Lester, Saddoris, Holm, Smith win U.S. Open Greco titles
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Justin Lester captured his sixth U.S. Open title in Greco-Roman on Friday night in Las Vegas. Robbert Wijtman photo.
LAS VEGAS – Justin Lester is eager for a shot at another World medal.
The two-time World bronze medalist is headed in the right direction.
Lester executed a spectacular throw at the end of the first period en route to downing Pat Smith 7-2 in the U.S. Open Greco-Roman finals on Friday night at the South Point Arena
Lester, a 2012 Olympian, won the title at 71 kg/156 lbs. to capture his sixth Open title
“I’m feeling really good,” Lester said. “It was a good tournament for me. I made the matches I had count. I’m excited to see where I can go from here.”
The top two finishers at the U.S. Open will advance to the Greco-Roman World Team Trials on June 4 in Ithaca, N.Y. The U.S. Open champion will enter the Trials with a 1-0 match lead over the runner-up in the best-of-3 match series.
Jordan Holm, a two-time World Team member, rolled to a 9-0 technical fall win over Jon Anderson in the finals at 185 kg/187 lbs. Holm lifted and planted Anderson on the mat to punctuate the win.
Holm won his fourth U.S. Open title.
“I try to get better every day,” Holm said. “I want to be a World champion. I know I need to keep getting better and I know I need to keep working. I’m working as hard as I can to reach my goal.”
Heavyweight Robby Smith, fifth in the World in 2013 and a two-time World Team member, put on a show with a pair of big moves to defeat Toby Erickson 9-0 in the finals at 130 kg/286 lbs. Smith won his second U.S. Open title.
“Go big or go home,” Smith said. “There is no pausing, no stopping. Once you lock, you throw. It was good to get that throw. I just want to get back to Worlds this year. I’m excited to get back on that World stage and wrestle.”
2014 World Team member Bryce Saddoris, a Nevada native and backed by a vocal rooting section, downed Alejandro Sancho 1-0 to win the title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Saddoris won his first U.S. Open title.
“I just have to keep training like I have been,” Saddoris said. “I will get back in the room, and make some adjustments and improvements. I need to work on moving my feet and wrestle tough on top.”
The other four Greco-Roman weight classes will be contested at the U.S. Open on Saturday.
U.S. Open
May 8, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Greco-Roman finals
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Bryce Saddoris (U.S. Marines) dec. Alejandro Sancho (New York AC), 1-0
71 kg/156 lbs.
Justin Lester (U.S. Army) dec. Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm), 7-2
85 kg/187 lbs.
Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm) won by tech. fall over Jon Anderson (U.S. Army), 9-0
130 kg/286 lbs.
Robby Smith (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Toby Erickson (New York AC), 9-0
LAS VEGAS – Justin Lester is eager for a shot at another World medal.
The two-time World bronze medalist is headed in the right direction.
Lester executed a spectacular throw at the end of the first period en route to downing Pat Smith 7-2 in the U.S. Open Greco-Roman finals on Friday night at the South Point Arena
Lester, a 2012 Olympian, won the title at 71 kg/156 lbs. to capture his sixth Open title
“I’m feeling really good,” Lester said. “It was a good tournament for me. I made the matches I had count. I’m excited to see where I can go from here.”
The top two finishers at the U.S. Open will advance to the Greco-Roman World Team Trials on June 4 in Ithaca, N.Y. The U.S. Open champion will enter the Trials with a 1-0 match lead over the runner-up in the best-of-3 match series.
Jordan Holm, a two-time World Team member, rolled to a 9-0 technical fall win over Jon Anderson in the finals at 185 kg/187 lbs. Holm lifted and planted Anderson on the mat to punctuate the win.
Holm won his fourth U.S. Open title.
“I try to get better every day,” Holm said. “I want to be a World champion. I know I need to keep getting better and I know I need to keep working. I’m working as hard as I can to reach my goal.”
Heavyweight Robby Smith, fifth in the World in 2013 and a two-time World Team member, put on a show with a pair of big moves to defeat Toby Erickson 9-0 in the finals at 130 kg/286 lbs. Smith won his second U.S. Open title.
“Go big or go home,” Smith said. “There is no pausing, no stopping. Once you lock, you throw. It was good to get that throw. I just want to get back to Worlds this year. I’m excited to get back on that World stage and wrestle.”
2014 World Team member Bryce Saddoris, a Nevada native and backed by a vocal rooting section, downed Alejandro Sancho 1-0 to win the title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Saddoris won his first U.S. Open title.
“I just have to keep training like I have been,” Saddoris said. “I will get back in the room, and make some adjustments and improvements. I need to work on moving my feet and wrestle tough on top.”
The other four Greco-Roman weight classes will be contested at the U.S. Open on Saturday.
U.S. Open
May 8, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Greco-Roman finals
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Bryce Saddoris (U.S. Marines) dec. Alejandro Sancho (New York AC), 1-0
71 kg/156 lbs.
Justin Lester (U.S. Army) dec. Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm), 7-2
85 kg/187 lbs.
Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm) won by tech. fall over Jon Anderson (U.S. Army), 9-0
130 kg/286 lbs.
Robby Smith (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Toby Erickson (New York AC), 9-0
