2019 U.S. Open Senior Greco-Roman preview
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by JD Rader, USA Wrestling
G'Angelo Hancock competes against Fatih Baskoy of Turkey in the 97 kg. final at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Feb. 23, 2019 in Gyor, Hungary. Photo courtesy of Ikuo Higuchi.
With Adam Coon being the only 2018 World Team member to win a medal and get a bye to Final X, this year’s Greco-Roman U.S. Open should be filled with the top guys in the U.S. The U.S. Open Champion at every weight beside of 130 kg will get an automatic berth to Final X.
In addition, the top seven wrestlers will qualify for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., May 16-19.
A look at the competition in Greco-Roman at this year’s U.S. Open:
55 kg/121 lbs.
National Team: 1. Sam Hazewinkel; 2. Max Nowry; 3. Dalton Duffield
While Sam Hazewinkel is the current National Team No. 1 and competed at the 2018 World Championships, for the U.S., he is not expected to compete at the U.S. Open.
With a spot at Final X on the line however, America’s next guy up, Max Nowry is expected to compete. Nowry looked good at the Pan American Championships this past weekend and was one of four Americans to win gold in Greco-Roman. Nowry also won the 2018 U.S. Open, defeating Hazewinkel in the finals.
After earning the No. 3 spot on the National Team last season at 60kg, Randon Miranda is back down at 55 kg. At the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International, Dalton Duffield defeated Miranda 11-5, but Miranda actually won the round robin style bracket with Duffield losing to Sean Sesnan and Jabari Moody.
Britain Longmire, Kyndall Rutz, and Jerome Carter are all wrestlers who could make some noise.
2018 U.S. Open results at 55 kg
1st - Max Nowry (Army WCAP) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids), 10-3
3rd - Randon Miranda (NYAC) forfeit Kyndall Rutz (NMU-OTS)
5th - Britain Longmire (Team Nevada) tech. fall Jabari Moody (NYAC), 8-0, 0:25
7th - Jemone Carter (Marines) pin Schuyler Swanton (All Navy Wrestling), 2:43
60 kg/132 lbs.
National Team: 1. Dalton Roberts; 2. Ildar Hafizov; 3. Randon Miranda
The top three men expected at this weight, Dalton Roberts, Ildar Hafizov, and Mike Fuenffinger are all very close in their recent battles.
After losing 4-3 to Fuenffinger at the 2018 U.S. Open, Hafizov medical forfeited out to sixth place and Roberts beat Fuenffinger 9-8 in the finals. Hafizov then beat Fuenffinger 5-0 in the World Team Trials challenge tournament, but Roberts defeated him two matches to one in the final. However, most recently Fuenffinger beat Roberts 9-8 at the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International and then Hafizov defeated Fuenffinger 8-0 in the finals. It will be exciting to see how it plays out this time.
Just behind these three is 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Taylor LaMont. LaMont has made four Junior World Teams. He is right on the cusp of breaking through on the Senior scene.
Ty Pelot, a University Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals runner-up and Austin Lister, last year’s U.S. Open fifth place finisher, are wrestlers to keep your eye on as well.
2018 U.S. Open results at 60 kg
1st - Dalton Roberts (New York AC) dec. Mike Fuenffinger (Army WCAP), 9-8
3rd - Taylor Lamont (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Ty Pelot (X-Factor Elite), 8-0 0:55
5th - Austin Wallace-Lister (Highline Wrestling Club) forfeit Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP)
7th - Devin Hester (Marines) tech. fall Matthew Hernandez (Marines), 13-4 2:45
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
National Team: 1. Jesse Thielke; 2. Ryan Mango; 3. Xavier Johnson
After competing at 67 kg at the 2019 Dave Schultz, Jesse Thielke is expected drop back down to 63 kg, where he will likely be the favorite. Thielke was a 2016 Olympian and powered through the World Team Trials last June.
Not far behind however, will be Ryan Mango, Travis Rice, Xavier Johnson, and Sam Jones. Although Mango defeated Thielke at the 2018 U.S. Open, Thielke defeated Mango in two matches in the World Team Trials final, and took out both Rice and Johnson in the challenge tournament.
