Medalists Burroughs, Varner, Dlagnev, Herbert, Scott among men’s freestyle stars going into U.S. Open
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Two-time World medalist and defending U.S. Open champion Tervel Dlagnev, shown scoring a takedown at the 2015 World Cup, is among the men’s freestyle stars heading into the U.S. Open. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
Believe it or not, we are just a little over one year away from another Olympic Games.
So top American wrestlers are trying to make their mark and establish momentum as we move closer to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The 2014 U.S. freestyle season was highlighted by the success of veterans Jordan Burroughs and Tervel Dlagnev, who both won bronze medals at the World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Burroughs continues to wrestle at a very high level and he is now 102-2 in his amazing international career. He went 4-0 at the World Cup in April in Los Angeles.
Burroughs won World, Olympic and World titles from 2011-13 before earning bronze at the 2014 Worlds despite being injured in his first-round match.
Burroughs rallied for an exciting win over David Taylor to win the 2014 U.S. Open, but Burroughs may not wrestle at the Open this year. Burroughs has clinched a spot in the finals of June’s World Team Trials by virtue of winning a World medal in 2014.
Dlagnev went 2-0 at the World Cup as he looks to build on the momentum he gained after winning his second World medal last season.
Dlagnev also has clinched a spot in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials by virtue of winning a medal at the 2014 Worlds.
The U.S. team looks very strong after placing second behind Iran at the World Cup.
The top five finishers in each weight class at the U.S. Open will qualify for the U.S. World Team Trials on June 12-14 in Madison, Wis.
The World Championships are scheduled for Sept. 7-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
The lightest freestyle weight class has seen a number of different wrestlers represent the U.S. at the Worlds and Olympics in recent years.
Tony Ramos was the latest American World Teamer in 2014. He dropped his opening bout at the 2014 Worlds, falling 7-4 to Bekhbayar Erdenebat of Mongolia. Erdenebat went on to place fifth.
Ramos has wrestled well this season. He won the Grand Prix of Paris and is coming off a solid performance at the World Cup. He wrestled superbly against past World champion Hassan Rahimi of Iran at the World Cup before falling 5-5 on criteria.
Young wrestlers Tyler Graff and Joe Colon also have burst onto the scene this season at 57 kg. Graff won the Dave Schultz Memorial and Colon won the Bill Farrell International.
Matt McDonough also will be in the mix in this division. McDonough was third at the 2014 World Team Trials and won a bronze medal at the 2014 University World Championships. He took third at the Brazil Cup and the Grand Prix of Paris this season.
Veteran Angel Escobedo, fifth at the 2013 Worlds, remains a strong contender as well in this class along with veterans Andrew Hochstrasser, Dan Mitcheff, Brandon Precin and Frank Perrelli. Escobedo finished third at the Dave Schultz event this season.
Hochstrasser won the Pan American Championships at 61 kg/134 lbs. in late April.
The always dangerous and exciting Nick Simmons, fifth at the 2011 Worlds, went 3-2 at the Dave Schultz Memorial this season. He pinned Colon in that event, but lost by fall to Graff.
Zach Sanders placed second at the Pan American Championships at 57 kg.
NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State, another top freestyler, could be another guy to watch if he enters. Tomasello was a three-time Junior Nationals champion who placed second at the 2014 Junior World Team Trials.
2014 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel, a 2012 Olympian, is not expected to compete in the Open this year. He has been sidelined with an injury.
61 kg/134 lbs.
Two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey may be dropping back down to this weight class after competing at 65 kg earlier this season.
Humphrey is a very gifted and talented wrestler who is capable of beating anybody on the planet. Humphrey was second at the Dave Schultz and Cerro Pelado events at 65 kg this season.
2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott, second to Jimmy Kennedy at the 2014 World Team Trials, is back wrestling again.
Scott went 1-3 at the World Cup, but looked much stronger on the second day of the event. With more mat time, Scott can still be a force in this class.
Teenager Joey McKenna also could be in the mix in this division. McKenna, 19, who placed second at the 2014 Junior Worlds, won the Senior-level Cerro Pelado International in Cuba this year.
Veteran B.J. Futrell, second at the 2014 University Worlds, also could be a factor here if he competes. Futrell has been slowed by injuries, but is very good when he’s healthy.
