Herbert, Varner among big winners in U.S. Open freestyle semifinals
Share:
by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Jake Herbert knocked off Ed Ruth in the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday night in Las Vegas. Tony Rotundo photo.
LAS VEGAS – When the pre-seeds came out for the U.S. Open, Jake Herbert was listed at No. 10 at 86 kg/189 lbs.
But the 2009 World silver medalist and 2012 Olympian didn’t seem overly concerned.
“I don’t care if I’m seeded or not,” Herbert said on Thursday. “I’ll wrestle anybody.”
Herbert backed that up with a strong performance on Friday night, knocking off 2014 World Team member and No. 1 seed Ed Ruth 13-11 in the U.S. Open semifinals at the South Point Arena.
Herbert advances to face past World Team member Keith Gavin in the finals at 86 kg/189 lbs. The men’s freestyle finals are set for 7 p.m. Saturday.
Herbert took control early, nearly pinning Ruth before keeping the pressure on to build a 13-4 lead. Ruth came back in the final minute, but Herbert held him off to gain the victory.
“I won on technique, speed, strength,” Herbert said. “We have the best training program in the World at Cliff Keen Wrestling. I have too good of a team behind me at the University of Michigan, too many good people. I’d say I am almost back. I am bigger and stronger and I’m training smarter. We have a system, a plan. That’s the biggest thing. Tomorrow, I have to focus on wrestling and scoring and not giving up points.”
Olympic champion Jake Varner fired in to score a takedown in the closing seconds to defeat two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman 2-2 on criteria in the semis at 97 kg/213 lbs.
“I had to do something,” Varner said. “I felt him kind of breathing hard, so I went with it. My coaches called short time. It is not the best way to win. It’s not the perfect World, but sometimes it’s what you have to do to win. You are down 2-0. You need to get the takedown to win. It wasn’t pretty, not the way I want it to, but I got the job done.”
Varner advances to battle 2013 Junior World champion Kyle Snyder in the finals. Snyder edged 2014 NCAA champion J’den Cox 4-3 in the semis. Snyder placed second at the 2015 NCAAs as a freshman for team champion Ohio State.
Two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev earned an 8-2 win over two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski in the heavyweight semifinals. Dlagnev will face Zach Rey in the finals.
Returning champion and three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf downed past NCAA champion Frank Molinaro 6-2 in the semis at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf will face two-time NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Jordan Oliver in the finals. Metcalf swept Oliver in the finals of the 2014 World Team Trials.
2014 World Team member Tony Ramos rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to defeat Joe Colon 6-4 in the semifinals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Ramos, a 2014 NCAA champion for Iowa, is seeking his first U.S. Open title.
2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter powered to a 10-0 technical fall over Kevin LeValley in the semis at 70 kg/154 lbs. Schlatter will face 2014 World Team member Nick Marable in the finals.
Two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor rolled into the finals after earning a 12-2 technical fall over 2014 University World champion Tyler Caldwell at 74 kg/163 lbs. Taylor was second at the 2014 U.S. Open and 2014 World Team Trials.
Taylor will battle past Junior World medalist Andrew Howe in the finals. Howe rallied to down 18-year-old phenom Anthony Valencia 7-4 in the semis. Valencia stormed out to a quick 4-0 lead with a pair of takedowns before Howe came back.
Past NCAA champion Kendric Maple powered to a quick 29-second fall over Alan Waters in the semifinals at 61 kg/134 lbs. Maple will meet two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey in the finals.
U.S. Open
May 8, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Men’s freestyle finals matchups
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tony Ramos (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Andrew Hochstrasser (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs.
Kendric Maple (Sooner WC) vs. Reece Humphrey (New York AC)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf (New York AC) vs. Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) vs. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs.
David Taylor (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Andrew Howe (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert (New York AC) vs. Keith Gavin (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) vs. Zach Rey (Lehigh Valley AC)
LAS VEGAS – When the pre-seeds came out for the U.S. Open, Jake Herbert was listed at No. 10 at 86 kg/189 lbs.
But the 2009 World silver medalist and 2012 Olympian didn’t seem overly concerned.
“I don’t care if I’m seeded or not,” Herbert said on Thursday. “I’ll wrestle anybody.”
Herbert backed that up with a strong performance on Friday night, knocking off 2014 World Team member and No. 1 seed Ed Ruth 13-11 in the U.S. Open semifinals at the South Point Arena.
Herbert advances to face past World Team member Keith Gavin in the finals at 86 kg/189 lbs. The men’s freestyle finals are set for 7 p.m. Saturday.
Herbert took control early, nearly pinning Ruth before keeping the pressure on to build a 13-4 lead. Ruth came back in the final minute, but Herbert held him off to gain the victory.
“I won on technique, speed, strength,” Herbert said. “We have the best training program in the World at Cliff Keen Wrestling. I have too good of a team behind me at the University of Michigan, too many good people. I’d say I am almost back. I am bigger and stronger and I’m training smarter. We have a system, a plan. That’s the biggest thing. Tomorrow, I have to focus on wrestling and scoring and not giving up points.”
Olympic champion Jake Varner fired in to score a takedown in the closing seconds to defeat two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman 2-2 on criteria in the semis at 97 kg/213 lbs.
“I had to do something,” Varner said. “I felt him kind of breathing hard, so I went with it. My coaches called short time. It is not the best way to win. It’s not the perfect World, but sometimes it’s what you have to do to win. You are down 2-0. You need to get the takedown to win. It wasn’t pretty, not the way I want it to, but I got the job done.”
Varner advances to battle 2013 Junior World champion Kyle Snyder in the finals. Snyder edged 2014 NCAA champion J’den Cox 4-3 in the semis. Snyder placed second at the 2015 NCAAs as a freshman for team champion Ohio State.
Two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev earned an 8-2 win over two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski in the heavyweight semifinals. Dlagnev will face Zach Rey in the finals.
Returning champion and three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf downed past NCAA champion Frank Molinaro 6-2 in the semis at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf will face two-time NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Jordan Oliver in the finals. Metcalf swept Oliver in the finals of the 2014 World Team Trials.
2014 World Team member Tony Ramos rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to defeat Joe Colon 6-4 in the semifinals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Ramos, a 2014 NCAA champion for Iowa, is seeking his first U.S. Open title.
2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter powered to a 10-0 technical fall over Kevin LeValley in the semis at 70 kg/154 lbs. Schlatter will face 2014 World Team member Nick Marable in the finals.
Two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor rolled into the finals after earning a 12-2 technical fall over 2014 University World champion Tyler Caldwell at 74 kg/163 lbs. Taylor was second at the 2014 U.S. Open and 2014 World Team Trials.
Taylor will battle past Junior World medalist Andrew Howe in the finals. Howe rallied to down 18-year-old phenom Anthony Valencia 7-4 in the semis. Valencia stormed out to a quick 4-0 lead with a pair of takedowns before Howe came back.
Past NCAA champion Kendric Maple powered to a quick 29-second fall over Alan Waters in the semifinals at 61 kg/134 lbs. Maple will meet two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey in the finals.
U.S. Open
May 8, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Men’s freestyle finals matchups
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tony Ramos (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Andrew Hochstrasser (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs.
Kendric Maple (Sooner WC) vs. Reece Humphrey (New York AC)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf (New York AC) vs. Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) vs. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs.
David Taylor (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Andrew Howe (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert (New York AC) vs. Keith Gavin (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) vs. Zach Rey (Lehigh Valley AC)
