Greco-Roman preview for U.S. Senior Nationals/Trials Qualifier in Las Vegas
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by Richard Immel and Gary Abbott
Spenser Mango, who has competed in two Olympic Games and has been on every USA Senior team since 2008, is among the stars competing this weekend in Las Vegas.
The U.S. Senior Nationals and Trials Qualifier Greco-Roman competition is set for this Friday in Las Vegas, Nev. There are 42 potential berths in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on the line, seven per weight class, in the largest #RoadToIowaCity events.
At this point, 26 athletes have qualified to compete at the Olympic Trials. Of those 26 qualifiers, at least 16 have elected to compete in Las Vegas.
Past Olympians Spenser Mango, Ildar Hafizov, Ellis Coleman, Justin Lester and Ben Provisor headline what promises to be an exciting, high stakes Greco-Roman competition.
59 kg/130 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Spenser Mango (U.S. Army WCAP)
Athletes already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Spenser Mango (U.S. Army WCAP), Jesse Thielke (New York AC), Cade Olivas (Titan Mercury WC), Ildar Hafizov (U.S. Army WCAP), Nikko Triggas (New York AC), Jermaine Hodge (U.S. Army WCAP)
As has been the case since United World Wrestling announced the new Olympic weight classes in 2013, 59 kg will boast an astoundingly deep field in Las Vegas.
Two-time Olympian Spenser Mango has been the model of consistency in U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling. Mango has made every World and Olympic Team since 2008, representing the U.S. in six World Championships and two Olympic Games. Mango’s sustained stranglehold at 59 kg will come under duress in Las Vegas as several challengers have emerged to contend for the Olympic spot.
2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan, Ildar Hafizov has recently become a naturalized U.S. citizen and is eligible to compete for the U.S. Olympic spot this year. Now a member of the U.S. Army WCAP, Hafizov recently defeated Mango, 2-2, overseas at the Vaanta Cup. The loss to Hafizov was Mango’s first loss to a U.S. wrestler since losing to Joe Betterman in the finals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International in January of 2014.
2013 World Team member Jesse Thielke finished as runner-up to Mango last year at the World Team Trials. Thilke is fresh off a bronze medal performance at the Golden Grand Prix Finals in Baku, Azerbaijan, one of the premier World competitions of the year.
Two-time NCAA All-American for Stanford, Ryan Mango is registered and another top-flight contender at this weight class. He has not competed since placing fourth at the U.S. Open last year. We have yet to see the Mango brothers do battle, but that could all change on Friday
2006 World champion Joe Warren is continuing his comeback bid. “The Baddest Man on the Planet” is down to his prime competition weight of 59 kg after competing at the Bill Farrell International at 66 kg last month. Warren won his World title at 60 kg in Guangzhou, China.
Recent Junior National champions Randon Miranda and Dalton Roberts will throw their names in for the first time against the proven veteran competitors at 59 kg.
Other notable names to watch for in Las Vegas include Jermaine Hodge, Max Nowry and Sammy Jones. Hodge has already qualified for the Olympic Trials, based upon a medal won overseas this fall, but he will be fighting for position in the Olympic Trials field. Nowry is a past University World champion with extensive experience.
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Bryce Saddoris (U.S. Marines)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Bryce Saddoris (U.S. Marine Corps), Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army WCAP), Brian Graham (Minnesota Storm)
Top talents Ellis Coleman and Brian Graham have already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, but will give it a go in Las Vegas this weekend.
Coleman, a 2012 Olympian, had been out of the mix for almost a year until returning for a recent international tour in Finland last month. Over the course of two tournaments in Finland, Coleman posted a 2-2 record that includes a 3-1 loss to Graham.
Graham has wrestled in three international competitions, medaling in one, since emerging in third place at the U.S. Open last year. He has posted mixed results against domestic competition, but the win over Coleman places him as a top threat to win it all in Las Vegas.
Last year’s U.S. World Team Trials runner-up at 66 kg Alejandro Sancho will look to cement his place atop the 66 kg standings. He earned a bronze medal at the Bill Farrell International last month earning wins over many of the top contenders he will see in Las Vegas.
