Snyder knocks off Varner to highlight U.S. Open finals in freestyle
Share:
by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
2013 Junior World champion Kyle Snyder (in blue) knocked off 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner Saturday night in Las Vegas. Tony Rotundo photo.
LAS VEGAS – Young Kyle Snyder’s impressive list of achievements continues to grow.
The 19-year-old phenom took control in the second period before holding off 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner 2-1 to win a U.S. Open freestyle title on Saturday night at the South Point Arena.
Snyder, second at March’s NCAA Championships as an Ohio State freshman, shot in on a single-leg attack and scored a pushout for what proved to be the winning point.
Snyder was named Outstanding Wrestler after winning his first U.S. Open title.
“This is the biggest win I’ve ever had,” said Snyder, who won a 2013 Junior World title. “I’ve always wanted to be an Olympic champion. (Varner) did it and he’s a great competitor. He’s a great guy and he’s actually taught me a lot. I was grateful I got an opportunity to wrestle him and come out with a victory.”
World silver medalist Jake Herbert capped a superb weekend with a 5-2 win over past World Team member Keith Gavin in the finals at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Herbert, who hit a big four-point throw early in the bout, won his fourth U.S. Open title and first since 2011.
The top five finishers in each weight class qualified for June’s World Team Trials in Madison, Wis.
Two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev came back from an early deficit to down Zach Rey 3-1 in the finals at 125 kg/275 lbs. Dlagnev won his fourth Open title.
Three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf edged two-time NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Jordan Oliver 2-1 in the finals at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf, who won his second straight Open title, swept Oliver in the finals of the 2014 World Team Trials.
“Dominate is not the word – figure it out, gut it out,” Metcalf said. “When you are in a match where the guy is very stingy, and hard to get to, he's got a strategy. Maybe he's banged up, so he really doesn't want to wrestle in certain positions.
“I have to get to where I want to be. It was the same story as last year. I did a better job last year countering and taking advantage of opportunities than I did today.”
2014 World Team member Tony Ramos rallied for a dramatic 7-3 win over Andrew Hochstrasser in the finals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Ramos was down 3-2 with less than 20 seconds left and shot in on a leg attack before lifting and planting Hochstrasser on the mat with a clutch four-point move.
Ramos, a 2014 NCAA champion for Iowa, won his first Open title.
“I knew there was only 15 seconds left and I had to score quickly,” Ramos said. “I’m going to wrestle hard the whole match and I never stop wrestling. This is my spot. You can’t panic out there. You panic, and you can’t think and you can’t win.”
Two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor scored an early takedown to gain a 2-0 win over past NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Andrew Howe in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Taylor won his first Open title after being second in this event in 2013 and 2014.
Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs did not compete at the U.S. Open. Burroughs has already clinched a spot in the final-round series by virtue of being a returning World medalist.
Two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey held off past NCAA champion Kendric Maple 7-6 to win the crown at 61 kg/134 lbs. Humphrey claimed his third Open title.
2014 World Team member Nick Marable scored on an early four-point move en route to downing 2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter 4-2 in the finals at 70 kg/154 lbs. Marable won his second straight Open title.
Titan Mercury won the Division I team title and the New York AC finished second. The Sunkist Kids won the Division II title with the Minnesota Storm taking second.
U.S. Open
May 9, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Men’s freestyle finals
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tony Ramos (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Andrew Hochstrasser (Titan Mercury WC), 7-3
61 kg/134 lbs.
Reece Humphrey (New York AC) dec. Kendric Maple (Sooner WC), 7-6
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf (New York AC) dec. Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids), 2-1
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) dec. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm), 4-2
74 kg/163 lbs.
David Taylor (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Andrew Howe (New York AC), 2-0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert (New York AC) dec. Keith Gavin (Titan Mercury WC), 5-2
97 kg/213 lbs.
Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC), 2-1
125 kg/275 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) dec. Zach Rey (Lehigh Valley AC), 3-1
LAS VEGAS – Young Kyle Snyder’s impressive list of achievements continues to grow.
The 19-year-old phenom took control in the second period before holding off 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner 2-1 to win a U.S. Open freestyle title on Saturday night at the South Point Arena.
Snyder, second at March’s NCAA Championships as an Ohio State freshman, shot in on a single-leg attack and scored a pushout for what proved to be the winning point.
Snyder was named Outstanding Wrestler after winning his first U.S. Open title.
“This is the biggest win I’ve ever had,” said Snyder, who won a 2013 Junior World title. “I’ve always wanted to be an Olympic champion. (Varner) did it and he’s a great competitor. He’s a great guy and he’s actually taught me a lot. I was grateful I got an opportunity to wrestle him and come out with a victory.”
World silver medalist Jake Herbert capped a superb weekend with a 5-2 win over past World Team member Keith Gavin in the finals at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Herbert, who hit a big four-point throw early in the bout, won his fourth U.S. Open title and first since 2011.
The top five finishers in each weight class qualified for June’s World Team Trials in Madison, Wis.
Two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev came back from an early deficit to down Zach Rey 3-1 in the finals at 125 kg/275 lbs. Dlagnev won his fourth Open title.
Three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf edged two-time NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Jordan Oliver 2-1 in the finals at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf, who won his second straight Open title, swept Oliver in the finals of the 2014 World Team Trials.
“Dominate is not the word – figure it out, gut it out,” Metcalf said. “When you are in a match where the guy is very stingy, and hard to get to, he's got a strategy. Maybe he's banged up, so he really doesn't want to wrestle in certain positions.
“I have to get to where I want to be. It was the same story as last year. I did a better job last year countering and taking advantage of opportunities than I did today.”
2014 World Team member Tony Ramos rallied for a dramatic 7-3 win over Andrew Hochstrasser in the finals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Ramos was down 3-2 with less than 20 seconds left and shot in on a leg attack before lifting and planting Hochstrasser on the mat with a clutch four-point move.
Ramos, a 2014 NCAA champion for Iowa, won his first Open title.
“I knew there was only 15 seconds left and I had to score quickly,” Ramos said. “I’m going to wrestle hard the whole match and I never stop wrestling. This is my spot. You can’t panic out there. You panic, and you can’t think and you can’t win.”
Two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor scored an early takedown to gain a 2-0 win over past NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Andrew Howe in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Taylor won his first Open title after being second in this event in 2013 and 2014.
Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs did not compete at the U.S. Open. Burroughs has already clinched a spot in the final-round series by virtue of being a returning World medalist.
Two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey held off past NCAA champion Kendric Maple 7-6 to win the crown at 61 kg/134 lbs. Humphrey claimed his third Open title.
2014 World Team member Nick Marable scored on an early four-point move en route to downing 2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter 4-2 in the finals at 70 kg/154 lbs. Marable won his second straight Open title.
Titan Mercury won the Division I team title and the New York AC finished second. The Sunkist Kids won the Division II title with the Minnesota Storm taking second.
U.S. Open
May 9, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Men’s freestyle finals
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tony Ramos (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Andrew Hochstrasser (Titan Mercury WC), 7-3
61 kg/134 lbs.
Reece Humphrey (New York AC) dec. Kendric Maple (Sooner WC), 7-6
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf (New York AC) dec. Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids), 2-1
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) dec. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm), 4-2
74 kg/163 lbs.
David Taylor (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Andrew Howe (New York AC), 2-0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert (New York AC) dec. Keith Gavin (Titan Mercury WC), 5-2
97 kg/213 lbs.
Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC), 2-1
125 kg/275 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) dec. Zach Rey (Lehigh Valley AC), 3-1
