C.J. Myers storms into Greco-Roman finals at U.S. Open
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
C.J. Myers (in red) executes a throw in his semifinal win over Brock Gutches at the U.S. Open on Saturday in Las Vegas. John Sachs photo.
LAS VEGAS – The dedication and the sacrifices C.J. Myers have made are starting to pay off.
Myers dropped down a weight class and then powered into the U.S. Open Greco-Roman finals with an impressive performance during Saturday’s first session at the South Point Arena.
Myers hit an array of throws to earn a wild, action-packed 17-10 win over U.S. National Team member Brock Gutches in the semifinals at 80 kg/176 lbs.
“I think being a little shorter in a body-lock situation has a lot to do with it,” Myers said. “I am under his hips already. I have to rely on my popping, getting that quick movement. I wait for the other guy to make a move and I counter after that.”
Myers advances to face U.S. Army teammate Patrick Martinez in the finals. The finals are set for 6:45 p.m. Saturday in Las Vegas.
“I have been dreaming about this day since I started wrestling,” Myers said. “Now it is here. It's time to make my mark. This is where I look to start it. It has been a long road. I will keep improving from here on out."
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.
Two-time World Team member Caylor Williams rolled into the finals at 98 kg/216 lbs. He will meet surprise finalist Kevin Beazley, who pinned veteran John Wechter in the semifinals.
World bronze medalist Andy Bisek and World fifth-place finisher Spenser Mango also are in the finals by virtue of both competing in medal matches at the 2014 World Championships.
Bisek will meet Dillon Cowan in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs. Cowan pinned past World Team member Jake Fisher to reach the finals.
Mango, a two-time Olympian, will face 2013 World Team member Jesse Thielke in the finals at 59 kg/130 lbs.
Thielke earned back-to-back wins over 2013 World Team Trials runner-up Ryan Mango and veteran Jermaine Hodge to reach the finals.
“It’s good to get back into Greco and to train,” said Thielke, who wrestles collegiately for Wisconsin. “I've spent a lot of time communicating with my coaches back in Colorado Springs. I've had to do a lot of stuff on my own in Madison. You do what you have to do to make it work. I felt good. I was pushing him around out there.
“I am hungry. I want to win every single match, every single tournament I go into. I've had some setbacks in folkstyle, but I've made some leaps and bounds in my Greco-Roman. So, I push forward.”
U.S. Open
May 9, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Greco-Roman finals
59 kg/130 lbs.
Spenser Mango (U.S. Army) vs. Jesse Thielke (New York AC)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Andy Bisek (Minnesota Storm) vs. Dillon Cowan (U.S. Army)
80 kg/176 lbs.
C.J. Myers (U.S. Army) vs. Patrick Martinez (U.S. Army)
98 kg/216 lbs.
Caylor Williams (U.S. Army) vs. Kevin Beazley (Virginia Beach RTC)
LAS VEGAS – The dedication and the sacrifices C.J. Myers have made are starting to pay off.
Myers dropped down a weight class and then powered into the U.S. Open Greco-Roman finals with an impressive performance during Saturday’s first session at the South Point Arena.
Myers hit an array of throws to earn a wild, action-packed 17-10 win over U.S. National Team member Brock Gutches in the semifinals at 80 kg/176 lbs.
“I think being a little shorter in a body-lock situation has a lot to do with it,” Myers said. “I am under his hips already. I have to rely on my popping, getting that quick movement. I wait for the other guy to make a move and I counter after that.”
Myers advances to face U.S. Army teammate Patrick Martinez in the finals. The finals are set for 6:45 p.m. Saturday in Las Vegas.
“I have been dreaming about this day since I started wrestling,” Myers said. “Now it is here. It's time to make my mark. This is where I look to start it. It has been a long road. I will keep improving from here on out."
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.
Two-time World Team member Caylor Williams rolled into the finals at 98 kg/216 lbs. He will meet surprise finalist Kevin Beazley, who pinned veteran John Wechter in the semifinals.
World bronze medalist Andy Bisek and World fifth-place finisher Spenser Mango also are in the finals by virtue of both competing in medal matches at the 2014 World Championships.
Bisek will meet Dillon Cowan in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs. Cowan pinned past World Team member Jake Fisher to reach the finals.
Mango, a two-time Olympian, will face 2013 World Team member Jesse Thielke in the finals at 59 kg/130 lbs.
Thielke earned back-to-back wins over 2013 World Team Trials runner-up Ryan Mango and veteran Jermaine Hodge to reach the finals.
“It’s good to get back into Greco and to train,” said Thielke, who wrestles collegiately for Wisconsin. “I've spent a lot of time communicating with my coaches back in Colorado Springs. I've had to do a lot of stuff on my own in Madison. You do what you have to do to make it work. I felt good. I was pushing him around out there.
“I am hungry. I want to win every single match, every single tournament I go into. I've had some setbacks in folkstyle, but I've made some leaps and bounds in my Greco-Roman. So, I push forward.”
U.S. Open
May 9, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Greco-Roman finals
59 kg/130 lbs.
Spenser Mango (U.S. Army) vs. Jesse Thielke (New York AC)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Andy Bisek (Minnesota Storm) vs. Dillon Cowan (U.S. Army)
80 kg/176 lbs.
C.J. Myers (U.S. Army) vs. Patrick Martinez (U.S. Army)
98 kg/216 lbs.
Caylor Williams (U.S. Army) vs. Kevin Beazley (Virginia Beach RTC)
