Plenty of drama in Challenge Tournament to set stage for World Team Trials freestyle finals
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Kyle Dake powers in to take David Taylor down in the Challenge Tournament finals on Sunday. John Sachs photo.
MADISON, Wis. – Daniel Dennis wasn’t going to stop wrestling until the final second ticked off the clock.
That was clearly evident when Dennis scored just before time expired to knock off Kendric Maple to win the U.S. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament on Sunday at the Alliant Energy Center.
Dennis had earlier defeated Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott en route to the Challenge finals at 61 kg/134 lbs.
Dennis, an NCAA runner-up for Iowa, now advances to meet two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey in the best-of-3 finals. Humphrey earned a spot in the finals by virtue of winning last month’s U.S. Open.
“Both those guys are really, really good – they’re probably better than me,” said Dennis, who is back competing after being off the mat the last two years. “I just stayed really, really, really solid and I didn’t just give up any position. I felt like I was in control.
“I’m not surprised to be in the finals. I know I’m capable.”
The Dennis-Maple match was tied 4-4 late before Dennis scored a takedown just before time ran out to win 6-4. Neither Dennis nor Maple appeared to realize who had the advantage in the closing seconds.
“Hell if I know – I still don’t know,” Dennis told the Des Moines Register. “Maple’s corner was screaming like he’s got to go and I’m thinking he’s losing. Then he’s coming at me like a bat out of hell and I hear I’m losing. It was like, I might as well score the last takedown and not let the score be even.”
The best-of-3 finals are set for 4:45 p.m. Central. NBCSN is going live with a 90-minute broadcast from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Champions at the Trials advance to September’s World Championships in Las Vegas.
Four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake stormed into the best-of-3 finals with a decisive 8-2 win over two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor at 74 kg/163 lbs. Taylor was second at the 2014 Trials.
“David’s a great competitor and we’ve battled a lot,” Dake said. “That’s the worst I’ve beaten him, so that gives me a lot of confidence going into my matches later today. David is very talented and I couldn’t overlook him.”
Dake will face Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs for the World Team spot.
Burroughs beat Dake twice in the finals two years ago in this event, winning by technical fall in the first bout and in overtime in the second bout.
“I’m real excited for another opportunity to wrestle Jordan,” Dake said. “He’s obviously a great competitor and I really look forward to wrestling him. I know he’s going to come out like a ball of fire and I have to be ready for it.
“He’s a great wrestler, but he’s not invincible.”
Dake missed last year’s Trials with an injury. He powered in on a pair of double-leg shots to take charge early against Taylor.
Two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver came out strong en route to an 8-5 win over four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber in the Challenge finals at 65 kg/143 lbs. Oliver will face three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf in the finals.
Metcalf beat Oliver in the finals of this event last year and again at last month’s U.S. Open.
Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner downed two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman 2-2 on criteria in the Challenge finals at 97 kg/213 lbs.
Varner will face Junior World champion Kyle Snyder in the finals. Snyder beat Varner in the U.S. Open finals to earn a spot in the best-of-3 finals at the Trials.
2015 Senior World Team Trials
June 13-14, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.
Finals matchups
61 kg/134 lbs.
Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC) vs. Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC) vs. Jordan Oliver, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Kyle Snyder, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
MADISON, Wis. – Daniel Dennis wasn’t going to stop wrestling until the final second ticked off the clock.
That was clearly evident when Dennis scored just before time expired to knock off Kendric Maple to win the U.S. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament on Sunday at the Alliant Energy Center.
Dennis had earlier defeated Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott en route to the Challenge finals at 61 kg/134 lbs.
Dennis, an NCAA runner-up for Iowa, now advances to meet two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey in the best-of-3 finals. Humphrey earned a spot in the finals by virtue of winning last month’s U.S. Open.
“Both those guys are really, really good – they’re probably better than me,” said Dennis, who is back competing after being off the mat the last two years. “I just stayed really, really, really solid and I didn’t just give up any position. I felt like I was in control.
“I’m not surprised to be in the finals. I know I’m capable.”
The Dennis-Maple match was tied 4-4 late before Dennis scored a takedown just before time ran out to win 6-4. Neither Dennis nor Maple appeared to realize who had the advantage in the closing seconds.
“Hell if I know – I still don’t know,” Dennis told the Des Moines Register. “Maple’s corner was screaming like he’s got to go and I’m thinking he’s losing. Then he’s coming at me like a bat out of hell and I hear I’m losing. It was like, I might as well score the last takedown and not let the score be even.”
The best-of-3 finals are set for 4:45 p.m. Central. NBCSN is going live with a 90-minute broadcast from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Champions at the Trials advance to September’s World Championships in Las Vegas.
Four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake stormed into the best-of-3 finals with a decisive 8-2 win over two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor at 74 kg/163 lbs. Taylor was second at the 2014 Trials.
“David’s a great competitor and we’ve battled a lot,” Dake said. “That’s the worst I’ve beaten him, so that gives me a lot of confidence going into my matches later today. David is very talented and I couldn’t overlook him.”
Dake will face Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs for the World Team spot.
Burroughs beat Dake twice in the finals two years ago in this event, winning by technical fall in the first bout and in overtime in the second bout.
“I’m real excited for another opportunity to wrestle Jordan,” Dake said. “He’s obviously a great competitor and I really look forward to wrestling him. I know he’s going to come out like a ball of fire and I have to be ready for it.
“He’s a great wrestler, but he’s not invincible.”
Dake missed last year’s Trials with an injury. He powered in on a pair of double-leg shots to take charge early against Taylor.
Two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver came out strong en route to an 8-5 win over four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber in the Challenge finals at 65 kg/143 lbs. Oliver will face three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf in the finals.
Metcalf beat Oliver in the finals of this event last year and again at last month’s U.S. Open.
Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner downed two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman 2-2 on criteria in the Challenge finals at 97 kg/213 lbs.
Varner will face Junior World champion Kyle Snyder in the finals. Snyder beat Varner in the U.S. Open finals to earn a spot in the best-of-3 finals at the Trials.
2015 Senior World Team Trials
June 13-14, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.
Finals matchups
61 kg/134 lbs.
Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC) vs. Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC) vs. Jordan Oliver, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Kyle Snyder, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
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