This weight class could also see wrestlers from the loaded and deep 57 kg class, who may try to move up and make the team at 61 kg.
65 kg/143 lbs.
Three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf is the favorite in what is once again a very loaded weight class. Metcalf is the returning U.S. Open champion.
Metcalf turned in another strong performance at the World Cup, winning all four of his bouts in L.A. He beat two-time World medalists from Iran and Mongolia in that event.
2014 World Team Trials runner-up Jordan Oliver remains the most talented wrestler in this division. He looked strong in winning the Dave Schultz Memorial this season. He then moved up a weight class and took third at the Yasar Dogu in Turkey.
18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico is ready to make a big impact in this division. Pico has won the Henri Deglane and Cerro Pelado tournaments this season, and is already 17-3 on the Senior level.
Pico lost 4-1 to Metcalf in an AGON event in April in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was the first time they’ve faced each other. Pico won a Cadet World title in 2013 and a Junior World silver medal in 2014.
Four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber also can’t be overlooked in this strong weight class. Stieber was second at the 2012 Olympic Trials and is a very good freestyler who is a past Junior World silver medalist. Stieber was third at the 2014 U.S. Open.
Jimmy Kennedy, a 2014 World Team member at 61 kg, also will be in the mix after bumping up a weight class this season. Kennedy placed third at the tough Yasar Dogu in Turkey at 65 kg this season.
Frank Molinaro, third at the 2014 World Team Trials, and Kellen Russell, second at the 2014 U.S. Open, also are in this class along with veterans Jason Chamberlain and Chase Pami.
Chamberlain won the Pan American Championships.
2012 Cadet World champion Zain Retherford, who redshirted this past season at Penn State, looked good in placing fourth at the Dave Schultz Memorial earlier this year.
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable has emerged as the top dog in a weight class that features a number of very good young wrestlers. Marable is the returning U.S. Open champion.
The powerful Marable placed eighth at the 2014 Worlds and continues to wrestle at a high level this season. He won the Dave Schultz Memorial this season and went 2-2 at the World Cup.
Dustin Schlatter, a 2009 World Team member at 74 kg, has returned to competition full-time this season at 70 kg. He placed second to Marable at the Schultz and was second at the Cerro Pelado this year. He also recently won the Pan American Championships.
James Green, second to Marable at the 2014 World Team Trials, now shifts his full-time focus to freestyle after finishing his collegiate career. Green was second at the 2014 University Worlds.
Veteran Kyle Ruschell was third at the 2014 World Team Trials. Ruschell won the Brazil Cup earlier this season. Jason Welch placed fourth at the Trials last year.
Veteran Adam Hall has had a strong season, placing second at the Bill Farrell International and third at the Grand Prix of Paris.
Moza Fay also is another top athlete in this division. Fay was second at the 2014 U.S. Open. Jason Welch and Kevin LeValley also could be in the mix here.
Isaiah Martinez, a 2015 NCAA champion as a freshman for Illinois, also could be a factor if he enters. The explosive Martinez was second at the 2014 Junior World Team Trials in freestyle.
74 kg/163 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs would be the favorite here if he chooses to compete, but he’s already clinched a spot in the finals of the World Team Trials by virtue of being a returning World medalist.
Burroughs has won the last three U.S. Opens, including earning a wild and improbable comeback win over David Taylor in last year’s Open finals.
Taylor returned to the mat and placed fifth at the Yasar Dogu in Turkey in late March. He won his first three matches before falling to 2014 World champions Denis Tsargush of Russia (74 kg) and Khetik Tsabolov of Russia (70 kg) in his last two bouts.
Taylor was also second to Burroughs at the 2014 World Team Trials.
Veteran Andrew Howe has had a superb season. He went 5-0 at the Freestyle World Clubs Cup in Iran, knocking off 2013 World silver medalist Ezatollah Akbari of Iran in his last match. He followed that with a strong second-place finish at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia.
Howe placed third at the 2014 World Team Trials. He was second to Burroughs at the 2011 World Team Trials and 2012 Olympic Trials.
Kyle Dake, second to Burroughs at the 2013 World Team Trials, also will be a factor if he enters. Dake has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons, but he’s already beaten a number of World medalists in his career. Among his wins was a victory early last season over Tsargush, who went on to win his third World title in 2014.
