FLASH: Dake beats Taylor, Kennedy tops Stieber on final night of U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier in Las Vegas
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Kyle Dake counters a David Taylor shot on the way to the U.S. Nationals title at 86 kg. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
VIDEO: U.S. Senior Nationals & Olympic Trials Qualifier Interviews
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Same wrestlers. Different weight class. Same result.
In the final bout of the evening at the U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier, Kyle Dake of the Titan Mercury WC scored points in big spurts, defeating rival David Taylor of the Nittany Lion WC, 11-4, to win the gold medal at 86 kg/189 lbs. at the U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Dake got things rolling early, jumping to an 8-0 lead with a takedown and a series of turns. Taylor closed the score to 8-4, getting his takedown offense going. After a Taylor takedown, Dake quickly scored a reversal and a turn to make it 11-4 at the break. The second period saw no scoring, although Taylor got some good attacks which were defended by Dake effectively. It was Dake’s first U.S. Nationals title.
“I think a lot of it has to do with my confidence and letting him in on my legs. Not that I want him in on my legs at all because he’s a great finisher. You saw it today. He tech falled pretty much everybody. He’s a really tough guy and that’s something I need to improve on is not letting guys get to my legs as much. When you get to the highest levels, when I got to wrestle Sadulaev and Salas, I can’t let those guys get to my legs,” he continued.
Last year, Dake beat Taylor at the World Team Trials at 74 kg/163 lbs. and finished second behind three-time World and 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, while Taylor was third. Both moved up to 86 kg this season. Dake has beaten Taylor in all of their past meetings in both folkstyle and freestyle.
“I felt pretty good. I had a brutal draw really. Going through Gavin and Reader and then Taylor, those guys are all studs. They’ve been through the ropes. They know what’s going on. They know how to wrestle. It was a fight every single time I went out there and that’s just kudos to those guys,” he said.x
Last year, Dake beat Taylor at the World Team Trials at 74 kg/163 lbs. and finished second behind three-time World and 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, while Taylor was third. Both moved up to 86 kg this season. Dake has beaten Taylor in all of their past meetings in both folkstyle and freestyle.
Claiming the Outstanding Wrestler award and his second career national title was Jimmy Kennedy of the New York AC, who defeated Logan Stieber of the Titan Mercury WC, 9-2. The match was tied at 2-2 at the break, but Kennedy broke it open by getting four points on a counter throw in the second. A Stieber protest was denied, making it 7-2, then a final Kennedy takedown closed out the victory.
“It was a good tournament. I wrestled solid the entire time and I’ve always been a solid wrestler, but putting a lot of points on the board, I think I failed to live up to that the last couple of years. Now I feel comfortable and I’m not really too worried about getting scored on because I know if I keep pushing the pace, I'm going to be able to score points," said Kennedy.
Also claiming a second career national title was Andrew Howe of the New York AC, who edged Chris Perry of the Titan Mercury WC, 3-2 at 74 kg/163 lbs. Perry scored first on a takedown, then Howe closed it to 2-1 with a pushout. A second period Howe takedown put him ahead 3-2, and Perry was unable to score in the closing moments.
Perry, representing Oklahoma State, defeated Howe, from Oklahoma, in the 2014 NCAA Championships finals at 174 pounds.
“I felt good. Just need to clean up one of those finishes though. I got to the legs a lot, but I didn’t score enough. I felt good. Something to build on. The past is the past really, and moving forward, and it’s about the Olympics now, so it’s about making the team and going for gold,” said Howe.
Three veteran wrestlers claimed their first U.S. Nationals title with victories in the finals.
Daniel Dennis of the Titan Mercury WC got his offense going quickly, scoring two takedowns and three turns for a 10-0 technical fall in the first period at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Dennis came down to this weight class from 61 kg, where he was second in the World Team Trials last year.
At 97 kg/213 lbs., Wynn Michalak of the Titan Mercury WC jumped to an 8-0 lead on a takedown and a series of tilts, then closed out the victory over unseeded Scott Schiller of the Minnesota Storm, 12-4.
With a strong second period, Dom Bradley of the Sunkist Kids came from a 0-3 deficit to defeat Tyrell Fortune of the Titan Mercury WC, 5-3 at heavyweight. A spin behind takedown late in the second period was the key to Bradley’s win.
Titan Mercury WC won the Div. I team title with 79 points, with the New York AC in second with 45 points. The Sunkist Kids was the Div. II champions with 37 points.
The top seven placewinners in each weight class this weekend qualify to compete at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, April 9-10. This is the largest of the #Road2IowaCity qualifying events.