A pair of Minnesota Storm teammates, Pat Smith and Dylan Ness, are looking to make some noise at 66 kg. Smith has been the U.S. World Team Trials runner-up to Justin Lester at 71 kg the past two years. Ness was a four-time All American and two-time NCAA finalist for the University of Minnesota. Neither have experience against the majority of the wrestlers in this field, so they will be difficult to handicap against this field.
Dropping down in weight is veteran Bo Beckman, who competed at 71 kg last year, where he was fifth at the U.S. Open. Beckman will have size over the opponents in the weight, but like the others switching classes, he will be facing new opponents.
Past Cadet and Junior World Team member Hayden Tuma has picked up his career on the Senior level, and will look to make an impact this year. At the Bill Farrell International, he has a win over Graham, with losses to Coleman and Sancho, which bodes well for his chances.
Two veterans from the Army program, Marco Lara and Jamel Johnson, bring experience and talent to the field. Lara has been a past National Team member, while Johnson has had success at both the age-group and Senior level. Another wrestler with experience on the senior level is Julian Gunnels. Past Junior World Team member Sahid Kargbo is a young talent who had a close loss to Sancho at the Bill Farrell International this year.
75 kg/165 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Andy Bisek (Minnesota Storm)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Andy Bisek (Minnesota Storm), Justin Lester (U.S. Army WCAP), Jon Jay Chavez (Titan Mercury WC), Mason Manville (Minnesota Storm), Kendrick Sanders (New York AC), Taylor Walsh (Hoosier WC), Cheney Haight (New York AC)
Two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek won’t be competing in Las Vegas, but many of the others looking to take his spot at the top of this weight class will be there.
Top among the entries is two-time World bronze medalist and Olympian Justin Lester, who was Bisek’s teammate at the 2015 World Championships down at 71 kg. Much of Lester’s career was down at the 66 kg range, then he moved up to the non-Olympic weight this Olympic cycle where he has been successful. Lester has competed as high as 75 kg in many events over the years, and was a World Team member up at 74 kg earlier in his career.
Ben Provisor, the 2012 Olympian at 74 kg, is registered here after competing up at 80 kg in recent seasons/ He has also tested the waters a bit at 85 kg. Provisor has battled some injuries which kept him off the mat, but has both the experience and talent to make a big run here if he has been able to train effectively.
Jake Fisher, a past World Team member and multiple member of the National Team, as much experience to the mat as anyone on the circuit. Fisher was third at the U.S. Open last year, losing a bout to surprising Dillon Cowan, who had his best Senior-level performance ever. Cowan was handled in the finals of the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials by Bisek, and will get another chance to work his way back to the finals through the Olympic Trials process.
Kendrick Sanders, a 2014 U.S. Open champion at 80 kg last year who competed at 71 kg last year, moves up to an Olympic weight this year. He qualified for the World Team Trials at the Bill Farrell and is not listed as an entry for Las Vegas.
Geordan Speiller, who was third in the 2014 U.S. Open and has extensive age-group success, is looking to battle for a spot in the finals. Speiller did not complete last season, it will be a good test of his preparation for the year.
Dropping down to this weight for the first time in many years is Cheney Haight, who was an Olympic Trials runner-up in 2008 and has competed at both 85 kg and 80 kg in recent years. His lone loss at the 2015 U.S. Open was to eventual World Team member Patrick Martinez at 80 kg. He lost bouts to Martinez and Provisor at 80 kg at the Bill Farrell last month.
A new face on the scene is Indiana All-American Taylor Walsh, who was a pinning machine in college but is just getting his feet wet in Greco-Roman. He qualified for the Olympic Trials by winning a medal overseas this fall, but will go to Vegas for more high-level Greco-Roman bouts. Another young star coming out of college and pursing Greco-Roman is Alec Ortiz, who has been on age-group U.S. World Teams. Keep an eye on Josh Castellano, Barrett Stanghill, Tarrence Williams and Michael Hooker.
85 kg/187 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm), Patrick Martinez (U.S. Army WCAP), Jon Anderson (U.S. Army WCAP)
Jordan Holm, who has been on three straight World Teams, has not entered the event in Vegas, but one of his 2015 World Team teammates is in the draw. Patrick Martinez, who came on strong last year to make the USA team at 80 kg, has chosen to go up in weight for this Olympic year. Martinez has gotten considerable international experience in the last few years and has some nice wins over tough foreign opponents.
