Eight men's freestyle matches to watch at the U.S. Open Championships
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Photo: Jordan Burroughs battles Kyle Dake at the 2015 U.S. World Team Trials in Madison, Wis. Photo by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.
The nation’s top men’s freestyle talents descend upon Las Vegas later this month to compete at the U.S. Open Championships at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
The event will be contested over two days with all eight weight classes running through the semifinals on April 28 and the medal rounds set for April 29.
Five automatic berths to the U.S. World Team Trials finals will be up for grabs. Individual champions at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., 65 kg/143 lbs., 70 kg/154 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs. and 125 kg/275 lbs. will earn a place in the best-of-three championship series in Lincoln, Neb.
Olympic champion Kyle Snyder, Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox and World champion Logan Stieber have already solidified berths in the U.S. World Team Trials finals by virtue of winning a World-level medal in 2016, and are not expected to wrestle in Las Vegas. Snyder will await the World Team Trials challenge tournament winner at 97 kg/213 lbs., while Cox will do the same at 86 kg/189 lbs. and Stieber at 61 kg/134 lbs.
Also on the line are seven potential qualification spots for the U.S. World Team Trials. The top-seven finishers in each weight class qualify to compete in Lincoln.
In anticipation of the U.S. Open, here are eight potential matchups, one per weight class, that could take place in Las Vegas and will not only excite the wrestling masses, but also play a key role in determining the U.S. Open champion.
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Nico Megaludis (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jesse Delgado (Titan Mercury WC)
Megaludis and Delgado boast a storied rivalry dating back to their college days, Megaludis at Penn State and Delgado at Illinois. The two scrambling lightweights met five times in college between dual meet competition and postseason play with Delgado holding the series edge 3-2. In 2013, Delgado edged Megaludis 7-4 in the NCAA finals. Since moving on from the college ranks, Megaludis has established himself as a World Team contender as evident by gold medal wins at the Bill Farrell International and Paris International this season. Conversely, Delgado took time off the mat following his college career before making a comeback this year. He scored a bronze at the Cerro Pellado International back in February. Two questions come into play for this matchup. Is Megaludis ready to ascend to the top of the 57 kg ranks in the U.S. and is Delgado capable of making a run after such an extensive layoff?
61 kg/134 lbs. – Cody Brewer (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Seth Gross (Jackrabbit WC)
If you like points, this is the match for you. Both Brewer and Gross are fresh faces at 61 kg with minimal senior level experience. That said, both up-and-comers have the ability to put up points on anyone and shake up this weight class. Stylistically, Brewer brings a gunslinger mentality to the mat while Gross tends to create points from counter positions and his strong top game. Brewer was a four-time All-American and NCAA champion at Oklahoma and finished in fourth place at the 2016 U.S. World Team Trials. Gross made South Dakota State history this season by making the NCAA finals. He was also a Junior World Team member last year.
65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC)
The storylines for a Molinaro-Retherford matchup are juicy as any we could see in Las Vegas. Both men earned NCAA titles for Penn State, with Molinaro being part of Cael Sanderson’s first wave of Nittany Lion teams, and Retherford leading the current charge. Molinaro emerged as the man at 65 kg for the U.S. last year, culminating with a fifth-place finish at the Olympic Games. Retherford finished in third place at the Olympic Trials and is fresh off his second NCAA title and Hodge Trophy winning campaign. The two have extensive training experience together as members of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Molinaro just took an assistant coaching position at Virginia Tech, moving away from the State College nest. A matchup between these two will go a long way in forecasting if Molinaro will solidify himself atop 65 kg or if Retherford is ready to make the jump to international prominence.
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC)
As soon as James Green exited the 157-pound NCAA scene as a four-time All-American for Nebraska, Jason Nolf entered with a vigor, now a two-time NCAA finalist and NCAA champion after his sophomore season at Penn State. Green has made two senior-level World Teams and owns a World bronze medal from 2015. Nolf has been a consistent performer at the junior level the past two years, but came of short of making a Junior World Team. After an exceptionally dominant NCAA season, Nolf will look to ascend to the top of the senior ranks. A showdown with Green will shed light on the young Nittany Lion’s ability to perform at this level.
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) vs. Kyle Dake (Titan Mercury WC)
Burroughs. Dake. Need I say more? Burroughs has been the face of wrestling for the better part of this decade. He has won the Olympics, three World titles and a World bronze since 2011. Dake has been Burroughs toughest challenger over that span, but has yet to get the better of the matchup. After spending last season up at 86 kg, Dake will return to 74 kg and give it another go. He looked better than ever during his last outing, the Paris International, where he soundly defeated the field, including a 10-0 win over three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer in the finals. Burroughs is looking to exorcise his demons from last year’s Olympic Games and return to the top of the World podium. There is no matchup with more hype behind it than this one. Take a look back at the instant classic between these two competitors from the 2013 World Team Trials.
