Young stars Thielke, Speiller and Sanders earn titles at 2014 ASICS Greco-Roman University Nationals

2014 ASICS UNIVERSITY NATIONALS VIDEO PLAYLIST

AKRON, Ohio – New U.S. National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland had a smile on his face late Friday afternoon.
He's excited about the team the United States will put on the mat for the University World Championships.
Eight American wrestlers landed spots on that team after capturing titles at the University Nationals Greco-Roman competition on Friday at the University of Akron Field House.
Champions in all the weight classes, except 63 kg, qualify for the University World Championships on July 8-12 in Pecs, Hungary.
Leading the way for the U.S. is exciting young star Geordan Speiller, who made his second University World Team. Speiller defeated Dylan Reel 9-0, 11-0 in the best-of-3 finals at 75 kg/165 lbs.
U.S. Open champion Kendrick Sanders took two straight matches from Tarrance Williams to earn the title at 80 kg/176 lbs.
2013 World Team member Jesse Thielke was named Outstanding Wrestler after rolling to the championship at 63 kilos. Thielke was eighth at the 2013 Senior World Championships.
Thielke was competing in Greco for the first time since wrestling at the Worlds last September.
Joe Rau outlasted 2012 Olympian Ben Provisor in the finals at 85 kg/187 lbs. Rau, a U.S. training partner at the 2013 Worlds, dropped the first match 4-4 before winning 1-0 to force a deciding third match. Rau led 2-0 and was looking to add to his lead when Provisor suffered a leg injury. Provisor tried to continue, but he eventually had to default.
Past Junior World bronze medalist Toby Erickson won the crown at 130 kg/286 lbs. Erickson was second at the U.S. Senior Open last month.
U.S. Open runner-up Pat Smith captured the title at 71 kg/156 lbs. Sammy Jones prevailed at 59 kg/130 lbs. with Kade Moss (66 kg/145.5 lbs.) and Orry Elor (98 kg/215.5 lbs.) also winning championships.
The top two finishers from Akron in the six Olympic weight classes qualify for next month's U.S. World Team Trials in Greco-Roman in Daytona Beach, Fla.
UNIVERSITY NATIONALS

Greco-Roman

May 23, Akron, Ohio


Finals results


59 kg/130 lbs.
Sammy Jones (USOEC) def. Isaiah Varona (New York AC), 2 matches to 0
Jones dec. Varona, 9-0
Jones dec. Varona, 3-2
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Jesse Thielke (Univ. of Wisconsin) def. Dmitry Ryabchinskiy (New York AC), 2 matches to 0
Thielke pinned Ryabchinskiy, 2:11
Thielke dec. Ryabchinskiy, 9-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Kade Moss (Nittany Lion WC) def. Nick Alvarez (NYAC/USOEC), 2 matches to 1
Alvarez dec. Moss, 4-0
Moss dec. Alvarez, 11-4
Moss dec. Alvarez, 4-3
71 kg/156 lbs.
Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm) def. Dillon Cowan (USOEC), 2 matches to 0
Smith dec. Cowan, 9-0
Smith dec. Cowan, 10-0
75 kg/165 lbs.
Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) dec. Dylan Reel (Clackamas WC), 2 matches to 0
Speiller dec. Reel, 9-0
Speiller dec. Reel, 11-0
80 kg/176 lbs.
Kendrick Sanders (New York AC) def. Tarrence Williams (Team Quest), 2 matches to 0
Sanders dec. Williams, 9-5
Sanders dec. Williams, 9-0
85 kg/187 lbs.
Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm) def. Ben Provisor, 2 matches to 1
Provisor dec. Rau, 4-4
Rau dec. Provisor, 1-0
Rau def. Provisor by injury default
98 kg/215.5 lbs.
Orry Elor (New York AC) def. Nathan Schiedel (Unattached), 2 matches to 0
Elor dec. Schiedel, 4-2
Schiedel pinned Elor, 1:02
Elor won by disqualification over Schiedel
130 kg/286 lbs.
Toby Erickson (New York AC) def. Jake Kettler (Patriot Elite WC), 2 matches to 0
Erickson dec. Kettler, 5-0
Erickson dec. Kettler, 5-0