Placing second behind Holm at the World Team Trials was Jon Anderson, who has chosen to enter in Las Vegas. Anderson was a National Team member at 74 kg before jumping up in weight and establishing himself at this level. He won a gold at the Pan American Games over the summer, and has an entertaining, aggressive style.
Many of the top placewinners from the 2015 U.S. Open at this weight will be competing in Las Vegas. Veteran Mark Stenberg, who was third at the Open last year, brings considerable experience and talent to the table. The next three placewinners from last year’s Open are also in the draw, Khymbakhy Johnson, who was fourth, Ethan Dondlinger who was fifth and Marcus Finau who was sixth. Finau had some good success at 98 kg earlier in his career, but has decided to make his Olympic run down at this division.
Veteran Courtney Meyers, who was second behind Martinez on the national team last year at 80 kg, is moving up to 84 kg this season. Meyers competed for many years at 85 kg and even 97 kg, so he will have some experience against many of those in this weight class.
Lucas Sheridan, who was on Junior World Teams and competed at the Div. I level for Indiana, has hooked up with the Army WCAP program and will compete at the Senior level in Greco-Roman.
98 kg/215 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Caylor Williams (U.S. Army WCAP)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Caylor Williams (U.S. Army WCAP), Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm), Jarod Trice (Titan Mercury WC)
Three wrestlers have qualified for the Olympic Trials at 98 kg already, and all three will be in the field in Las Vegas. Three-time World Team member Caylor Williams has dominated this weight class domestically, and will test himself again, even though he does not have to wrestle here.
Joe Rau, a 2014 U.S. World Team member at 80 kg, has made the move back up to 98 kg. He qualified for Iowa City by winning a medal overseas this year, but is also looking for more quality matches at this weight class. Also in the Iowa City field is Jarod Trice, who was a college star at heavyweight at Central Michigan and has been strong in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Trice is concentrating on Greco, and earned his spot at the Trials through the Bill Farrell International. He also will be wrestling this weekend.
Kevin Beazley, who was second behind Williams at the World Team Trials last year, took an Olympic redshirt year from Old Dominion, but has been injured and is not expected in Las Vegas. John Wechter, third at the U.S. Open last year and a veteran with considerable success at this weight class, is not listed as an entry here.
Only two other 2015 U.S. Open placewinners appear in the entry lists, Orry Elor, who was fifth and Endyr Meza, who was eighth. Patrick Carey, who has placed at the national level many times in past seasons, is among those who will be competing this weekend. Ryan Hope is another athlete to watch.
130 kg/286 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Robby Smith (New York AC)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Robby Smith (New York AC), Adam Coon (Cliff Keen WC), Sam Stoll (Minnesota Storm/Hawkeye WC), Toby Erickson (New York AC)
Robby Smith has ruled this weight class for the last three weights, but as an Olympic Trials qualifier, he is not coming to Las Vegas. Four athletes are already in the field in Iowa City, but only one of them has registered to compete, college star Adam Coon. An NCAA runner-up last year, Coon has won Junior World medals in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. He was third at last year’s U.S. Open in Greco.
Matt Lamb, who had a long Greco-Roman career and then retired from competition, returned last year and placed fourth at the U.S. Open. He has been competing regularly with the U.S. Army team, and should be even more prepared than when he showed back up on the scene last year.
Erik Nye, who is a past U.S. Open runner-up and qualified three times for the Greco-Roman National Team, returns for another run. He was fifth at last year’s U.S. Open. Parker Betts, who had success as an age-group star at Northern Michigan and is younger brother of 2012 Olympian Chas Betts, was sixth at the U.S. Open.
Jacob Mitchell competed at the 2015 U.S. Open at 98 kg, where he placed sixth, but has returned to heavyweight, where he had some success in previous seasons. Other athletes in the field are young and will be looking to make a breakthrough with a good performance in Las Vegas.
2015 U.S. OPEN
Greco-Roman results
59 kg/130 lbs.