This weight also includes proven freestylers in Colt Sponseller, Tyler Caldwell and Ian Miller. Sponseller was third and Caldwell fourth at the Dave Schultz this season.
Caldwell won a University World title last year. Miller won the 2014 University Nationals, pinning Caldwell twice in the final-round series.
Caldwell won the Pan American Championships title in late April, and was named Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle. Caldwell was third at the 2014 U.S. Open.
Two-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer, a 2013 Junior World silver medalist, also could make some noise if he chooses to enter in Las Vegas.
Quinton Godley was second and Dan Vallimont third at the Bill Farrell International this season. Godley was fourth at the 2014 U.S. Open.
86 kg/189 lbs.
Ed Ruth came right out of college to make the World Team in 2014, and returned to freestyle competition in March.
Ruth pinned 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert in a Flo Wrestling event prior to the 2015 NCAAs before going 1-1 at the World Cup.
Ruth did earn a wild and impressive 22-13 win over World silver medalist Reineris Salas of Cuba before being injured in a loss to Russia’s Dauren Kurugliev.
Herbert, a 2012 Olympian, has returned this season and remains a strong contender in this class. He placed fifth at an event in Russia early this season.
2013 World Team member Keith Gavin, second to Ruth at the 2014 Trials, placed third at the Yasar Dogu after going 4-1 in Turkey.
Two-time NCAA champion Chris Perry placed second at the Pan American Championships. He was third at the 2014 World Team Trials and second at the University Worlds last year.
Veteran Clayton Foster also has had a strong season. He won the Dave Schultz, placed second at the Cerro Pelado and third at the Brazil Cup. He was 1-1 at the World Cup.
Gavin beat Foster in the 2014 U.S. Open finals, with Ruth placing third.
Richard Perry also has emerged as a force in this weight class. He won the Bill Farrell International before placing second at the Dave Schultz and third at the Alexander Medved International in Belarus.
Deron Winn was second behind Perry at the Bill Farrell event.
Phil Keddy finished fifth at the Yarygin this season in Russia. Jon Reader was third and Austin Trotman fourth at the Bill Farrell International. Robert Hamlin was fourth at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
97 kg/213 lbs.
2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner returned to the mat last season and made his third World Team in 2014. Varner is the returning U.S. Open champion.
Varner looked strong in going 3-1 at the World Cup. He scored a last-second takedown to beat 2014 World medalist Mohammad Mohammdian of Iran in his last match at the World Cup. He also defeated 2014 World bronze medalist Javier Cortina of Cuba in that event.
Two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman is back healthy again. He’s won two tournaments – the Brazil Cup and the Cerro Pelado – this season.
Cayle Byers has had a superb season, winning the Dave Schultz Memorial with a strong showing. He beat 2014 World Team Trials runner-up Dustin Kilgore in the finals.
Kilgore is coming off a win at the Pan American Championships.
Veteran Wynn Michalak, second at the 2014 U.S. Open, also remains a factor in this division. He won the Cerro Pelado this season, notching a win over Cortina in that competition.
Micah Burak is another contender in this class. Burak rebounded from a close loss to Byers in the first round to place third at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
Enock Francois won the Bill Farrell International this season and Matt Gibson was third in that event.
19-year-old Kyle Snyder also could make some noise in this weight class. Snyder won a 2013 Junior World title before placing third at the 2014 Junior Worlds. Snyder is coming off a second-place finish for Ohio State at the 2015 NCAA tournament.
125 kg/275 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev has been a fixture atop this weight class, making every U.S. World or Olympic Team but one since 2009. Dlagnev is the returning U.S. Open champion.
Dlagnev won his second World bronze medal in 2014. He went 2-0 at April’s World Cup.
Dlagnev is expected to compete at the Open even though he’s already landed a spot in the finals of the World Team Trials by virtue of being a returning World medalist.
Veteran Zach Rey, second to the Dlagnev at the 2014 World Team Trials, continues to excel in this weight class.
Rey won the Brazil Cup and Cerro Pelado this season before finishing third at the Alexander Medved International in Belarus. He went 1-1 at the World Cup. Rey is coming off a gold-medal performance at the Pan American Championships.
