R. Smith remains on top, defeating Coon for third U.S. Open title

VIDEO: Senior US Open interviews

LAS VEGAS – Friday night’s U.S. Open Senior Greco-Roman finals saw high-flying action inside the South Point Arena as 10 wrestlers punched their tickets to the World Team Trials best-of-three finals in June.

A rematch of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials finals, the 130 kg gold-medal match was one of the night’s most anticipated bouts as Olympian Robby Smith (New York AC) took on 2016 Olympic Team Trials runner-up and 2016 US Open champion Adam Coon (New York AC/MWC) for the 130 kg title.

Smith dominated the match, shutting down Coon, who had an impressive run to the finals. Smith, a four-time Senior World Team member, picked up four points in the first period, bullying Coon out of bounds twice and scoring a takedown. Only one more point was scored in the second period, which gave Smith a 5-0 win and his third U.S. Open championship. Smith owns titles from the 2013 and 2014 U.S. Opens.

"It's business as always," Smith said. "I came here and worked my ass off. I wasn't disciplined last year, should have been. I am not training to win a national title. I am not training to make the team. I'm training to be a World champion. I haven't done it yet. I don't like talking about it, but that's the mentality you have to have."

2012 Olympian and two-time World Team member Ellis Coleman (Army WCAP) earned his third-consecutive and fourth overall U.S. Open national title on Friday night with a dominant win over Jessy Williams (New York AC) in the 67 kg gold-medal match. Coleman picked up an early four-pointer before securing a takedown and two turns with a trapped-arm gut for a 10-0 win.

"I feel great, it's my fifth time in the finals here so for me I expected to come here but at the same time I don't take anything for granted," Coleman said. "Every single match I take it one by one. Jessy was a tough opponent, all the guys I went up against were tough opponents. I just had to go out there and force my position and work on scoring. I worked a lot on my positioning and my scoring coming into this tournament."

Winning his third U.S. Open was Ben Provisor (New York AC/Nittany Lion WC), a two-time Olympian and 2017 World Team member. Provisor took on Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm) in a rematch of the 2017 World Team Trials finals. Rau jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead. A flurry of points came just moments later, giving Rau a 10-4 lead. Provisor showed no signs of quitting, winning point-by-point to earn 10 unanswered points for a 14-10 win. It marks Provisor’s first U.S. Open title since 2013.

2016 Olympic Team Trials champion and 2017 World Team Trials runner-up RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC) made work of the reigning U.S. Open champion and 2017 World Team member Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm). Perkins ran to his second national title with two takedowns and two gut wrenches en route to a 9-0 win. It was his first U.S. Open title since 2014.

Junior World champion and U23 World Team member Kamal Bey (Sunkist Kids) captured his second-consecutive U.S. Open title in exciting fashion. Bey, still Junior-eligible, put on a show with back-to-back four-point throws against Peyton Walsh (Marines) for an 8-0 win, which was celebrated with a crowd-pleasing backflip. Because he has produced a top-four finish at the event, Bey is allowed a special wrestle-off for the Junior World Team Trials later this summer.

"This past month I have been working so hard, personally developing myself and helping some of the younger guys too," Bey said. "The day after I won Junior Worlds, my dad took my medal and he told me now I have to go get the next one. That's my mindset. This is great and all, but on to the next one."

Also now a multiple-time U.S. Open champion is Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets), who gave U23 World Team member Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm) no time to react as he was awarded two quick four-point throws to seal his second national title in the first period of the 82 kg finals. Speiller’s first U.S. Open championship came in 2016.

The night started with an anticipated bout between National Team member Max Nowry (Army WCAP) and 2012 freestyle Olympian and 2008 Greco Olympic Team Trials runner-up Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids). Hazewinkel held an early 3-0 lead but Nowry stormed back with 10 unanswered points and held on for a 10-3 victory to snag his first U.S. Open title.

Points were flying at 60 kg, with Dalton Roberts (New York AC) hitting two four-pointers to open up at 9-2 bout against Mike Fuenffinger (Army WCAP). However, the WCAP wrestler started a furious comeback late in the match, scoring a feet-to-back throw and a caution-and-two to make it a 9-8 bout with 10 seconds left. Roberts, who was down in par terre in the final moments of the bout, held on for a 9-8 win.

Roberts, seeded third, was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler, after taking down the Nos. 2 and 4 seeds en route to his first title.

Two-time National Team member Ryan Mango (Army WCAP) secured his first U.S. Open title on Friday, defeating Sam Jones (New York AC) with a sound 6-3 decision at 63 kg. The win was fueled by a first-period four-pointer to give Mango the lead, which he maintained.

Dan Miller (Marines) collected his first U.S. Open championship today, beating out Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC) with a 5-3 win. Burak drew blood first with a 2-0 lead but Miller battled back to take over and claim the 97 kg crown.

Team awards were handed out, following the conclusion of the finals. The Division I club champions were the New York AC with 158 points, followed by U.S. Army WCAP with 79 points. Winning the Division II team title was the Minnesota Storm, which scored 53 points, followed by runner-up Sunkist Kids with 34 points.