Championship Match
1st – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) dec. Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC), 5-0
Challenge Tournament
1st - Jesse Thielke (NYAC) won by decision over Jermaine Hodge (Army WCAP) (Dec 6-4)
3rd - Nikko Triggas (NYAC) won by decision over Ryan Mango (Minnesota Storm) (Dec 13-10)
5th - Max Nowry (Army (WCAP)) won by decision over Sammy Jones (NYAC) (Dec 3-2)
7th - William Simpson (Army (WCAP)) won by decision over Aaron Kalil (Marines) (Dec 9-6)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
1st - Bryce Saddoris, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (Marines) dec. Alejandro Sancho, Miami, Fla. (NYAC). 1-0
3rd - Brian Graham, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) pin Joseph Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 4:20)
5th - Bo Beckman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) tech fall over Marco Lara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army/WCAP), 8-0
7th - Devin Scott, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Jamel Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 5-0
71 kg/154 lbs.
1st - Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army/WCAP) dec. Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 7-2
3rd - Kendrick Sanders, Homestead, Fla. (NYAC) tech fall Alec Ortiz, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 11-0
5th - Colin Schubert, Brussel, Wis. (USOTS) dec. Bobby Yamashita, Kingsbay, Ga. (All-Navy Wrestling), 11-8
7th - Carlos Apodaca, Prescott Valley, Ariz. (Embry Riddle) pin Kevan Garcia, Paso Robles, Calif. (Paso Robles Wrestling), 1:04
75 kg/165 lbs.
Championship Match
1st – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Dillon Cowan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 11-0
Challenge Tournament
1st - Dillon Cowan (Army (WCAP)) won by fall over Jacob Fisher (Minnesota Storm) (Fall 1:11)
3rd - Corey Hope (USOTC) won by tech fall over Xavier Johnson (Desert Eagle Wrestling Club) (TF 8-0)
5th - Christopher Gonzalez (USOTS) won by injury default over Barrett Stanghill (NYAC) (Inj. 0:00)
7th - Curt Calovecchi (USOTS) won by fall over Mason Manville (Minnesota Storm) (Fall 1:29)
80 kg/176 lbs.
1st - Patrick Martinez (Army (WCAP) won by decision over Courtney Myers (Army (WCAP)) (Dec 3-1)
3rd - Cheney Haight (NYAC) won by tech fall over Josef Rau (Minnesota Storm) (TF 8-0)
5th - Terrence Zaleski (Army (WCAP)) won by injury default over Brock Gutches (NYAC) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Caleb Smith (Princeton Wrestling) won by tech fall over Josh Greer (NMU/USOEC) (TF 8-0)
85 kg/187 lbs.
1st - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) pin Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army (WCAP), 2:35
3rd - Mark Stenberg, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) dec. Khymbakhy Johnson, Marquette, Mich. (NYAC), 2-0
5th - Ethan Dondlinger, Slinger, Wis. (NMU/USOEC) won by forfeit over Marcus Finau, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
7th - Easton Hargrave, Olympia, Wash. (TumOly Wrestling) won by fall over Ryan Hope, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC), 0:44
98 kg/215 lbs.
1st - Caylor Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) won by tech fall over Kevin Beazley (Virginia Beach Regional Traini) (TF 13-3)
3rd - John Wechter (Minnesota Storm) won by tech fall over James Souza (All-Navy Wrestling) (TF 8-0)
5th - Orry Elor (NYAC) won by fall over Jacob Mitchell (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) (Fall 5:00)
7th - West Cathcart (USOTS) won by tech fall over Endhyr Meza (Army (WCAP) (TF 8-0)
130 kg/286 lbs.
1st - Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo (NYAC) won by fall over Toby Erickson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC), 3:24
3rd - Adam Coon, Fowlerville, Mich. (NYAC) tech fall Matthew Lamb, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)) (TF 9-0)
5th - Erik Nye, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) dec. Parker Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 6-4
7th - Nikola Bogojevic, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) pin Jake Kettler, Norman, Va. (Patriot Elite Wrestling Club) (Fall 3:37)
Outstanding Wrestler – Jordan Holm, Minnesota Storm, 85 kg
Div. I – 1. U.S. Army WCAP, 90, 2. NYAC, 79
Div. II – 1. Minnesota Storm, 77
The U.S. Senior Nationals and Trials Qualifier Greco-Roman competition is set for this Friday in Las Vegas, Nev. There are 42 potential berths in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on the line, seven per weight class, in the largest #RoadToIowaCity events.