Rice, Johnson, and Jones are a bit of a mixed bag in their recent showdowns. In February, Johnson took home silver at a tough Grand Prix Zagreb Open, outplacing Rice but with zero common opponents. In January, Jones defeated Rice 3-3 on criteria at the 2019 Dave Schultz. At the U23 World Team Trials in May of 2018, Rice defeated Johnson two matches to none in the finals, but at the 2018 Bill Farrell Memorial International, Johnson defeated Rice 9-0 and Jones 13-4.
Lilshawn Greedy defeated Rice at last year’s U.S. Open to finish fourth. Colton Rasche has finished in the top at the past two U.S. Opens.
2018 U.S. Open results at 63 kg
1st - Ryan Mango (Army WCAP) dec. Sammy Jones (New York AC), 6-3
3rd - Jesse Thielke (NYAC/LGWC) pin Lilshawn Greedy (Army WCAP), 1:14
5th - Travis Rice (NMU-OTS) dec. Taylor Zippe (Marines), 8-1
7th - Colton Rasche (Marines) forfeit Andrew Ibarra (NMU-OTS)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Ellis Coleman; 2. Alejandro Sancho; 3. Hayden Tuma
Competing at the 2012 Olympics and making his first Senior World Team in 2013, Ellis Coleman has been the No. 1 wrestler at 67 kg for a while. The U.S. Army WCAP athlete has not lost a match on U.S. soil since the Non-Olympic Weight World Team Trials in 2016.
The big question is who will be the top challenger to Coleman. Having not competed since taking second at the 2018 World Team Trials, it is unclear whether or not Alejandro Sancho will be competing. No. 3 on the National Team, Hayden Tuma was injured at the 2019 Dave Schultz and again at the 2019 Armed Forces Championships. However, with a Final X spot on the line and still needed to qualify for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, if Tuma is healthy one would think he would wrestle.
With Raymond Bunker entered in the tournament at 72 kg, Jamel Johnson, Austin Morrow, and Jessy Williams will be the next guys up. Both Johnson and Morrow had solid showings at the 2019 Dave Schultz. Johnson finished first and Morrow third.
Others to watch include Anthonie Linaries, who placed fifth last year and NMU-OTS athletes Benji Peak and Alston Nutter.
Also of note, Penn State wrestler and 2015 Cadet World gold medalist in freestyle, Jarod Verkleeran will be making his Greco-Roman debut here.
2018 U.S. Open results at 67 kg
1st - Ellis Coleman (Army WCAP) tech. fall Jessy Williams (New York AC), 10-0
3rd - Jamel Johnson (Marines) tech. fall Austin Morrow (NYAC), 9-0 0:49
5th - Anthonie Linares (NYAC) inj. Raymond Bunker (Marines)
7th - Connor Myers (Army WCAP) tech. fall Chase Nelson (Bison WC), 9-0 2:04
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Jon Jay Chavez; 2. RaVaughn Perkins; 3. Patrick Smith
With 2018 World Team Trials champion Jon Jay Chavez not expected to wrestle, RaVaugn Perkins will be the top guy at 72 kg. Perkins won the Olympic Trials in 2016 and competed for the U.S. at last year’s World Championships.This past weekend, Perkins won his second straight Pan American Championships gold medal.
Coming off of a gold medal performance at the 2019 Dave Schultz at 72 kg, Raymond Bunker would be a good bet to make the finals.
Also competing will be 2018 World Team Trials fourth place finisher Eleazar Deluca, 2017 University Nationals runner up Colin Schubert, and 2018 U.S. Open All-American Nick Tarpley.
Although not yet entered, if wrestling, Logan Kass will be one to watch. The Minnesota Storm wrestler was on last year’s U23 World team and placed fifth at the Open.
2018 U.S. Open results at 72 kg
1st - RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC) tech. fall Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm), 9-0
3rd - Alejandro Sancho (NYAC) dec. Christopher Gonzalez (NYAC), 4-0
5th - Logan Kass (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Nick Tarpley (NYAC), 8-0 1:07
7th - Eleazar Deluca (SERTC-VT) VSU David Prado (NMU-OTS), 8-0 0:52
77 kg/169.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Kamal Bey; 2. Mason Manville; 3. Peyton Walsh
Kamal Bey has established himself as the No. 1 wrestlers at 77 kg, after a strong 2018 season.
2017 World Team member Mason Manville is entered to wrestle. However, after defeating Manville 5-1 at the 2019 Dave Schultz, Patrick Smith will be the favorite to meet Bey in the finals.
