World Team Trials preview at 80 kg/176 lbs. in Greco-Roman

Geordan Speiller at 2016 University Nationals in Akron, Ohio. 

Owning the 80 kg/176 lbs. spot the last two years has been two-time World Team member Patrick Martinez. However, with Martinez announcing he will compete for the 85 kg/187 lbs. World Team spot, it’s time for someone else to step in.

After taking eight months off from competition, 2016 Pan-American champion Geordan Speiller recently returned to the mat and has made the move up to 80 kg from 75 kg/165 lbs.

Since his time at 80 kg, Speiller has won the 2016 University Nationals, 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International, 2017 Cerro Pelado International and earned silver at the 2017 Grand Prix of Hungary to prove himself as one of the top contenders for the World Team spot.

The two-time Junior World Team member finished second to two-time World medalist Andy Bisek at the 2016 Olympic Team Trials at 75 kg.

Despite having not made a Senior World Team, Speiller is well versed in foreign competition and owns 10 international medals with several more top-10 finishes. He competed on two Junior World Teams and a University World Games Team in his age-group competition.

Likely to put up the biggest challenge against Speiller is Greco veteran Cheney Haight, who looks to make his second Senior World Team and first since 2011.

A five-time National Team member, Haight took third at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 85 kg.

Haight has several championships to his name, including 2016 Pan-American title, four Sunkist Kids International championships and two New York AC International titles.

Earlier this year, Haight defeated Jon Jay Chavez, 4-0, in the 80 kg finals of the 2017 U.S. Senior Nationals. It was his second U.S. Open title.

Once a threat on the Junior level, Chavez is starting to make his way up the ranks on the Senior level. The 2013 Junior Greco national champion won spots on the 2014 and 2015 Junior World Teams.

In November, he went out for his first Senior World Team at 80 kg, where he finished third, behind Martinez and Jon Anderson.

Just a month later at Senior Nationals, Chavez went on to best Anderson in the semifinals in his impressive run to the 80 kg finals.

Anderson has the potential to create some noise at 80 kg with a vast amount of international experience and success.

He is a four-time World Team Trials runner-up from 2013-2016. Most recently, he took second to Martinez at the 2016 World Team Trials in New York City.

The two-time Bill Farrell Memorial International champion has put together nine international-medal performances, owning additional gold medals from the prestigious Pan-American Games in 2015 and the 2014 Pan-American Championships.

In 2014, he also collected a silver medal from the World Military Championships.

Other international top-three finishes have come from Arvo Haavisto Cup, Dave Schultz Memorial and Haparanda Cup.

Back in 2012, Anderson earned a spot on the University World Team and a chance to represent the United States at the University World Championships in Finland. He went on to finish fifth in the world at the weight.

Other names to look out for include Armed Forces champion Courtney Myers, University Nationals runner-up Barrett Stanghill and Senior Nationals fifth-place finisher John Stefanowicz.

The World Team spot at 80 kg will be determined April 28, along with 66 kg, 98 kg and 130 kg at the 2017 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team Trials in Las Vegas.

2017 World Team Trials qualifiers at 80 kg/176 lbs.
’16 Non-Olympic Weight World Team member – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
’13 Cadet World medalist – Jon Jay Chavez, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
’16 Paris International medalist – Michael Brant, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
’16 University Nationals runner-up – Barrett Stanghill, Philipsburg, Mont. (New York AC/NMU-OTS)
’16 University Nationals third place – Nick Becker, Kenosha, Wisc. (Grizzly WC)
’16 Pan American champion – Cheney Haight, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/USOTC)
’17 U.S. Senior Nationals fourth place – Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’17 U.S. Senior Nationals fifth place – John Stefanowicz, Hubert, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
’17 U.S. Senior Nationals sixth place – Tommy Brackett, Eads, Tenn. (West Tennessee Takedown Club)
’17 U.S. Senior Nationals seventh place – Sergio Guerrero, Rubidoux, Calif. (NMU-OTS)
’17 Armed Forces Championships first place – Courtney Myers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
’17 Armed Forces Championships runner-up – Brandon Johnson (U.S. Air Force)

2017 U.S. Open results at 80 kg/176 lbs.
1st - Cheney Haight (NYAC) dec. Jon Jay Chavez (NYAC), 4-0
3rd - Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm) dec. John Anderson (U.S. Army WCAP), 3-0
5th - John Stefanowicz (Marines) dec. Tommy Brackett (West Tennessee Takedown Club), 7-1
7th - Sergio Guerrero (NMU-OTS) tech fall Curt Calovecchi (NMU-OTS), 8-0 

2016 World Team Trials results at 80 kg/176 lbs.
1st – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) dec. Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), two matches to one
Bout One – Martinez dec. Anderson, 3-1
Bout Two – Anderson dec. Martinez, 4-2
Bouth Three – Martinez dec. Anderson, 4-1
3rd – Jon Jay Chavez, Ithaca, N.Y. (unattached) dec. Barrett Stanghill, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 3-2