At this point, 26 athletes have qualified to compete at the Olympic Trials. Of those 26 qualifiers, at least 16 have elected to compete in Las Vegas.
Past Olympians Spenser Mango, Ildar Hafizov, Ellis Coleman, Justin Lester and Ben Provisor headline what promises to be an exciting, high stakes Greco-Roman competition.
59 kg/130 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Spenser Mango (U.S. Army WCAP)
Athletes already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Spenser Mango (U.S. Army WCAP), Jesse Thielke (New York AC), Cade Olivas (Titan Mercury WC), Ildar Hafizov (U.S. Army WCAP), Nikko Triggas (New York AC), Jermaine Hodge (U.S. Army WCAP)
As has been the case since United World Wrestling announced the new Olympic weight classes in 2013, 59 kg will boast an astoundingly deep field in Las Vegas.
Two-time Olympian Spenser Mango has been the model of consistency in U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling. Mango has made every World and Olympic Team since 2008, representing the U.S. in six World Championships and two Olympic Games. Mango’s sustained stranglehold at 59 kg will come under duress in Las Vegas as several challengers have emerged to contend for the Olympic spot.
2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan, Ildar Hafizov has recently become a naturalized U.S. citizen and is eligible to compete for the U.S. Olympic spot this year. Now a member of the U.S. Army WCAP, Hafizov recently defeated Mango, 2-2, overseas at the Vaanta Cup. The loss to Hafizov was Mango’s first loss to a U.S. wrestler since losing to Joe Betterman in the finals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International in January of 2014.
2013 World Team member Jesse Thielke finished as runner-up to Mango last year at the World Team Trials. Thilke is fresh off a bronze medal performance at the Golden Grand Prix Finals in Baku, Azerbaijan, one of the premier World competitions of the year.
Two-time NCAA All-American for Stanford, Ryan Mango is registered and another top-flight contender at this weight class. He has not competed since placing fourth at the U.S. Open last year. We have yet to see the Mango brothers do battle, but that could all change on Friday
2006 World champion Joe Warren is continuing his comeback bid. “The Baddest Man on the Planet” is down to his prime competition weight of 59 kg after competing at the Bill Farrell International at 66 kg last month. Warren won his World title at 60 kg in Guangzhou, China.
Recent Junior National champions Randon Miranda and Dalton Roberts will throw their names in for the first time against the proven veteran competitors at 59 kg.
Other notable names to watch for in Las Vegas include Jermaine Hodge, Max Nowry and Sammy Jones. Hodge has already qualified for the Olympic Trials, based upon a medal won overseas this fall, but he will be fighting for position in the Olympic Trials field. Nowry is a past University World champion with extensive experience.
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Bryce Saddoris (U.S. Marines)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Bryce Saddoris (U.S. Marine Corps), Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army WCAP), Brian Graham (Minnesota Storm)
Top talents Ellis Coleman and Brian Graham have already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, but will give it a go in Las Vegas this weekend.
Coleman, a 2012 Olympian, had been out of the mix for almost a year until returning for a recent international tour in Finland last month. Over the course of two tournaments in Finland, Coleman posted a 2-2 record that includes a 3-1 loss to Graham.
Graham has wrestled in three international competitions, medaling in one, since emerging in third place at the U.S. Open last year. He has posted mixed results against domestic competition, but the win over Coleman places him as a top threat to win it all in Las Vegas.
Last year’s U.S. World Team Trials runner-up at 66 kg Alejandro Sancho will look to cement his place atop the 66 kg standings. He earned a bronze medal at the Bill Farrell International last month earning wins over many of the top contenders he will see in Las Vegas.
A pair of Minnesota Storm teammates, Pat Smith and Dylan Ness, are looking to make some noise at 66 kg. Smith has been the U.S. World Team Trials runner-up to Justin Lester at 71 kg the past two years. Ness was a four-time All American and two-time NCAA finalist for the University of Minnesota. Neither have experience against the majority of the wrestlers in this field, so they will be difficult to handicap against this field.
