Five Americans earn freestyle titles at Dave Schultz Memorial
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Tyler Graff captured a Dave Schultz Memorial title on Friday night. John Sachs photo.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Tyler Graff is the newest young wrestler to emerge as a legitimate threat to make a United States World Team.
Graff capped a phenomenal day by winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International on Friday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Graff fired in for two third-period takedowns to down 2014 Schultz champion Omak Syuryun of Russia 5-3 in the men’s freestyle finals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Graff knocked off World Teamers Angel Escobedo and Nick Simmons en route to the finals. Graff is a past U.S. Junior and University World Team member. He was a 2014 NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin.
Graff was named Outstanding Wrestler. He was one of five American champions crowned on Friday.
“I had positive thoughts coming in, but anything happens at tournaments,” Graff said. “There were a lot of good wrestlers in the competition here. I was getting attacks off and wrestling hard. If there is time left on the clock, it doesn’t mean the wrestling stops.”
Junior World medalist and two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver looked strong in downing two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey 5-1 at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Oliver put the match away with a slick single-leg shot that he converted into a second-period takedown.
“It was good. It was my first freestyle tournament in a while,” Oliver said. “It feels good being back on the top of the podium. It was a tough weight class. Coming in, I knew it would be tough. I was taking it one match at a time.
“I have been doing all the right things in training. My coach has been helping me out, giving me different looks and making sure I was prepared. I didn’t like all the scores from my matches. There is definitely room for improvement, but we are still a long ways from Trials.”
2014 World Team member Nick Marable used a second-period pushout to top 2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter 1-1 at 70 kg/154 lbs. Marable won by virtue of scoring last.
Clayton Foster stormed out strong en route to a 12-1 technical fall over Richard Perry in the finals at 86 kg/189 lbs. Foster used a big body lock to build an 8-1 lead after one period.
Cayle Byers turned in an impressive performance in knocking off Dustin Kilgore 12-8 in a wild finals battle at 97 kg/213 lbs. Byers countered a late shot attempt and spun behind for a takedown to seal the win.
Young Russian heavyweight Pavel Krivtsov scored a pair of late takedowns to top 2012 Schultz champion Dom Bradley 5-2 at heavyweight. Krivtsov is just 19 years old.
2008 Olympic bronze medalist Kiril Terziev took charge late in the match and eventually pinned returning champion George Ivanov in an all-Bulgarian final at 74 kg/163 lbs. Ivanov was a two-time All-American for Nebraska-Omaha and an NCAA qualifier for Boise State
World bronze medalist Bajrang Bajrang of India downed Vladimir Flegontov of Russia 12-3 in the finals at 61 kg/134 lbs.
The New York Athletic Club won the team title with the Sunkist Kids finishing second.
The final day of the three-day Schultz event is set for Saturday, with women’s freestyle competing.
FINALS MATCHUPS
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tyler Graff (New York AC) dec. Omak Syuryun (Russia), 5-3
61 kg/134 lbs.
Bajrang Bajrang (India) dec. Vladimir Flegontov (Russia), 12-3
65 kg/143 lbs.
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) dec. Reece Humphrey (New York AC), 5-1
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) dec. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm), 1-1
74 kg/163 lbs.
Kiril Terziev (Bulgaria) pinned George Ivanov (Bulgaria), 5:43
86 kg/189 lbs.
Clayton Foster (GRIT Athletics) won by tech. fall over Richard Perry (New York AC), 12-1
97 kg/213 lbs.
Cayle Byers (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids), 12-8
125 kg/275 lbs.
Pavel Krivtsov (Russia) dec. Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids), 5-2
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Tyler Graff is the newest young wrestler to emerge as a legitimate threat to make a United States World Team.
Graff capped a phenomenal day by winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International on Friday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Graff fired in for two third-period takedowns to down 2014 Schultz champion Omak Syuryun of Russia 5-3 in the men’s freestyle finals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Graff knocked off World Teamers Angel Escobedo and Nick Simmons en route to the finals. Graff is a past U.S. Junior and University World Team member. He was a 2014 NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin.
Graff was named Outstanding Wrestler. He was one of five American champions crowned on Friday.
“I had positive thoughts coming in, but anything happens at tournaments,” Graff said. “There were a lot of good wrestlers in the competition here. I was getting attacks off and wrestling hard. If there is time left on the clock, it doesn’t mean the wrestling stops.”
Junior World medalist and two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver looked strong in downing two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey 5-1 at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Oliver put the match away with a slick single-leg shot that he converted into a second-period takedown.
“It was good. It was my first freestyle tournament in a while,” Oliver said. “It feels good being back on the top of the podium. It was a tough weight class. Coming in, I knew it would be tough. I was taking it one match at a time.
“I have been doing all the right things in training. My coach has been helping me out, giving me different looks and making sure I was prepared. I didn’t like all the scores from my matches. There is definitely room for improvement, but we are still a long ways from Trials.”
2014 World Team member Nick Marable used a second-period pushout to top 2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter 1-1 at 70 kg/154 lbs. Marable won by virtue of scoring last.
Clayton Foster stormed out strong en route to a 12-1 technical fall over Richard Perry in the finals at 86 kg/189 lbs. Foster used a big body lock to build an 8-1 lead after one period.
Cayle Byers turned in an impressive performance in knocking off Dustin Kilgore 12-8 in a wild finals battle at 97 kg/213 lbs. Byers countered a late shot attempt and spun behind for a takedown to seal the win.
Young Russian heavyweight Pavel Krivtsov scored a pair of late takedowns to top 2012 Schultz champion Dom Bradley 5-2 at heavyweight. Krivtsov is just 19 years old.
2008 Olympic bronze medalist Kiril Terziev took charge late in the match and eventually pinned returning champion George Ivanov in an all-Bulgarian final at 74 kg/163 lbs. Ivanov was a two-time All-American for Nebraska-Omaha and an NCAA qualifier for Boise State
World bronze medalist Bajrang Bajrang of India downed Vladimir Flegontov of Russia 12-3 in the finals at 61 kg/134 lbs.
The New York Athletic Club won the team title with the Sunkist Kids finishing second.
The final day of the three-day Schultz event is set for Saturday, with women’s freestyle competing.
FINALS MATCHUPS
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tyler Graff (New York AC) dec. Omak Syuryun (Russia), 5-3
61 kg/134 lbs.
Bajrang Bajrang (India) dec. Vladimir Flegontov (Russia), 12-3
65 kg/143 lbs.
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) dec. Reece Humphrey (New York AC), 5-1
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) dec. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm), 1-1
74 kg/163 lbs.
Kiril Terziev (Bulgaria) pinned George Ivanov (Bulgaria), 5:43
86 kg/189 lbs.
Clayton Foster (GRIT Athletics) won by tech. fall over Richard Perry (New York AC), 12-1
97 kg/213 lbs.
Cayle Byers (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids), 12-8
125 kg/275 lbs.
Pavel Krivtsov (Russia) dec. Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids), 5-2