Talented young Tyrell Fortune, third at the 2014 Open and World Team Trials, also could contend if he’s healthy. Fortune won a University World title in 2014 and also won the Bill Farrell International this season.
Past Junior World champion Dom Bradley also can’t be overlooked. Bradley was second to Fortune at the Bill Farrell event this season. He also placed second at the Dave Schultz Memorial in February.
Bradley was second at the 2014 U.S. Open. Fortune beat Rey in the third-place match in that event.
Two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski is another very good freestyler at heavyweight. He placed fourth at the 2014 World Team Trials.
Two-time NCAA champion Tony Nelson placed third at the Dave Schultz and Cerro Pelado this season.
Eric Thompson was second at the Guelph Open and fourth at the Bill Farrell this season. Matthew Meuleners placed fourth at the Dave Schultz in 2015.
2014 U.S. OPEN FREESTYLE RESULTS
57 kg /125.5 lbs.
1st - Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC), 11-0
3rd - Danny Mitcheff, Lorain, Ohio (NEORTC) dec. Tyler Graff, Madison, Wis. (NYAC), 7-4
5th - Zach Sanders, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Ryan Mango, Palo Alto, Calif. (Cardinal Wrestling Club), 6-2
7th - Mark McKnight, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Josh Heinzer, Lake Stevens, Neb. (MWC Wrestling Academy/Midland Univ.), 15-12
61 kg/134 lbs.
1st - Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/MRTC) dec. Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC), 7-2
3rd - Bernard Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Matt McDonough, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
5th - Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Panther WC Of NE Iowa) tech. fall Conor Beebe, Western Springs, Ill. (Beebe Trained), 19-8
7th - Brandon Precin, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/Michigan RTC) dec. Kyle Jahn, Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bristol Gladiators), 9-3
65 kg/143 lbs.
1st - Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, IA (NYAC/Hawkeye WC) dec. Kellen Russell, High Bridge, N.J (NYAC/MRTC), 9-0
3rd - Logan Stieber, Norwalk, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC) dec. Frank Molinaro, South Plainfield, N.J. (Nittany Lion WC), 4-2
5th - Reece Humphrey, Columbus, OH (NYAC/Ohio RTC) forfeit Jordan Oliver, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
7th - Nick Dardanes, Oak Park, Ill. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Jason Chamberlain, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC), 2-1
70 kg/154 lbs.
1st – Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/Missouri WF) dec. Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army/WCAP), 5-1
3rd - Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (NYAC) dec. Kevin LeValley, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 6-4
5th - James Green, Willingboro, N.J.(Titan Mercury WC) inj. dft. Jason Welch, Evanston, Ill. (Chicago RTC/Wrestling Prep), 0:00
7th - Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Hunter Stieber, Norwalk, Ohio (Ohio RTC), 10-3
74 kg/163 lbs.
1st - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska Wrestling TC) dec. David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 7-6
3rd - Tyler Caldwell, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Quinton Godley, Raleigh, N.C. (Wolfpack WC), 3-1
5th - Taylor Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (Cliff Keen WC) dec. Thomas Gantt, Raleigh, N.C. (Wolfpack WC), 9-6
7th - Jesse Stafford, Loomis, Colo. (Rocky Mountain RTC) tech. fall Connor Keating, Montpelier, Vermont (Rock Eater Wrestling), 13-3
86 kg/189 lbs.
1st – Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) dec. Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo (GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC), 7-4
3rd - Edward Ruth, Harrisburg, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Jon Reader, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 12-11
5th - Robert Hamlin, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club) inj. dft. Phillip Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 0:00
7th - Quentin Wright, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) won by forfeit Raymond Jordan, Atlanta, Ga. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
1st – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC), 4-0
3rd - J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC) tech. fall Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
5th - Micah Burak, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC) dec. David Zabriskie, Nothampton, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC), 7-1
7th - Cameron Simaz, Ithaca, NY (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Evan Brown, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
125 kg/275 lbs.
1st – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids WC/Ohio RTC) tech. fall Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/Missouri WF),10-0
3rd - Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Zachery Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC), 4-1
5th - Jarod Trice, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Matthew Meuleners, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC), 6-3
7th - Justin Grant, Easton, Pa. (NYAC/BWC) dec. Kyle Massey, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/MRTC), 5-1
Outstanding Wrestler – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 74 kg
Team Awards – 1. Titan Mercury WC 79, 2. Sunkist Kids, 50
Regional Training Center Cup awards – 1. Nittany Lion WC, 55 ; Ohio RTC, 48
Believe it or not, we are just a little over one year away from another Olympic Games.