Dropping down in weight is veteran Bo Beckman, who competed at 71 kg last year, where he was fifth at the U.S. Open. Beckman will have size over the opponents in the weight, but like the others switching classes, he will be facing new opponents.
Past Cadet and Junior World Team member Hayden Tuma has picked up his career on the Senior level, and will look to make an impact this year. At the Bill Farrell International, he has a win over Graham, with losses to Coleman and Sancho, which bodes well for his chances.
Two veterans from the Army program, Marco Lara and Jamel Johnson, bring experience and talent to the field. Lara has been a past National Team member, while Johnson has had success at both the age-group and Senior level. Another wrestler with experience on the senior level is Julian Gunnels. Past Junior World Team member Sahid Kargbo is a young talent who had a close loss to Sancho at the Bill Farrell International this year.
75 kg/165 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Andy Bisek (Minnesota Storm)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Andy Bisek (Minnesota Storm), Justin Lester (U.S. Army WCAP), Jon Jay Chavez (Titan Mercury WC), Mason Manville (Minnesota Storm), Kendrick Sanders (New York AC), Taylor Walsh (Hoosier WC), Cheney Haight (New York AC)
Two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek won’t be competing in Las Vegas, but many of the others looking to take his spot at the top of this weight class will be there.
Top among the entries is two-time World bronze medalist and Olympian Justin Lester, who was Bisek’s teammate at the 2015 World Championships down at 71 kg. Much of Lester’s career was down at the 66 kg range, then he moved up to the non-Olympic weight this Olympic cycle where he has been successful. Lester has competed as high as 75 kg in many events over the years, and was a World Team member up at 74 kg earlier in his career.
Ben Provisor, the 2012 Olympian at 74 kg, is registered here after competing up at 80 kg in recent seasons/ He has also tested the waters a bit at 85 kg. Provisor has battled some injuries which kept him off the mat, but has both the experience and talent to make a big run here if he has been able to train effectively.
Jake Fisher, a past World Team member and multiple member of the National Team, as much experience to the mat as anyone on the circuit. Fisher was third at the U.S. Open last year, losing a bout to surprising Dillon Cowan, who had his best Senior-level performance ever. Cowan was handled in the finals of the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials by Bisek, and will get another chance to work his way back to the finals through the Olympic Trials process.
Kendrick Sanders, a 2014 U.S. Open champion at 80 kg last year who competed at 71 kg last year, moves up to an Olympic weight this year. He qualified for the World Team Trials at the Bill Farrell and is not listed as an entry for Las Vegas.
Geordan Speiller, who was third in the 2014 U.S. Open and has extensive age-group success, is looking to battle for a spot in the finals. Speiller did not complete last season, it will be a good test of his preparation for the year.
Dropping down to this weight for the first time in many years is Cheney Haight, who was an Olympic Trials runner-up in 2008 and has competed at both 85 kg and 80 kg in recent years. His lone loss at the 2015 U.S. Open was to eventual World Team member Patrick Martinez at 80 kg. He lost bouts to Martinez and Provisor at 80 kg at the Bill Farrell last month.
A new face on the scene is Indiana All-American Taylor Walsh, who was a pinning machine in college but is just getting his feet wet in Greco-Roman. He qualified for the Olympic Trials by winning a medal overseas this fall, but will go to Vegas for more high-level Greco-Roman bouts. Another young star coming out of college and pursing Greco-Roman is Alec Ortiz, who has been on age-group U.S. World Teams. Keep an eye on Josh Castellano, Barrett Stanghill, Tarrence Williams and Michael Hooker.
85 kg/187 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm), Patrick Martinez (U.S. Army WCAP), Jon Anderson (U.S. Army WCAP)
Jordan Holm, who has been on three straight World Teams, has not entered the event in Vegas, but one of his 2015 World Team teammates is in the draw. Patrick Martinez, who came on strong last year to make the USA team at 80 kg, has chosen to go up in weight for this Olympic year. Martinez has gotten considerable international experience in the last few years and has some nice wins over tough foreign opponents.