86 kg/189 lbs. – David Taylor (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Gabe Dean (Titan Mercury WC)
After a phenomenal run at the World Cup, David Taylor is all the buzz at 86 kg. He defeated three Olympic medalists at the World Cup, including ousting two Olympic champions on the same day. There has never been more momentum behind The Magic Man. If there ever was a year for him to not only make the U.S. World Team, but also contend for a World title, this looks to be it. Gabe Dean was well on his way to winning a third NCAA title and Hodge trophy for Cornell this season before being upended by Bo Nickal in the NCAA finals. Dean was crushing everyone in his wake. What remains to be seen is how Dean will respond to this adversity. He owns a great freestyle track record with a Junior World bronze medal to his name from 2014. Las Vegas could be the start of Dean’s redemption road. Throw in the style dynamics between these two, Taylor with the high-powered offense and Dean a methodical brutalizer, and this one has all the makings to be spectacular.
97 kg/213 lbs. – Nathan Burak (Hawkeye WC) vs. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids)
With Olympic champions Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner expected to be out of the field in Las Vegas, Dustin Kilgore appears to be the man to beat. Kilgore has long been a viable contender at 97 kg, making the U.S. National Team four times since the 2011-12 season. He is experienced on the World level with a University World silver and two Pan American golds to his credit. We have seen Kilgore take down nearly all of the top 97 kg contenders in recent outings. The one man new to the scene that could make a championship run is past Iowa All-American Nathan Burak, who jumped onto the freestyle scene with a silver medal at the Paris International in January. He also outperformed Kilgore at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial International in terms of placement, even though the two did not wrestle. Is Burak the next big contender at 97 kg, or will Kilgore stay atop the pack of challengers to Snyder?
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nick Gwiazdowski (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Tony Nelson (Minnesota Storm)
Nick Gwiazdowski’s offensive arsenal has all but pegged him as the latest and greatest heavyweight prospect for the U.S. His college heavyweight career was among the best all-time as a four-time All-American, three-time finalist and two-time NCAA champion. He has shifted his attention to the international game full-time and is making significant strides. Perhaps flying under the radar is Tony Nelson, who himself is a four-time All-American, three-time finalist and two-time NCAA champion. Historians will remember Gwiazdowski defeating Nelson in the 2014 NCAA finals, ending Nelson’s collegiate career and catapulting Gwiazdowski’s. Since that time, Gwiazdowski has gotten the better of Nelson in their freestyle matchups. Nelson is fresh off a gold medal from the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial International, and has found a place in the World rankings. Will the Gwiazdowski trend continue, or has Nelson found the momentum he needs to challenge for the top spot at 125 kg?
The nation’s top men’s freestyle talents descend upon Las Vegas later this month to compete at the U.S. Open Championships at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
The event will be contested over two days with all eight weight classes running through the semifinals on April 28 and the medal rounds set for April 29.
Five automatic berths to the U.S. World Team Trials finals will be up for grabs. Individual champions at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., 65 kg/143 lbs., 70 kg/154 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs. and 125 kg/275 lbs. will earn a place in the best-of-three championship series in Lincoln, Neb.
Olympic champion Kyle Snyder, Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox and World champion Logan Stieber have already solidified berths in the U.S. World Team Trials finals by virtue of winning a World-level medal in 2016, and are not expected to wrestle in Las Vegas. Snyder will await the World Team Trials challenge tournament winner at 97 kg/213 lbs., while Cox will do the same at 86 kg/189 lbs. and Stieber at 61 kg/134 lbs.
Also on the line are seven potential qualification spots for the U.S. World Team Trials. The top-seven finishers in each weight class qualify to compete in Lincoln.
In anticipation of the U.S. Open, here are eight potential matchups, one per weight class, that could take place in Las Vegas and will not only excite the wrestling masses, but also play a key role in determining the U.S. Open champion.
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Nico Megaludis (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jesse Delgado (Titan Mercury WC)
Megaludis and Delgado boast a storied rivalry dating back to their college days, Megaludis at Penn State and Delgado at Illinois. The two scrambling lightweights met five times in college between dual meet competition and postseason play with Delgado holding the series edge 3-2. In 2013, Delgado edged Megaludis 7-4 in the NCAA finals. Since moving on from the college ranks, Megaludis has established himself as a World Team contender as evident by gold medal wins at the Bill Farrell International and Paris International this season. Conversely, Delgado took time off the mat following his college career before making a comeback this year. He scored a bronze at the Cerro Pellado International back in February. Two questions come into play for this matchup. Is Megaludis ready to ascend to the top of the 57 kg ranks in the U.S. and is Delgado capable of making a run after such an extensive layoff?
61 kg/134 lbs. – Cody Brewer (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Seth Gross (Jackrabbit WC)
If you like points, this is the match for you. Both Brewer and Gross are fresh faces at 61 kg with minimal senior level experience. That said, both up-and-comers have the ability to put up points on anyone and shake up this weight class. Stylistically, Brewer brings a gunslinger mentality to the mat while Gross tends to create points from counter positions and his strong top game. Brewer was a four-time All-American and NCAA champion at Oklahoma and finished in fourth place at the 2016 U.S. World Team Trials. Gross made South Dakota State history this season by making the NCAA finals. He was also a Junior World Team member last year.
