Olympian Ellis Coleman in position to win third Senior Nationals title

Ryan Mango cruises to the finals at 59 kg. Photo: Robert Wijtman

VIDEO: U.S. Senior Nationals interviews

LAS VEGAS – A rivalry will continue at 66 kg with reigning U.S. Open champion Ellis Coleman, taking on No. 1-seed Alejandro Sancho in the finals.


It will be the third meeting between the two this year, with Sancho winning both bouts.


Sancho, a 2016 U,S. National Team member at two different weights, bulldozed his way through the bracket without surrendering a single point, notching each win by technical fall, including an 8-0 win over No. 4-seed Jamal DeArmond to secure his spot in the finals.


“I feel pretty good,” Sancho said. “I’m wrestling good and staying strong in my positioning. I feel ready for the finals. I just have to wrestle the way I’ve been wrestling.


Similarly, 2012 Olympian and Junior World bronze medalist Coleman quieted his competition en route to the finals.


In the quarterfinals, Coleman defeated 2010 NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Jayson Ness, 5-2, his closest match of the day.


Coleman will be going for his third U.S. Open title, having won the 2013 and 2016 U.S. Senior Nationals.


Ryan Mango, who placed third at the 2016 Olympic Trials sailed to the finals bookending his morning session with technical falls.


In the quarterfinals, Mango took on USA Greco legend Dennis Hall, a 1995 World Champion, 1996 Olympic silver medalist and three-time Olympian.


“It’s an honor to wrestle someone of that caliber and with his accolades and everything he’s done for our sport,” Mango said. “It’s an honor to be able to compete against him. I wish him the best. It was a great match, a good scrap. I like to see the older guys that have made such a difference in our sport get out here and scrap. It was definitely great.”


After finishing 2-1 at the tournament, Hall left his wrestling shoes at the center of the mat, signaling his retirement from the sport.


Mango is set to face off against two-time Junior World Team member Hayden Tuma, who recently finished with a silver medal at the Bill Farrell International.


Tuma collected three solid wins before escaping youngster Taylor LaMont in the semifinals, 11-9.


No. 1 Patrick Smith and No. 3 Anthonie Linares will go head-to-head in the 71 kg finals.


2014 University World silver medalist and 2016 Olympic Team Trials runner-up, Smith showed no signs of struggle in his road to the finals, giving up just one point. This is his fourth trip to the U.S. Open finals.


Linares, a 2015 University Nationals champion, had to win just two matches to advance to the finals, and he did so in strong fashion, defeating Bradley Doleazal, 10-1, and Chase Nelson, 8-5.


At 75 kg, fourth-seeded Jesse Porter knocked off three-time U.S. National Team member and 2014 U.S. Open champion Kendrick Sanders in a fun semifinals match, where the 2016 University Nationals champion Porter notch two four-pointers to seal a 12-6 win.


He is set to take on 2016 Junior World medalist Kamal Bey in the finals. Fresh off a Bill Farrell International championship, Bey has had an outstanding tournament so far, outscoring his opponents, 30-2, with three technical falls.


The finals will be broadcast live on Flowrestling.com at 6 p.m. PT.


Fans can also keep up with all the action by following themat.com on Twitter at @USAWrestling.

2017 U.S. SENIOR GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS

Dec. 17-18 at Las Vegas, Nev.


Finals matchups

59 kg/130 lbs.

Ryan Mango (U.S. Army WCAP) vs. Hayden Tuma (U.S. Army WCAP)

66 kg/145 lbs.
Alejandro Sancho (New York AC) vs. Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army WCAP)

71 kg/156 lbs.
Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) vs. Anthonie Linares (New York AC)

75 kg/165 lbs.
Kamal Bey (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jesse Porter (New York AC)

Semifinals results

59 kg/130 lbs.

Ryan Mango (Army WCAP) tech. fall Xavier Johnson (Marines), 11-0

Hayden Tuma (Army WCAP) dec. Taylor Lamont (Champions Wrestling Club), 11-9

66 kg/145 lbs.
Alejandro Sancho (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Jamal Dearmond (New York Athletic Club), 8-0
Ellis Coleman (Army WCAP) tech. fall Jessy Williams (New York Athletic Club), 12-0

71 kg/156 lbs.
Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) dec. Cody Pack (Legends of Gold), 7-0

Anthonie Linares (New York Athletic Club) dec. Chase Nelson (Bison Wrestling Club), 8-5

75 kg/165 lbs.
Jesse Porter Ballston (New York Athletic Club) dec. Kendrick Sanders (New York Athletic Club), 12-6

Kamal Bey (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm), 13-2