Oliver tops Stieber as U.S. wins five titles on day two of the Bill Farrell International
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by Richard Immel USA Wrestling
| 2015 Bill Farrell International champion at 65 kg Jordan Oliver during the gold medal match. Photo: Justin Hoch, Jhoch.com. |
NEW YORK – Jordan Oliver (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) stunned the New York City crowd with a last second victory over four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC) in yet another dramatic finish between two of the biggest stars in U.S. wrestling.
Oliver trailed Stieber 5-4 late in the second period before executing a single leg to the back for four points. The technique gave Oliver the 8-5 win and the Bill Farrell International gold medal.
“As everybody knows Oliver, Stieber is a big rivalry. There is going to be a lot of points scored. There are going to be a lot of great exchanges. That is the beauty of wrestling Logan Stieber. He is going to give you everything he’s got,” said Oliver.
Oliver was named Outstanding Wrestling in the men’s freestyle competition for his performance in what proved to be a very deep 65 kg/143 lbs. field.
The U.S. won five of the six weight classes contested on Saturday night at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan.
Outside of facing a 10-3 deficit in the second round, Tyler Graff (Dublin, Ohio/New York AC) was flawless at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Graff posted four technical falls en route to the gold medal. He secured a single leg to a leg lace right out of the gate to defeat Zach Sanders (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) 10-0 in the first 42 second of the finals.
“The mindset is always looking to score. You just always have to be ready to go. It’s a step. Mission accomplished here,” said Graff.
2014 U.S. World Team member Ed Ruth (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) returned to his winning ways in New York City. Ruth won three of his four matches by technical fall including a dominant 13-0 performance over Jon Reader (Brookings, S.D./Sunkist Kids) in the 86 kg/189 lbs. finals.
“I feel like I have been working really hard and I wanted to let that show in this match,” Ruth said. “The last time I wrestled [Reader] I was just leaving things too much in the hands of the refs. When I can out there and I had my chances I saw them open and I took it.”
Two-time U.S. World Team member J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) fended off a late charge by 2014 University World silver medalist Dustin Kilgore (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) to win the 97 kg/213 lbs. title by a 7-5 margin.
“Overall I felt really good besides the last ninety seconds of my last match. I can’t really explain that, but there’s a way to stack the deck in your favor and increase that threshold just a little bit. I’m just happy to be able to compete and bring home a title today,” said Bergman.
Two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski (Delanson, N.Y./Wolfpack WC) won a tight battle of the big men over 2009 Junior World champion Dom Bradley (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids). Gwiazdowski earned a 1-0 victory over Bradley courtesy of a shot clock point.
“It’s a good confidence booster because now I’m qualified for the Olympic Trials. I’m still going to wrestle this college season and hope to win a third national championship. That’s a match I got back from third place at the Trials,” said Gwiazdowski.
2014 World bronze medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov of Uzbekistan was the lone foreign champion of the competition. He defeated Dan Vallimont (Long Beach, N.Y./New York AC) 10-0 in the 74 kg/163 lbs. finals.
The Bill Farrell International served as a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials to be held in Iowa City, Iowa on April 9-10 of next year. The highest placing USA athlete winning a medal that has yet to qualify earned a spot in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Graff, Oliver, Vallimont, Ruth, Bergman and Gwiazdowski all secured their spots in the Trials field.
BILL FARRELL INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., Nov. 7
Men’s freestyle results
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Tyler Graff (United States) tech fall Zach Sanders (United States), 10-0
Bronze – Daniel Dennis (United States) tech fall Ali Naser (United States), 12-1
65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold – Jordan Oliver (United States) dec Logan Stieber (United States), 8-5
Bronze – Aaron Pico (United States) dec Frank Molinaro (United States), 7-4
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (Uzbekistan) tech fall Dan Vallimont (United States), 10-0
Bronze – Nick Marable (United States) tech fall Adam Hall (United States), 11-0
86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold – Ed Ruth (United States) tech fall Jon Reader (United States), 13-0
Bronze – Richard Perry (United States) dec Austin Trotman (United States), 4-3
97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold – J.D. Bergman (United States) dec Dustin Kilgore (United States), 7-5
Bronze – Cayle Byers (United States) dec Enock Francois (United States), 4-2
125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Nick Gwiazdowski (United States) dec Dom Bradley (United States), 1-0
Bronze – Anthony Nelson (United States) dec Tyrell Fortune (United States), 3-2
Outstanding Wrestler – Jordan Oliver, 65 kg champion
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