So top American wrestlers are trying to make their mark and establish momentum as we move closer to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The 2014 U.S. freestyle season was highlighted by the success of veterans Jordan Burroughs and Tervel Dlagnev, who both won bronze medals at the World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Burroughs continues to wrestle at a very high level and he is now 102-2 in his amazing international career. He went 4-0 at the World Cup in April in Los Angeles.
Burroughs won World, Olympic and World titles from 2011-13 before earning bronze at the 2014 Worlds despite being injured in his first-round match.
Burroughs rallied for an exciting win over David Taylor to win the 2014 U.S. Open, but Burroughs may not wrestle at the Open this year. Burroughs has clinched a spot in the finals of June’s World Team Trials by virtue of winning a World medal in 2014.
Dlagnev went 2-0 at the World Cup as he looks to build on the momentum he gained after winning his second World medal last season.
Dlagnev also has clinched a spot in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials by virtue of winning a medal at the 2014 Worlds.
The U.S. team looks very strong after placing second behind Iran at the World Cup.
The top five finishers in each weight class at the U.S. Open will qualify for the U.S. World Team Trials on June 12-14 in Madison, Wis.
The World Championships are scheduled for Sept. 7-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
The lightest freestyle weight class has seen a number of different wrestlers represent the U.S. at the Worlds and Olympics in recent years.
Tony Ramos was the latest American World Teamer in 2014. He dropped his opening bout at the 2014 Worlds, falling 7-4 to Bekhbayar Erdenebat of Mongolia. Erdenebat went on to place fifth.
Ramos has wrestled well this season. He won the Grand Prix of Paris and is coming off a solid performance at the World Cup. He wrestled superbly against past World champion Hassan Rahimi of Iran at the World Cup before falling 5-5 on criteria.
Young wrestlers Tyler Graff and Joe Colon also have burst onto the scene this season at 57 kg. Graff won the Dave Schultz Memorial and Colon won the Bill Farrell International.
Matt McDonough also will be in the mix in this division. McDonough was third at the 2014 World Team Trials and won a bronze medal at the 2014 University World Championships. He took third at the Brazil Cup and the Grand Prix of Paris this season.
Veteran Angel Escobedo, fifth at the 2013 Worlds, remains a strong contender as well in this class along with veterans Andrew Hochstrasser, Dan Mitcheff, Brandon Precin and Frank Perrelli. Escobedo finished third at the Dave Schultz event this season.
Hochstrasser won the Pan American Championships at 61 kg/134 lbs. in late April.
The always dangerous and exciting Nick Simmons, fifth at the 2011 Worlds, went 3-2 at the Dave Schultz Memorial this season. He pinned Colon in that event, but lost by fall to Graff.
Zach Sanders placed second at the Pan American Championships at 57 kg.
NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State, another top freestyler, could be another guy to watch if he enters. Tomasello was a three-time Junior Nationals champion who placed second at the 2014 Junior World Team Trials.
2014 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel, a 2012 Olympian, is not expected to compete in the Open this year. He has been sidelined with an injury.
61 kg/134 lbs.
Two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey may be dropping back down to this weight class after competing at 65 kg earlier this season.
Humphrey is a very gifted and talented wrestler who is capable of beating anybody on the planet. Humphrey was second at the Dave Schultz and Cerro Pelado events at 65 kg this season.
2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott, second to Jimmy Kennedy at the 2014 World Team Trials, is back wrestling again.
Scott went 1-3 at the World Cup, but looked much stronger on the second day of the event. With more mat time, Scott can still be a force in this class.
Teenager Joey McKenna also could be in the mix in this division. McKenna, 19, who placed second at the 2014 Junior Worlds, won the Senior-level Cerro Pelado International in Cuba this year.
Veteran B.J. Futrell, second at the 2014 University Worlds, also could be a factor here if he competes. Futrell has been slowed by injuries, but is very good when he’s healthy.
This weight class could also see wrestlers from the loaded and deep 57 kg class, who may try to move up and make the team at 61 kg.
65 kg/143 lbs.