2018 MARINE CORPS U.S. OPEN

at South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

55 kg/121 lbs.
1st - Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) dec. Sam Hazewinkel, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 10-3
3rd - Randon Miranda, Palmdale, Calif. (NYAC) forfeit Kyndall Rutz Marquette, Mich. (NMU-OTS)
5th - Britain Longmire, Las Vegas, Nevada (Team Nevada) tech. fall Jabari Moody, Country Club Hills, Ill. (NYAC), 8-0, 0:25
7th - Jemone Carter, Hubert, N.C. (Marines) pin Schuyler Swanton, Spring Hill, Fla. (All Navy Wrestling), 2:43

60 kg/132 lbs.
1st - Dalton Roberts, Fowlerville, Mich. (New York AC) dec. Mike Fuenffinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 9-8
3rd - Taylor Lamont, Mapleton, Utah (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Ty Pelot, Manitowoc, Wis. (X-Factor Elite), 8-0 0:55
5th - Austin Wallace-Lister, Portland, Ore. (Highline Wrestling Club) forfeit Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP)
7th - Devin Hester, Sneads Ferry, N.C. (Marines) tech. fall Matthew Hernandez Jacksonville, NC (Marines), 13-4 2:45

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st - Ryan Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) dec. Sammy Jones, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC), 6-3
3rd - Jesse Thielke, Beresford, S.D. (NYAC/LGWC) pin Lilshawn Greedy, Colo. Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 1:14
5th - Travis Rice, Washington, Ill. (NMU-OTS) dec. Taylor Zippe, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines), 8-1
7th - Colton Rasche, Sneads Ferry, N.C. (Marines) forfeit Andrew Ibarra Santa Maria, Calif. (NMU-OTS)

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1st - Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) tech. fall Jessy Williams, Windsor, N.Y. (New York AC), 10-0
3rd - Jamel Johnson, Pfafftown, N.C. (Marines) tech. fall Austin Morrow, Wenatchee, WA (NYAC), 9-0 0:49
5th - Anthonie Linares San Jose, Calif. (NYAC) inj. Raymond Bunker Villa Park, IL (Marines)
7th - Connor Myers (Army WCAP) tech. fall Chase Nelson, Wichita, Kansas (Bison Wrestling Club), 9-0 2:04

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st - RaVaughn Perkins, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) tech. fall Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 9-0
3rd - Alejandro Sancho, Miami, Fla. (NYAC) dec. Christopher Gonzalez Sacramento, Calif. (NYAC), 4-0
5th - Logan Kass, Webster, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Nick Tarpley Colorado Springs, CO (NYAC), 8-0 1:07
7th - Eleazar Deluca, Talent, Ore. (SERTC-VT) VSU David Prado, Humble, Texas (NMU-OTS), 8-0 0:52

77 kg/169.5 lbs.
1st - Kamal Bey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Peyton Walsh, Jacksonville, N.C. (Marines), 8-0
3rd - Cody Pack, Beresford, S.D. (NYAC/LGWC) tech. fall Alec Ortiz Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 8-0 0:39
5th - Jesse Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y. (NYAC) VFO Jon Jay Chavez, Ithaca, N.Y. (NYAC/FLWC)
7th - Brandon Mueller, Albuquerque, N.M. (U.S. Air Force/505 Wrestling Club) forfeit Curt Calovecchi, Marquette, MI (NMU-OTS)

82 kg/180.5 lbs.
1st - Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida Jets) tech. fall Barrett Stanghill, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 8-0
3rd - Richard Carlson, St. Paul, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Courtney Myers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army (WCAP), 7-6
5th - Vladyslav Dombrovskiy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) inj. dft. John Stefanowicz (Marines)
7th - Terrence Zaleski, Jacksonville, NC (Marines) VFA John Kent Kenner, La. (Gator Wrestling Club), 4-0 1:25

87 kg/191.5 lbs.
1st - Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/Nittany Lion WC) dec. Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 14-10
3rd - Cheney Haight Colorado Springs, CO (NYAC) tech. fall Kevin Radford Tempe, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 9-0 2:06
5th - Khymba Johnson Marquette, Mich (NYAC) dec. Easton Hargrave Olympia, WA (Olympia Wrestling Club), 7-0
7th - Jacob Fisher Stamford, Conn. (Curby 3 style WC) tech. fall Patrick Dapkus, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Chicago Wrestling Club), 9-0 1:02

97 kg/213.5 lbs.
1st - Dan Miller, Jacksonville, N.C. (Marines) dec. Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
3rd - Lucas Sheridan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) pin Blake Smith, Sun City, Ariz. (OTC-Colorado), 0:29
5th - Eric Twohey, Stewartville, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) forfeit Enock Francois, Ithaca, N.Y. (NYAC/FLWC)
7th - Dan Olsen Algonquin, Ill. (Unattached) dec. Pete Gounaridis. Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), 4-4

130 kg/286 lbs.
1st - Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Adam Coon, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/MWC), 5-0
3rd - David Tate Orndorff, Orem, Utah (Utah Valley RTC) dec. Donny Longendyke, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 8-5
5th - Alton Meeks Polk City, Fla. (U.S. Army) tech. fall Jarrod Hinrichs Geneva, Neb. (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club), 8-0 0:57
7th - Malcolm Allen, Saint Paul, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Conor Karwath Gonzales, La. (Williams Baptist College), 8-0 0:31