Smith is a Greco-Roman veteran with a list of accomplishments that includes Senior World Team member, three-time Pan American champion, University World silver medalist, Olympic Trials champion, and U.S. Open champion.
Also in the hunt to make the finals will be National Team No. 3 and 2018 U.S. Open runner-up Peyton Walsh, 2018 U23 World Team member Jesse Porter, and 2016 Senior World Team member Christopher Gonzalez.
Assuming last year’s third and fourth place finishers, Cody Pack and Alec Ortiz, enter again this year, you’ll want to keep your eye on them.
Entered again this year after placing the past two years is Brandon Mueller.
2018 U.S. Open results at 77 kg
1st - Kamal Bey (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Peyton Walsh (Marines), 8-0
3rd - Cody Pack (NYAC/LGWC) tech. fall Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm), 8-0 0:39
5th - Jesse Porter (NYAC) VFO Jon Jay Chavez (NYAC/FLWC)
7th - Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force/505 WC) forfeit Curt Calovecchi (NMU-OTS)
82 kg/180.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Geordan Speiller; 2. Cheney Haight; 3. John Stefanowicz
Competing in the Open this year at 82 kg, Cheney Haight will be a big threat to Geordan Speiller repeating as U.S. Open champion. Speiller defeated Haight in two matches at last year’s World Team Trials, but Hiaght is longtime U.S. Greco-Roman staple who has made multiple Senior World Teams and is coming off of a gold medal performance at the Pan American Championships.
Haight defeated National Team No. 3 John Stefanowicz 5-3 in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament finals last year. Stefanowicz was the 2017 World Team Trials runner-up.
Terrence Zaleski, who was fifth at last year’s Senior World Team Trials, and 2018 U23 World Team member Carter Nielsen will also make some noise.
Despite just winning a gold medal at the Pan American Championships in men’s freestyle, Oklahoma State senior Chandler Rogers is entered here for the U.S. Open. Rogers finished in third at last year’s U23 Nationals and was a Fargo champion in Greco-Roman.
2018 U.S. Open results at 82 kg
1st - Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) tech. fall Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm), 8-0
3rd - Richard Carlson (Minnesota Storm) dec. Courtney Myers (Army (WCAP), 7-6
5th - Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (Army WCAP) inj. dft. John Stefanowicz (Marines)
7th - Terrence Zaleski (Marines) VFA John Kent (Gator WC), 4-0 1:25
87 kg/191.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Patrick Martinez; 2. Ben Provisor; 3. Kevin Radford
Although three-time World Team member Patrick Martinez will be the favorite, two-time Olympian Ben Provisor is not a big underdog. It took Martinez three matches, winning the last 1-1 on criteria, at the 2018 World Team Trials.
While not yet entered, if wrestling, Kevin Radford will be a big factor. Radford finished third at the 2018 World Team Trials and fourth at the U.S. Open.
Also a big factor, and already entered, is Joe Rau. Rau has been an established Greco-Roman talent since wrestling in the 2014 World Championships.
Barrett Stanghilll is another to watch at 87 kg. Stangill was the U.S. Open runner-up at 82 kg last year and a 2017 U23 World Team member at 85 kg.
2018 U.S. Open results at 87 kg
1st - Ben Provisor (New York AC/Nittany Lion WC) dec. Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm), 14-10
3rd - Cheney Haight (NYAC) tech. fall Kevin Radford (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 9-0 2:06
5th - Khymba Johnson (NYAC) dec. Easton Hargrave (Olympia WC), 7-0
7th - Jacob Fisher (Curby 3 style WC) tech. fall Patrick Dapkus (Chicago WC), 9-0 1:02
97 kg/213.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. G’Angelo Hancock; 2. Daniel Miller; 3. Lucas Sheridan
G’Angelo Hancock is the established No. 1 wrestler at 97 kg. Hancock is a Junior World bronze medalist who tech falled his way through last year’s World Team Trials Challenge Tournament and then defeated Daniel Miller two matches to none in the final. He is currently ranked fourth in the World by UWW.
In January, Lucas Sheridan made the Dave Schultz finals, defeating Khymba Johnson along the way, but lost to Hancock 7-0.
Daniel Miller secured his No. 2 spot at the 2019 Armed Forces Championships when he defeated Sheridan 2-1.
Last year’s Open placers Eric Twohey, Blake Smith, and Enock Francois will be in the mix.