U.S. NATIONALS/TRIALS QUALIFIER
At Las Vegas, Nev., December 19
Men’s Freestyle Finals pairings
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa. (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 10-0, 1:23
65 kg/143 lbs. - Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) dec. Logan Stieber, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), 9-2
74 kg/163 lbs. - Andrew Howe, Norman, Okla. (New York AC) dec. Chris Perry, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC), 3-2
86 kg/189 lbs. - Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 11-4
97 kg/213 lbs. - Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Scott Schiller, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 12-4
125 kg/275 lbs. - Dom Bradley, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrell Fortune, Tempe, Ariz. (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
Men’s Freestyle weight class results
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
1st - Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa. (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 10-0, 1:23
3rd - Coleman Scott, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Erkin Tadzhimetov, Orem, Utah (New York AC), 7-3
5th - Nathan Tomasello, Parma, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC) inj. dft. over Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
7th - Angel Escobedo, Ames, Iowa (New York AC) dec. Ali Naser, Clovis, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 3-1
65 kg/143 lbs.
1st – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) dec. Logan Stieber, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), 9-2
3rd - Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC) tech. fall Aaron Pico, Whittier, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
5th - Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/CKWC) inj. dft. Frank Molinaro, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
7th - Jason Chamberlain, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Bernard Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC/CKWC), 12-2
74 kg/163 lbs.
1st - Andrew Howe, Norman, Okla. (New York AC) dec. Chris Perry, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC), 3-2
3rd - Nick Marable, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Logan Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (New York AC/CKWC) (Dec 4-2)
5th - Adam Hall, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) disq. over Kevin LeValley, Williamsport, Pa. (Buffalo Valley RTC)
7th - Quinton Godley, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Vladyslav Dombrovskiy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 6-5
86 kg/189 lbs.
1st - Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 11-4
3rd - Keith Gavin, Charlottesville, Va. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jon Reader, Brookings, S.D. (Sunkist Kids), 5-2
5th - Richard Perry, Washington, D.C. (NYAC/PWC) dec. Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (GRIT Athletics /WY RTC), 5-0
7th - Tyler Caldwell, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) forfeit over Edward Ruth, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
97 kg/213 lbs.
1st - Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Scott Schiller, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 12-4
3rd - Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) tech fall over Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 11-1
5th - Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jeffery Felix, Ann Arbor, Mich. (TMWC/CKWC), 8-2
7th - Enock Francois, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC) dec. Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 4-1
125 kg/275 lbs.
1st - Dom Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrell Fortune, Tempe, Ariz. (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
3rd - Bobby Telford, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Anthony Nelson, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5-2
5th - Eric Thompson, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) tech fall Connor Medbery, Loveland, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), 11-0
7th - Justin Grant, Bloomsburg, Pa. (New York AC) dec. Matthew Meuleners, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC), 7-2
Outstanding Wrestler – Jimmy Kennedy (New York AC), 66 kg
Div. I Team Standings – 1. Titan Mercury WC, 79 pts., 2. New York AC, 45 pts.
Div. II Team Standings – 1. Sunkist Kids, 37 pts.
VIDEO: U.S. Senior Nationals & Olympic Trials Qualifier Interviews
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Same wrestlers. Different weight class. Same result.
In the final bout of the evening at the U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier, Kyle Dake of the Titan Mercury WC scored points in big spurts, defeating rival David Taylor of the Nittany Lion WC, 11-4, to win the gold medal at 86 kg/189 lbs. at the U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Dake got things rolling early, jumping to an 8-0 lead with a takedown and a series of turns. Taylor closed the score to 8-4, getting his takedown offense going. After a Taylor takedown, Dake quickly scored a reversal and a turn to make it 11-4 at the break. The second period saw no scoring, although Taylor got some good attacks which were defended by Dake effectively. It was Dake’s first U.S. Nationals title.
“I think a lot of it has to do with my confidence and letting him in on my legs. Not that I want him in on my legs at all because he’s a great finisher. You saw it today. He tech falled pretty much everybody. He’s a really tough guy and that’s something I need to improve on is not letting guys get to my legs as much. When you get to the highest levels, when I got to wrestle Sadulaev and Salas, I can’t let those guys get to my legs,” he continued.
Last year, Dake beat Taylor at the World Team Trials at 74 kg/163 lbs. and finished second behind three-time World and 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, while Taylor was third. Both moved up to 86 kg this season. Dake has beaten Taylor in all of their past meetings in both folkstyle and freestyle.
“I felt pretty good. I had a brutal draw really. Going through Gavin and Reader and then Taylor, those guys are all studs. They’ve been through the ropes. They know what’s going on. They know how to wrestle. It was a fight every single time I went out there and that’s just kudos to those guys,” he said.x
Last year, Dake beat Taylor at the World Team Trials at 74 kg/163 lbs. and finished second behind three-time World and 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, while Taylor was third. Both moved up to 86 kg this season. Dake has beaten Taylor in all of their past meetings in both folkstyle and freestyle.
Claiming the Outstanding Wrestler award and his second career national title was Jimmy Kennedy of the New York AC, who defeated Logan Stieber of the Titan Mercury WC, 9-2. The match was tied at 2-2 at the break, but Kennedy broke it open by getting four points on a counter throw in the second. A Stieber protest was denied, making it 7-2, then a final Kennedy takedown closed out the victory.