Placing second behind Holm at the World Team Trials was Jon Anderson, who has chosen to enter in Las Vegas. Anderson was a National Team member at 74 kg before jumping up in weight and establishing himself at this level. He won a gold at the Pan American Games over the summer, and has an entertaining, aggressive style.
Many of the top placewinners from the 2015 U.S. Open at this weight will be competing in Las Vegas. Veteran Mark Stenberg, who was third at the Open last year, brings considerable experience and talent to the table. The next three placewinners from last year’s Open are also in the draw, Khymbakhy Johnson, who was fourth, Ethan Dondlinger who was fifth and Marcus Finau who was sixth. Finau had some good success at 98 kg earlier in his career, but has decided to make his Olympic run down at this division.
Veteran Courtney Meyers, who was second behind Martinez on the national team last year at 80 kg, is moving up to 84 kg this season. Meyers competed for many years at 85 kg and even 97 kg, so he will have some experience against many of those in this weight class.
Lucas Sheridan, who was on Junior World Teams and competed at the Div. I level for Indiana, has hooked up with the Army WCAP program and will compete at the Senior level in Greco-Roman.
98 kg/215 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Caylor Williams (U.S. Army WCAP)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Caylor Williams (U.S. Army WCAP), Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm), Jarod Trice (Titan Mercury WC)
Three wrestlers have qualified for the Olympic Trials at 98 kg already, and all three will be in the field in Las Vegas. Three-time World Team member Caylor Williams has dominated this weight class domestically, and will test himself again, even though he does not have to wrestle here.
Joe Rau, a 2014 U.S. World Team member at 80 kg, has made the move back up to 98 kg. He qualified for Iowa City by winning a medal overseas this year, but is also looking for more quality matches at this weight class. Also in the Iowa City field is Jarod Trice, who was a college star at heavyweight at Central Michigan and has been strong in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Trice is concentrating on Greco, and earned his spot at the Trials through the Bill Farrell International. He also will be wrestling this weekend.
Kevin Beazley, who was second behind Williams at the World Team Trials last year, took an Olympic redshirt year from Old Dominion, but has been injured and is not expected in Las Vegas. John Wechter, third at the U.S. Open last year and a veteran with considerable success at this weight class, is not listed as an entry here.
Only two other 2015 U.S. Open placewinners appear in the entry lists, Orry Elor, who was fifth and Endyr Meza, who was eighth. Patrick Carey, who has placed at the national level many times in past seasons, is among those who will be competing this weekend. Ryan Hope is another athlete to watch.
130 kg/286 lbs.
2015 U.S. Open champion – Robby Smith (New York AC)
Already qualified for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Robby Smith (New York AC), Adam Coon (Cliff Keen WC), Sam Stoll (Minnesota Storm/Hawkeye WC), Toby Erickson (New York AC)
Robby Smith has ruled this weight class for the last three weights, but as an Olympic Trials qualifier, he is not coming to Las Vegas. Four athletes are already in the field in Iowa City, but only one of them has registered to compete, college star Adam Coon. An NCAA runner-up last year, Coon has won Junior World medals in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. He was third at last year’s U.S. Open in Greco.
Matt Lamb, who had a long Greco-Roman career and then retired from competition, returned last year and placed fourth at the U.S. Open. He has been competing regularly with the U.S. Army team, and should be even more prepared than when he showed back up on the scene last year.
Erik Nye, who is a past U.S. Open runner-up and qualified three times for the Greco-Roman National Team, returns for another run. He was fifth at last year’s U.S. Open. Parker Betts, who had success as an age-group star at Northern Michigan and is younger brother of 2012 Olympian Chas Betts, was sixth at the U.S. Open.
Jacob Mitchell competed at the 2015 U.S. Open at 98 kg, where he placed sixth, but has returned to heavyweight, where he had some success in previous seasons. Other athletes in the field are young and will be looking to make a breakthrough with a good performance in Las Vegas.
2015 U.S. OPEN
Greco-Roman results
59 kg/130 lbs.