NMU-OTS athlete Roy Nash is a solid young talent as well.
2018 U.S. Open results at 97 kg
1st - Dan Miller (Marines) dec. Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
3rd - Lucas Sheridan (Army WCAP) pin Blake Smith (OTC-Colorado), 0:29
5th - Eric Twohey (Minnesota Storm) forfeit Enock Francois (NYAC/FLWC)
7th - Dan Olsen (Unattached - IL) dec. Pete Gounaridis (Army WCAP), 4-4
130 kg/286 lbs.
Final X eligible – 2018 World silver medalist Adam Coon
Rest of National Team: 2. Robby Smith; 3. David Tate Orndorff
With Adam Coon winning silver at last year’s World Championships, he has earned his berth to Final X and will not be wrestling Greco-Roman at the U.S. Open. He will be wrestling men’s freestyle, where is the defending champion. Coon won the Pan American Championships last week in Greco-Roman.
Defending U.S. Open Greco-Roman champion Robby Smith, however, will most likely be wrestling. If wrestling, Smith will be the odds-on favorite. He is 2016 Olympian and four-time World Team member.
Right behind Smith on the National Team is ladder is David Tate Orndorff. Orndorff is freshman at Utah Valley who finished third at last year’s Open and third at Senior World Team Trials, and second at U23 Nationals.
Defeating Orndorff at U23 Nationals was young up-and-coming Greco star Cohlton Schultz. The 19 year old Colorado native is a Cadet World gold medalist and a Junior World bronze medalist. In the U23 Nationals finals, Schultz beat Orndorff by pin and tech. fall.
Third at last year’s U23 Nationals, and already entered into this year’s U.S. Open is Trent Osnes.
U.S. Army WCAP athletes Jacob Mitchell and Toby Erickson could make some waves if the decide to come as well.
2018 U.S. Open results at 130 kg
1st - Robby Smith (New York AC) dec. Adam Coon (New York AC/MWC), 5-0
3rd - David Tate Orndorff (Utah Valley RTC) dec. Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm), 8-5
5th - Alton Meeks (U.S. Army) tech. fall Jarrod Hinrichs (Nebraska Golden Eagles WC), 8-0 0:57
7th - Malcolm Allen (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Conor Karwath (Williams Baptist College), 8-0 0:31
With Adam Coon being the only 2018 World Team member to win a medal and get a bye to Final X, this year’s Greco-Roman U.S. Open should be filled with the top guys in the U.S. The U.S. Open Champion at every weight beside of 130 kg will get an automatic berth to Final X.
In addition, the top seven wrestlers will qualify for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., May 16-19.
A look at the competition in Greco-Roman at this year’s U.S. Open:
55 kg/121 lbs.
National Team: 1. Sam Hazewinkel; 2. Max Nowry; 3. Dalton Duffield
While Sam Hazewinkel is the current National Team No. 1 and competed at the 2018 World Championships, for the U.S., he is not expected to compete at the U.S. Open.
With a spot at Final X on the line however, America’s next guy up, Max Nowry is expected to compete. Nowry looked good at the Pan American Championships this past weekend and was one of four Americans to win gold in Greco-Roman. Nowry also won the 2018 U.S. Open, defeating Hazewinkel in the finals.
After earning the No. 3 spot on the National Team last season at 60kg, Randon Miranda is back down at 55 kg. At the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International, Dalton Duffield defeated Miranda 11-5, but Miranda actually won the round robin style bracket with Duffield losing to Sean Sesnan and Jabari Moody.
Britain Longmire, Kyndall Rutz, and Jerome Carter are all wrestlers who could make some noise.
2018 U.S. Open results at 55 kg
1st - Max Nowry (Army WCAP) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids), 10-3
3rd - Randon Miranda (NYAC) forfeit Kyndall Rutz (NMU-OTS)
5th - Britain Longmire (Team Nevada) tech. fall Jabari Moody (NYAC), 8-0, 0:25
7th - Jemone Carter (Marines) pin Schuyler Swanton (All Navy Wrestling), 2:43
60 kg/132 lbs.
National Team: 1. Dalton Roberts; 2. Ildar Hafizov; 3. Randon Miranda
The top three men expected at this weight, Dalton Roberts, Ildar Hafizov, and Mike Fuenffinger are all very close in their recent battles.