65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC)
The storylines for a Molinaro-Retherford matchup are juicy as any we could see in Las Vegas. Both men earned NCAA titles for Penn State, with Molinaro being part of Cael Sanderson’s first wave of Nittany Lion teams, and Retherford leading the current charge. Molinaro emerged as the man at 65 kg for the U.S. last year, culminating with a fifth-place finish at the Olympic Games. Retherford finished in third place at the Olympic Trials and is fresh off his second NCAA title and Hodge Trophy winning campaign. The two have extensive training experience together as members of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Molinaro just took an assistant coaching position at Virginia Tech, moving away from the State College nest. A matchup between these two will go a long way in forecasting if Molinaro will solidify himself atop 65 kg or if Retherford is ready to make the jump to international prominence.
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC)
As soon as James Green exited the 157-pound NCAA scene as a four-time All-American for Nebraska, Jason Nolf entered with a vigor, now a two-time NCAA finalist and NCAA champion after his sophomore season at Penn State. Green has made two senior-level World Teams and owns a World bronze medal from 2015. Nolf has been a consistent performer at the junior level the past two years, but came of short of making a Junior World Team. After an exceptionally dominant NCAA season, Nolf will look to ascend to the top of the senior ranks. A showdown with Green will shed light on the young Nittany Lion’s ability to perform at this level.
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) vs. Kyle Dake (Titan Mercury WC)
Burroughs. Dake. Need I say more? Burroughs has been the face of wrestling for the better part of this decade. He has won the Olympics, three World titles and a World bronze since 2011. Dake has been Burroughs toughest challenger over that span, but has yet to get the better of the matchup. After spending last season up at 86 kg, Dake will return to 74 kg and give it another go. He looked better than ever during his last outing, the Paris International, where he soundly defeated the field, including a 10-0 win over three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer in the finals. Burroughs is looking to exorcise his demons from last year’s Olympic Games and return to the top of the World podium. There is no matchup with more hype behind it than this one. Take a look back at the instant classic between these two competitors from the 2013 World Team Trials.
86 kg/189 lbs. – David Taylor (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Gabe Dean (Titan Mercury WC)
After a phenomenal run at the World Cup, David Taylor is all the buzz at 86 kg. He defeated three Olympic medalists at the World Cup, including ousting two Olympic champions on the same day. There has never been more momentum behind The Magic Man. If there ever was a year for him to not only make the U.S. World Team, but also contend for a World title, this looks to be it. Gabe Dean was well on his way to winning a third NCAA title and Hodge trophy for Cornell this season before being upended by Bo Nickal in the NCAA finals. Dean was crushing everyone in his wake. What remains to be seen is how Dean will respond to this adversity. He owns a great freestyle track record with a Junior World bronze medal to his name from 2014. Las Vegas could be the start of Dean’s redemption road. Throw in the style dynamics between these two, Taylor with the high-powered offense and Dean a methodical brutalizer, and this one has all the makings to be spectacular.
97 kg/213 lbs. – Nathan Burak (Hawkeye WC) vs. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids)
With Olympic champions Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner expected to be out of the field in Las Vegas, Dustin Kilgore appears to be the man to beat. Kilgore has long been a viable contender at 97 kg, making the U.S. National Team four times since the 2011-12 season. He is experienced on the World level with a University World silver and two Pan American golds to his credit. We have seen Kilgore take down nearly all of the top 97 kg contenders in recent outings. The one man new to the scene that could make a championship run is past Iowa All-American Nathan Burak, who jumped onto the freestyle scene with a silver medal at the Paris International in January. He also outperformed Kilgore at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial International in terms of placement, even though the two did not wrestle. Is Burak the next big contender at 97 kg, or will Kilgore stay atop the pack of challengers to Snyder?
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nick Gwiazdowski (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Tony Nelson (Minnesota Storm)
Nick Gwiazdowski’s offensive arsenal has all but pegged him as the latest and greatest heavyweight prospect for the U.S. His college heavyweight career was among the best all-time as a four-time All-American, three-time finalist and two-time NCAA champion. He has shifted his attention to the international game full-time and is making significant strides. Perhaps flying under the radar is Tony Nelson, who himself is a four-time All-American, three-time finalist and two-time NCAA champion. Historians will remember Gwiazdowski defeating Nelson in the 2014 NCAA finals, ending Nelson’s collegiate career and catapulting Gwiazdowski’s. Since that time, Gwiazdowski has gotten the better of Nelson in their freestyle matchups. Nelson is fresh off a gold medal from the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial International, and has found a place in the World rankings. Will the Gwiazdowski trend continue, or has Nelson found the momentum he needs to challenge for the top spot at 125 kg?
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