Three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf is the favorite in what is once again a very loaded weight class. Metcalf is the returning U.S. Open champion.
Metcalf turned in another strong performance at the World Cup, winning all four of his bouts in L.A. He beat two-time World medalists from Iran and Mongolia in that event.
2014 World Team Trials runner-up Jordan Oliver remains the most talented wrestler in this division. He looked strong in winning the Dave Schultz Memorial this season. He then moved up a weight class and took third at the Yasar Dogu in Turkey.
18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico is ready to make a big impact in this division. Pico has won the Henri Deglane and Cerro Pelado tournaments this season, and is already 17-3 on the Senior level.
Pico lost 4-1 to Metcalf in an AGON event in April in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was the first time they’ve faced each other. Pico won a Cadet World title in 2013 and a Junior World silver medal in 2014.
Four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber also can’t be overlooked in this strong weight class. Stieber was second at the 2012 Olympic Trials and is a very good freestyler who is a past Junior World silver medalist. Stieber was third at the 2014 U.S. Open.
Jimmy Kennedy, a 2014 World Team member at 61 kg, also will be in the mix after bumping up a weight class this season. Kennedy placed third at the tough Yasar Dogu in Turkey at 65 kg this season.
Frank Molinaro, third at the 2014 World Team Trials, and Kellen Russell, second at the 2014 U.S. Open, also are in this class along with veterans Jason Chamberlain and Chase Pami.
Chamberlain won the Pan American Championships.
2012 Cadet World champion Zain Retherford, who redshirted this past season at Penn State, looked good in placing fourth at the Dave Schultz Memorial earlier this year.
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable has emerged as the top dog in a weight class that features a number of very good young wrestlers. Marable is the returning U.S. Open champion.
The powerful Marable placed eighth at the 2014 Worlds and continues to wrestle at a high level this season. He won the Dave Schultz Memorial this season and went 2-2 at the World Cup.
Dustin Schlatter, a 2009 World Team member at 74 kg, has returned to competition full-time this season at 70 kg. He placed second to Marable at the Schultz and was second at the Cerro Pelado this year. He also recently won the Pan American Championships.
James Green, second to Marable at the 2014 World Team Trials, now shifts his full-time focus to freestyle after finishing his collegiate career. Green was second at the 2014 University Worlds.
Veteran Kyle Ruschell was third at the 2014 World Team Trials. Ruschell won the Brazil Cup earlier this season. Jason Welch placed fourth at the Trials last year.
Veteran Adam Hall has had a strong season, placing second at the Bill Farrell International and third at the Grand Prix of Paris.
Moza Fay also is another top athlete in this division. Fay was second at the 2014 U.S. Open. Jason Welch and Kevin LeValley also could be in the mix here.
Isaiah Martinez, a 2015 NCAA champion as a freshman for Illinois, also could be a factor if he enters. The explosive Martinez was second at the 2014 Junior World Team Trials in freestyle.
74 kg/163 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs would be the favorite here if he chooses to compete, but he’s already clinched a spot in the finals of the World Team Trials by virtue of being a returning World medalist.
Burroughs has won the last three U.S. Opens, including earning a wild and improbable comeback win over David Taylor in last year’s Open finals.
Taylor returned to the mat and placed fifth at the Yasar Dogu in Turkey in late March. He won his first three matches before falling to 2014 World champions Denis Tsargush of Russia (74 kg) and Khetik Tsabolov of Russia (70 kg) in his last two bouts.
Taylor was also second to Burroughs at the 2014 World Team Trials.
Veteran Andrew Howe has had a superb season. He went 5-0 at the Freestyle World Clubs Cup in Iran, knocking off 2013 World silver medalist Ezatollah Akbari of Iran in his last match. He followed that with a strong second-place finish at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia.
Howe placed third at the 2014 World Team Trials. He was second to Burroughs at the 2011 World Team Trials and 2012 Olympic Trials.
Kyle Dake, second to Burroughs at the 2013 World Team Trials, also will be a factor if he enters. Dake has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons, but he’s already beaten a number of World medalists in his career. Among his wins was a victory early last season over Tsargush, who went on to win his third World title in 2014.
This weight also includes proven freestylers in Colt Sponseller, Tyler Caldwell and Ian Miller. Sponseller was third and Caldwell fourth at the Dave Schultz this season.