After losing 4-3 to Fuenffinger at the 2018 U.S. Open, Hafizov medical forfeited out to sixth place and Roberts beat Fuenffinger 9-8 in the finals. Hafizov then beat Fuenffinger 5-0 in the World Team Trials challenge tournament, but Roberts defeated him two matches to one in the final. However, most recently Fuenffinger beat Roberts 9-8 at the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International and then Hafizov defeated Fuenffinger 8-0 in the finals. It will be exciting to see how it plays out this time.
Just behind these three is 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Taylor LaMont. LaMont has made four Junior World Teams. He is right on the cusp of breaking through on the Senior scene.
Ty Pelot, a University Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals runner-up and Austin Lister, last year’s U.S. Open fifth place finisher, are wrestlers to keep your eye on as well.
2018 U.S. Open results at 60 kg
1st - Dalton Roberts (New York AC) dec. Mike Fuenffinger (Army WCAP), 9-8
3rd - Taylor Lamont (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Ty Pelot (X-Factor Elite), 8-0 0:55
5th - Austin Wallace-Lister (Highline Wrestling Club) forfeit Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP)
7th - Devin Hester (Marines) tech. fall Matthew Hernandez (Marines), 13-4 2:45
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
National Team: 1. Jesse Thielke; 2. Ryan Mango; 3. Xavier Johnson
After competing at 67 kg at the 2019 Dave Schultz, Jesse Thielke is expected drop back down to 63 kg, where he will likely be the favorite. Thielke was a 2016 Olympian and powered through the World Team Trials last June.
Not far behind however, will be Ryan Mango, Travis Rice, Xavier Johnson, and Sam Jones. Although Mango defeated Thielke at the 2018 U.S. Open, Thielke defeated Mango in two matches in the World Team Trials final, and took out both Rice and Johnson in the challenge tournament.
Rice, Johnson, and Jones are a bit of a mixed bag in their recent showdowns. In February, Johnson took home silver at a tough Grand Prix Zagreb Open, outplacing Rice but with zero common opponents. In January, Jones defeated Rice 3-3 on criteria at the 2019 Dave Schultz. At the U23 World Team Trials in May of 2018, Rice defeated Johnson two matches to none in the finals, but at the 2018 Bill Farrell Memorial International, Johnson defeated Rice 9-0 and Jones 13-4.
Lilshawn Greedy defeated Rice at last year’s U.S. Open to finish fourth. Colton Rasche has finished in the top at the past two U.S. Opens.
2018 U.S. Open results at 63 kg
1st - Ryan Mango (Army WCAP) dec. Sammy Jones (New York AC), 6-3
3rd - Jesse Thielke (NYAC/LGWC) pin Lilshawn Greedy (Army WCAP), 1:14
5th - Travis Rice (NMU-OTS) dec. Taylor Zippe (Marines), 8-1
7th - Colton Rasche (Marines) forfeit Andrew Ibarra (NMU-OTS)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Ellis Coleman; 2. Alejandro Sancho; 3. Hayden Tuma
Competing at the 2012 Olympics and making his first Senior World Team in 2013, Ellis Coleman has been the No. 1 wrestler at 67 kg for a while. The U.S. Army WCAP athlete has not lost a match on U.S. soil since the Non-Olympic Weight World Team Trials in 2016.
The big question is who will be the top challenger to Coleman. Having not competed since taking second at the 2018 World Team Trials, it is unclear whether or not Alejandro Sancho will be competing. No. 3 on the National Team, Hayden Tuma was injured at the 2019 Dave Schultz and again at the 2019 Armed Forces Championships. However, with a Final X spot on the line and still needed to qualify for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, if Tuma is healthy one would think he would wrestle.
With Raymond Bunker entered in the tournament at 72 kg, Jamel Johnson, Austin Morrow, and Jessy Williams will be the next guys up. Both Johnson and Morrow had solid showings at the 2019 Dave Schultz. Johnson finished first and Morrow third.
Others to watch include Anthonie Linaries, who placed fifth last year and NMU-OTS athletes Benji Peak and Alston Nutter.
Also of note, Penn State wrestler and 2015 Cadet World gold medalist in freestyle, Jarod Verkleeran will be making his Greco-Roman debut here.