Championship Match
1st – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) dec. Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC), 5-0
Challenge Tournament
1st - Jesse Thielke (NYAC) won by decision over Jermaine Hodge (Army WCAP) (Dec 6-4)
3rd - Nikko Triggas (NYAC) won by decision over Ryan Mango (Minnesota Storm) (Dec 13-10)
5th - Max Nowry (Army (WCAP)) won by decision over Sammy Jones (NYAC) (Dec 3-2)
7th - William Simpson (Army (WCAP)) won by decision over Aaron Kalil (Marines) (Dec 9-6)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
1st - Bryce Saddoris, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (Marines) dec. Alejandro Sancho, Miami, Fla. (NYAC). 1-0
3rd - Brian Graham, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) pin Joseph Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 4:20)
5th - Bo Beckman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) tech fall over Marco Lara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army/WCAP), 8-0
7th - Devin Scott, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Jamel Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 5-0
71 kg/154 lbs.
1st - Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army/WCAP) dec. Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 7-2
3rd - Kendrick Sanders, Homestead, Fla. (NYAC) tech fall Alec Ortiz, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 11-0
5th - Colin Schubert, Brussel, Wis. (USOTS) dec. Bobby Yamashita, Kingsbay, Ga. (All-Navy Wrestling), 11-8
7th - Carlos Apodaca, Prescott Valley, Ariz. (Embry Riddle) pin Kevan Garcia, Paso Robles, Calif. (Paso Robles Wrestling), 1:04
75 kg/165 lbs.
Championship Match
1st – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Dillon Cowan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 11-0
Challenge Tournament
1st - Dillon Cowan (Army (WCAP)) won by fall over Jacob Fisher (Minnesota Storm) (Fall 1:11)
3rd - Corey Hope (USOTC) won by tech fall over Xavier Johnson (Desert Eagle Wrestling Club) (TF 8-0)
5th - Christopher Gonzalez (USOTS) won by injury default over Barrett Stanghill (NYAC) (Inj. 0:00)
7th - Curt Calovecchi (USOTS) won by fall over Mason Manville (Minnesota Storm) (Fall 1:29)
80 kg/176 lbs.
1st - Patrick Martinez (Army (WCAP) won by decision over Courtney Myers (Army (WCAP)) (Dec 3-1)
3rd - Cheney Haight (NYAC) won by tech fall over Josef Rau (Minnesota Storm) (TF 8-0)
5th - Terrence Zaleski (Army (WCAP)) won by injury default over Brock Gutches (NYAC) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Caleb Smith (Princeton Wrestling) won by tech fall over Josh Greer (NMU/USOEC) (TF 8-0)
85 kg/187 lbs.
1st - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) pin Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army (WCAP), 2:35
3rd - Mark Stenberg, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) dec. Khymbakhy Johnson, Marquette, Mich. (NYAC), 2-0
5th - Ethan Dondlinger, Slinger, Wis. (NMU/USOEC) won by forfeit over Marcus Finau, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
7th - Easton Hargrave, Olympia, Wash. (TumOly Wrestling) won by fall over Ryan Hope, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC), 0:44
98 kg/215 lbs.
1st - Caylor Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) won by tech fall over Kevin Beazley (Virginia Beach Regional Traini) (TF 13-3)
3rd - John Wechter (Minnesota Storm) won by tech fall over James Souza (All-Navy Wrestling) (TF 8-0)
5th - Orry Elor (NYAC) won by fall over Jacob Mitchell (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) (Fall 5:00)
7th - West Cathcart (USOTS) won by tech fall over Endhyr Meza (Army (WCAP) (TF 8-0)
130 kg/286 lbs.
1st - Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo (NYAC) won by fall over Toby Erickson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC), 3:24
3rd - Adam Coon, Fowlerville, Mich. (NYAC) tech fall Matthew Lamb, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)) (TF 9-0)
5th - Erik Nye, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) dec. Parker Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 6-4
7th - Nikola Bogojevic, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) pin Jake Kettler, Norman, Va. (Patriot Elite Wrestling Club) (Fall 3:37)
Outstanding Wrestler – Jordan Holm, Minnesota Storm, 85 kg
Div. I – 1. U.S. Army WCAP, 90, 2. NYAC, 79
Div. II – 1. Minnesota Storm, 77
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