Caldwell won a University World title last year. Miller won the 2014 University Nationals, pinning Caldwell twice in the final-round series.
Caldwell won the Pan American Championships title in late April, and was named Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle. Caldwell was third at the 2014 U.S. Open.
Two-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer, a 2013 Junior World silver medalist, also could make some noise if he chooses to enter in Las Vegas.
Quinton Godley was second and Dan Vallimont third at the Bill Farrell International this season. Godley was fourth at the 2014 U.S. Open.
86 kg/189 lbs.
Ed Ruth came right out of college to make the World Team in 2014, and returned to freestyle competition in March.
Ruth pinned 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert in a Flo Wrestling event prior to the 2015 NCAAs before going 1-1 at the World Cup.
Ruth did earn a wild and impressive 22-13 win over World silver medalist Reineris Salas of Cuba before being injured in a loss to Russia’s Dauren Kurugliev.
Herbert, a 2012 Olympian, has returned this season and remains a strong contender in this class. He placed fifth at an event in Russia early this season.
2013 World Team member Keith Gavin, second to Ruth at the 2014 Trials, placed third at the Yasar Dogu after going 4-1 in Turkey.
Two-time NCAA champion Chris Perry placed second at the Pan American Championships. He was third at the 2014 World Team Trials and second at the University Worlds last year.
Veteran Clayton Foster also has had a strong season. He won the Dave Schultz, placed second at the Cerro Pelado and third at the Brazil Cup. He was 1-1 at the World Cup.
Gavin beat Foster in the 2014 U.S. Open finals, with Ruth placing third.
Richard Perry also has emerged as a force in this weight class. He won the Bill Farrell International before placing second at the Dave Schultz and third at the Alexander Medved International in Belarus.
Deron Winn was second behind Perry at the Bill Farrell event.
Phil Keddy finished fifth at the Yarygin this season in Russia. Jon Reader was third and Austin Trotman fourth at the Bill Farrell International. Robert Hamlin was fourth at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
97 kg/213 lbs.
2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner returned to the mat last season and made his third World Team in 2014. Varner is the returning U.S. Open champion.
Varner looked strong in going 3-1 at the World Cup. He scored a last-second takedown to beat 2014 World medalist Mohammad Mohammdian of Iran in his last match at the World Cup. He also defeated 2014 World bronze medalist Javier Cortina of Cuba in that event.
Two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman is back healthy again. He’s won two tournaments – the Brazil Cup and the Cerro Pelado – this season.
Cayle Byers has had a superb season, winning the Dave Schultz Memorial with a strong showing. He beat 2014 World Team Trials runner-up Dustin Kilgore in the finals.
Kilgore is coming off a win at the Pan American Championships.
Veteran Wynn Michalak, second at the 2014 U.S. Open, also remains a factor in this division. He won the Cerro Pelado this season, notching a win over Cortina in that competition.
Micah Burak is another contender in this class. Burak rebounded from a close loss to Byers in the first round to place third at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
Enock Francois won the Bill Farrell International this season and Matt Gibson was third in that event.
19-year-old Kyle Snyder also could make some noise in this weight class. Snyder won a 2013 Junior World title before placing third at the 2014 Junior Worlds. Snyder is coming off a second-place finish for Ohio State at the 2015 NCAA tournament.
125 kg/275 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev has been a fixture atop this weight class, making every U.S. World or Olympic Team but one since 2009. Dlagnev is the returning U.S. Open champion.
Dlagnev won his second World bronze medal in 2014. He went 2-0 at April’s World Cup.
Dlagnev is expected to compete at the Open even though he’s already landed a spot in the finals of the World Team Trials by virtue of being a returning World medalist.
Veteran Zach Rey, second to the Dlagnev at the 2014 World Team Trials, continues to excel in this weight class.
Rey won the Brazil Cup and Cerro Pelado this season before finishing third at the Alexander Medved International in Belarus. He went 1-1 at the World Cup. Rey is coming off a gold-medal performance at the Pan American Championships.
Talented young Tyrell Fortune, third at the 2014 Open and World Team Trials, also could contend if he’s healthy. Fortune won a University World title in 2014 and also won the Bill Farrell International this season.