2018 U.S. Open results at 67 kg
1st - Ellis Coleman (Army WCAP) tech. fall Jessy Williams (New York AC), 10-0
3rd - Jamel Johnson (Marines) tech. fall Austin Morrow (NYAC), 9-0 0:49
5th - Anthonie Linares (NYAC) inj. Raymond Bunker (Marines)
7th - Connor Myers (Army WCAP) tech. fall Chase Nelson (Bison WC), 9-0 2:04
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Jon Jay Chavez; 2. RaVaughn Perkins; 3. Patrick Smith
With 2018 World Team Trials champion Jon Jay Chavez not expected to wrestle, RaVaugn Perkins will be the top guy at 72 kg. Perkins won the Olympic Trials in 2016 and competed for the U.S. at last year’s World Championships.This past weekend, Perkins won his second straight Pan American Championships gold medal.
Coming off of a gold medal performance at the 2019 Dave Schultz at 72 kg, Raymond Bunker would be a good bet to make the finals.
Also competing will be 2018 World Team Trials fourth place finisher Eleazar Deluca, 2017 University Nationals runner up Colin Schubert, and 2018 U.S. Open All-American Nick Tarpley.
Although not yet entered, if wrestling, Logan Kass will be one to watch. The Minnesota Storm wrestler was on last year’s U23 World team and placed fifth at the Open.
2018 U.S. Open results at 72 kg
1st - RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC) tech. fall Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm), 9-0
3rd - Alejandro Sancho (NYAC) dec. Christopher Gonzalez (NYAC), 4-0
5th - Logan Kass (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Nick Tarpley (NYAC), 8-0 1:07
7th - Eleazar Deluca (SERTC-VT) VSU David Prado (NMU-OTS), 8-0 0:52
77 kg/169.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Kamal Bey; 2. Mason Manville; 3. Peyton Walsh
Kamal Bey has established himself as the No. 1 wrestlers at 77 kg, after a strong 2018 season.
2017 World Team member Mason Manville is entered to wrestle. However, after defeating Manville 5-1 at the 2019 Dave Schultz, Patrick Smith will be the favorite to meet Bey in the finals.
Smith is a Greco-Roman veteran with a list of accomplishments that includes Senior World Team member, three-time Pan American champion, University World silver medalist, Olympic Trials champion, and U.S. Open champion.
Also in the hunt to make the finals will be National Team No. 3 and 2018 U.S. Open runner-up Peyton Walsh, 2018 U23 World Team member Jesse Porter, and 2016 Senior World Team member Christopher Gonzalez.
Assuming last year’s third and fourth place finishers, Cody Pack and Alec Ortiz, enter again this year, you’ll want to keep your eye on them.
Entered again this year after placing the past two years is Brandon Mueller.
2018 U.S. Open results at 77 kg
1st - Kamal Bey (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Peyton Walsh (Marines), 8-0
3rd - Cody Pack (NYAC/LGWC) tech. fall Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm), 8-0 0:39
5th - Jesse Porter (NYAC) VFO Jon Jay Chavez (NYAC/FLWC)
7th - Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force/505 WC) forfeit Curt Calovecchi (NMU-OTS)
82 kg/180.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Geordan Speiller; 2. Cheney Haight; 3. John Stefanowicz
Competing in the Open this year at 82 kg, Cheney Haight will be a big threat to Geordan Speiller repeating as U.S. Open champion. Speiller defeated Haight in two matches at last year’s World Team Trials, but Hiaght is longtime U.S. Greco-Roman staple who has made multiple Senior World Teams and is coming off of a gold medal performance at the Pan American Championships.
Haight defeated National Team No. 3 John Stefanowicz 5-3 in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament finals last year. Stefanowicz was the 2017 World Team Trials runner-up.
Terrence Zaleski, who was fifth at last year’s Senior World Team Trials, and 2018 U23 World Team member Carter Nielsen will also make some noise.
Despite just winning a gold medal at the Pan American Championships in men’s freestyle, Oklahoma State senior Chandler Rogers is entered here for the U.S. Open. Rogers finished in third at last year’s U23 Nationals and was a Fargo champion in Greco-Roman.
