.


Fifth-place finisher at the 2014 Freestyle World Team Trials, Jarod Trice (Ames, Iowa/Titan Mercury WC) will also compete in Daytona Beach. Trice has competed in both international styles this year. He placed third in Greco-Roman at the NYAC International and second in freestyle at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.


Expect 130 kg/286 lbs. veterans Erik Nye (Tempe, Ariz./U.S. Army WCAP) and Parker Betts (St. Michael, Minn./Minnesota Storm) to shake things up in Daytona Beach.

2014 U.S. Open Greco-Roman Results at 130 kg/286 lbs.

1st - Robert Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) tech. fall Toby Erickson, Helena, Mont. (NYAC), 8-0

3rd - Erik Nye, Tempe, Ariz. (Army WCAP) pin Nikola Bogojevic, Superior, Wis. (Minnesota Storm), 2:38

5th - Sam Stoll, Kasson, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) inj. dft. O`Kala Makaiau, Kahuku, Hawaii (USOEC), 0:00

7th - Jake Kettler, Norman, Va. (Patriot Elite WC) dec. Parker Betts, St, Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5-3

2014 Greco-Roman World Team Trials Qualifiers at 130 kg/286 lbs.

Final Wrestle-off Qualifier 

2014 U.S. Open champion & Top 5World/Olympics last 3 years - Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
Trials Tournament Qualifiers

2014 U.S. Open second place – Toby Erickson, Helena, Montana (NYAC)

2014 U.S. Open third place – Erik Nye, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)

2014 U.S. Open fourth place – Nikola Bogojevic, Superior, Wis. (Minnesota Storm)

2014 U.S. Open fifth place – Sam Stoll, Kasson, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

2014 U.S. Open sixth place – O`Kala Makaiau, Kahuku, Hawaii (USOEC)

2014 U.S. Open seventh place – Jake Kettler, Anoka, Minn. (Patriot Elite WC)

2013 World Team Trials second place – David Arendt, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)

2014 FILA Junior Nationals champion, 120 kg – Adam Coon, Fowlerville, Mich. (Cliff Keen WC)

2014 Northeast Senior Regionals champion – Daniel Estricher, Shippensburg, Pa. (Modern Day Gladiators WC)

2014 Northern Plains Senior Regionals champion – Donny Longendyke, Vadnais Heights, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

2013 Eduardo Campbell Cup (Panama) silver medal, 120 kg – Parker Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm/USOEC)

2014 U.S. Open third place, freestyle – Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC)

2014 U.S. Open fifth place, freestyle – Jarod Trice, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)