Past Junior World champion Dom Bradley also can’t be overlooked. Bradley was second to Fortune at the Bill Farrell event this season. He also placed second at the Dave Schultz Memorial in February.
Bradley was second at the 2014 U.S. Open. Fortune beat Rey in the third-place match in that event.
Two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski is another very good freestyler at heavyweight. He placed fourth at the 2014 World Team Trials.
Two-time NCAA champion Tony Nelson placed third at the Dave Schultz and Cerro Pelado this season.
Eric Thompson was second at the Guelph Open and fourth at the Bill Farrell this season. Matthew Meuleners placed fourth at the Dave Schultz in 2015.
2014 U.S. OPEN FREESTYLE RESULTS
57 kg /125.5 lbs.
1st - Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC), 11-0
3rd - Danny Mitcheff, Lorain, Ohio (NEORTC) dec. Tyler Graff, Madison, Wis. (NYAC), 7-4
5th - Zach Sanders, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Ryan Mango, Palo Alto, Calif. (Cardinal Wrestling Club), 6-2
7th - Mark McKnight, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Josh Heinzer, Lake Stevens, Neb. (MWC Wrestling Academy/Midland Univ.), 15-12
61 kg/134 lbs.
1st - Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/MRTC) dec. Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC), 7-2
3rd - Bernard Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Matt McDonough, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
5th - Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Panther WC Of NE Iowa) tech. fall Conor Beebe, Western Springs, Ill. (Beebe Trained), 19-8
7th - Brandon Precin, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/Michigan RTC) dec. Kyle Jahn, Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bristol Gladiators), 9-3
65 kg/143 lbs.
1st - Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, IA (NYAC/Hawkeye WC) dec. Kellen Russell, High Bridge, N.J (NYAC/MRTC), 9-0
3rd - Logan Stieber, Norwalk, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC) dec. Frank Molinaro, South Plainfield, N.J. (Nittany Lion WC), 4-2
5th - Reece Humphrey, Columbus, OH (NYAC/Ohio RTC) forfeit Jordan Oliver, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
7th - Nick Dardanes, Oak Park, Ill. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Jason Chamberlain, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC), 2-1
70 kg/154 lbs.
1st – Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/Missouri WF) dec. Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army/WCAP), 5-1
3rd - Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (NYAC) dec. Kevin LeValley, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 6-4
5th - James Green, Willingboro, N.J.(Titan Mercury WC) inj. dft. Jason Welch, Evanston, Ill. (Chicago RTC/Wrestling Prep), 0:00
7th - Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Hunter Stieber, Norwalk, Ohio (Ohio RTC), 10-3
74 kg/163 lbs.
1st - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska Wrestling TC) dec. David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 7-6
3rd - Tyler Caldwell, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Quinton Godley, Raleigh, N.C. (Wolfpack WC), 3-1
5th - Taylor Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (Cliff Keen WC) dec. Thomas Gantt, Raleigh, N.C. (Wolfpack WC), 9-6
7th - Jesse Stafford, Loomis, Colo. (Rocky Mountain RTC) tech. fall Connor Keating, Montpelier, Vermont (Rock Eater Wrestling), 13-3
86 kg/189 lbs.
1st – Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) dec. Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo (GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC), 7-4
3rd - Edward Ruth, Harrisburg, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Jon Reader, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 12-11
5th - Robert Hamlin, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club) inj. dft. Phillip Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 0:00
7th - Quentin Wright, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) won by forfeit Raymond Jordan, Atlanta, Ga. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
1st – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC), 4-0
3rd - J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC) tech. fall Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
5th - Micah Burak, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC) dec. David Zabriskie, Nothampton, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC), 7-1
7th - Cameron Simaz, Ithaca, NY (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Evan Brown, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
125 kg/275 lbs.
1st – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids WC/Ohio RTC) tech. fall Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/Missouri WF),10-0
3rd - Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Zachery Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC), 4-1
5th - Jarod Trice, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Matthew Meuleners, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC), 6-3
7th - Justin Grant, Easton, Pa. (NYAC/BWC) dec. Kyle Massey, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/MRTC), 5-1
Outstanding Wrestler – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 74 kg
Team Awards – 1. Titan Mercury WC 79, 2. Sunkist Kids, 50
Regional Training Center Cup awards – 1. Nittany Lion WC, 55 ; Ohio RTC, 48