“It was a good tournament. I wrestled solid the entire time and I’ve always been a solid wrestler, but putting a lot of points on the board, I think I failed to live up to that the last couple of years. Now I feel comfortable and I’m not really too worried about getting scored on because I know if I keep pushing the pace, I'm going to be able to score points," said Kennedy.
Also claiming a second career national title was Andrew Howe of the New York AC, who edged Chris Perry of the Titan Mercury WC, 3-2 at 74 kg/163 lbs. Perry scored first on a takedown, then Howe closed it to 2-1 with a pushout. A second period Howe takedown put him ahead 3-2, and Perry was unable to score in the closing moments.
Perry, representing Oklahoma State, defeated Howe, from Oklahoma, in the 2014 NCAA Championships finals at 174 pounds.
“I felt good. Just need to clean up one of those finishes though. I got to the legs a lot, but I didn’t score enough. I felt good. Something to build on. The past is the past really, and moving forward, and it’s about the Olympics now, so it’s about making the team and going for gold,” said Howe.
Three veteran wrestlers claimed their first U.S. Nationals title with victories in the finals.
Daniel Dennis of the Titan Mercury WC got his offense going quickly, scoring two takedowns and three turns for a 10-0 technical fall in the first period at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Dennis came down to this weight class from 61 kg, where he was second in the World Team Trials last year.
At 97 kg/213 lbs., Wynn Michalak of the Titan Mercury WC jumped to an 8-0 lead on a takedown and a series of tilts, then closed out the victory over unseeded Scott Schiller of the Minnesota Storm, 12-4.
With a strong second period, Dom Bradley of the Sunkist Kids came from a 0-3 deficit to defeat Tyrell Fortune of the Titan Mercury WC, 5-3 at heavyweight. A spin behind takedown late in the second period was the key to Bradley’s win.
Titan Mercury WC won the Div. I team title with 79 points, with the New York AC in second with 45 points. The Sunkist Kids was the Div. II champions with 37 points.
The top seven placewinners in each weight class this weekend qualify to compete at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, April 9-10. This is the largest of the #Road2IowaCity qualifying events.
U.S. NATIONALS/TRIALS QUALIFIER
At Las Vegas, Nev., December 19
Men’s Freestyle Finals pairings
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa. (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 10-0, 1:23
65 kg/143 lbs. - Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) dec. Logan Stieber, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), 9-2
74 kg/163 lbs. - Andrew Howe, Norman, Okla. (New York AC) dec. Chris Perry, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC), 3-2
86 kg/189 lbs. - Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 11-4
97 kg/213 lbs. - Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Scott Schiller, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 12-4
125 kg/275 lbs. - Dom Bradley, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrell Fortune, Tempe, Ariz. (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
Men’s Freestyle weight class results
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
1st - Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa. (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 10-0, 1:23
3rd - Coleman Scott, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Erkin Tadzhimetov, Orem, Utah (New York AC), 7-3
5th - Nathan Tomasello, Parma, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC) inj. dft. over Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
7th - Angel Escobedo, Ames, Iowa (New York AC) dec. Ali Naser, Clovis, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 3-1
65 kg/143 lbs.
1st – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) dec. Logan Stieber, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), 9-2
3rd - Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC) tech. fall Aaron Pico, Whittier, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
5th - Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/CKWC) inj. dft. Frank Molinaro, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
7th - Jason Chamberlain, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Bernard Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC/CKWC), 12-2
74 kg/163 lbs.
1st - Andrew Howe, Norman, Okla. (New York AC) dec. Chris Perry, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC), 3-2
3rd - Nick Marable, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Logan Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (New York AC/CKWC) (Dec 4-2)
5th - Adam Hall, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) disq. over Kevin LeValley, Williamsport, Pa. (Buffalo Valley RTC)
7th - Quinton Godley, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Vladyslav Dombrovskiy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 6-5
86 kg/189 lbs.
1st - Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 11-4
3rd - Keith Gavin, Charlottesville, Va. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jon Reader, Brookings, S.D. (Sunkist Kids), 5-2
5th - Richard Perry, Washington, D.C. (NYAC/PWC) dec. Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (GRIT Athletics /WY RTC), 5-0
7th - Tyler Caldwell, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) forfeit over Edward Ruth, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
97 kg/213 lbs.
1st - Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Scott Schiller, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 12-4
3rd - Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) tech fall over Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 11-1
5th - Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jeffery Felix, Ann Arbor, Mich. (TMWC/CKWC), 8-2
7th - Enock Francois, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC) dec. Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 4-1
125 kg/275 lbs.
1st - Dom Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrell Fortune, Tempe, Ariz. (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
3rd - Bobby Telford, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Anthony Nelson, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5-2
5th - Eric Thompson, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) tech fall Connor Medbery, Loveland, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), 11-0
7th - Justin Grant, Bloomsburg, Pa. (New York AC) dec. Matthew Meuleners, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC), 7-2
Outstanding Wrestler – Jimmy Kennedy (New York AC), 66 kg
Div. I Team Standings – 1. Titan Mercury WC, 79 pts., 2. New York AC, 45 pts.
Div. II Team Standings – 1. Sunkist Kids, 37 pts.