2018 U.S. Open results at 82 kg
1st - Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) tech. fall Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm), 8-0
3rd - Richard Carlson (Minnesota Storm) dec. Courtney Myers (Army (WCAP), 7-6
5th - Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (Army WCAP) inj. dft. John Stefanowicz (Marines)
7th - Terrence Zaleski (Marines) VFA John Kent (Gator WC), 4-0 1:25
87 kg/191.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. Patrick Martinez; 2. Ben Provisor; 3. Kevin Radford
Although three-time World Team member Patrick Martinez will be the favorite, two-time Olympian Ben Provisor is not a big underdog. It took Martinez three matches, winning the last 1-1 on criteria, at the 2018 World Team Trials.
While not yet entered, if wrestling, Kevin Radford will be a big factor. Radford finished third at the 2018 World Team Trials and fourth at the U.S. Open.
Also a big factor, and already entered, is Joe Rau. Rau has been an established Greco-Roman talent since wrestling in the 2014 World Championships.
Barrett Stanghilll is another to watch at 87 kg. Stangill was the U.S. Open runner-up at 82 kg last year and a 2017 U23 World Team member at 85 kg.
2018 U.S. Open results at 87 kg
1st - Ben Provisor (New York AC/Nittany Lion WC) dec. Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm), 14-10
3rd - Cheney Haight (NYAC) tech. fall Kevin Radford (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 9-0 2:06
5th - Khymba Johnson (NYAC) dec. Easton Hargrave (Olympia WC), 7-0
7th - Jacob Fisher (Curby 3 style WC) tech. fall Patrick Dapkus (Chicago WC), 9-0 1:02
97 kg/213.5 lbs.
National Team: 1. G’Angelo Hancock; 2. Daniel Miller; 3. Lucas Sheridan
G’Angelo Hancock is the established No. 1 wrestler at 97 kg. Hancock is a Junior World bronze medalist who tech falled his way through last year’s World Team Trials Challenge Tournament and then defeated Daniel Miller two matches to none in the final. He is currently ranked fourth in the World by UWW.
In January, Lucas Sheridan made the Dave Schultz finals, defeating Khymba Johnson along the way, but lost to Hancock 7-0.
Daniel Miller secured his No. 2 spot at the 2019 Armed Forces Championships when he defeated Sheridan 2-1.
Last year’s Open placers Eric Twohey, Blake Smith, and Enock Francois will be in the mix.
NMU-OTS athlete Roy Nash is a solid young talent as well.
2018 U.S. Open results at 97 kg
1st - Dan Miller (Marines) dec. Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
3rd - Lucas Sheridan (Army WCAP) pin Blake Smith (OTC-Colorado), 0:29
5th - Eric Twohey (Minnesota Storm) forfeit Enock Francois (NYAC/FLWC)
7th - Dan Olsen (Unattached - IL) dec. Pete Gounaridis (Army WCAP), 4-4
130 kg/286 lbs.
Final X eligible – 2018 World silver medalist Adam Coon
Rest of National Team: 2. Robby Smith; 3. David Tate Orndorff
With Adam Coon winning silver at last year’s World Championships, he has earned his berth to Final X and will not be wrestling Greco-Roman at the U.S. Open. He will be wrestling men’s freestyle, where is the defending champion. Coon won the Pan American Championships last week in Greco-Roman.
Defending U.S. Open Greco-Roman champion Robby Smith, however, will most likely be wrestling. If wrestling, Smith will be the odds-on favorite. He is 2016 Olympian and four-time World Team member.
Right behind Smith on the National Team is ladder is David Tate Orndorff. Orndorff is freshman at Utah Valley who finished third at last year’s Open and third at Senior World Team Trials, and second at U23 Nationals.
Defeating Orndorff at U23 Nationals was young up-and-coming Greco star Cohlton Schultz. The 19 year old Colorado native is a Cadet World gold medalist and a Junior World bronze medalist. In the U23 Nationals finals, Schultz beat Orndorff by pin and tech. fall.
Third at last year’s U23 Nationals, and already entered into this year’s U.S. Open is Trent Osnes.
U.S. Army WCAP athletes Jacob Mitchell and Toby Erickson could make some waves if the decide to come as well.
2018 U.S. Open results at 130 kg
1st - Robby Smith (New York AC) dec. Adam Coon (New York AC/MWC), 5-0
3rd - David Tate Orndorff (Utah Valley RTC) dec. Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm), 8-5
5th - Alton Meeks (U.S. Army) tech. fall Jarrod Hinrichs (Nebraska Golden Eagles WC), 8-0 0:57
7th - Malcolm Allen (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Conor Karwath (Williams Baptist College), 8-0 0:31
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