Stieber vs. Graff and Oliver vs. Green in freestyle finals for Non-Olympic Weight World Team Trials
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Logan Stieber scores exposure points against Jayson Ness in the 61 kg semifinals at the Non-Olympic Weight World Team Trials in New York. Photo by Larry Slater.
NEW YORK, N.Y. The finals have been established in men’s freestyle at the U.S. Non-Olympic Weights World Team Trials and at the Bill Farrell Memorial International, held at the New York Athletic Club on Friday.
In the U.S. Non-Olympic Weights World Team Trials, the finals matchup at 61 kg/134 lbs. will feature No. 1 seed Logan Stieber (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) taking on the No. 2 seed Tyler Graff (New Brunswick, N.J./New York AC)
In the semifinals, Stieber was pushed early by Jayson Ness (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), but kept adding to his lead before winning 13-6. Graff had a distinct edge in his 13-2 technical fall over the explosive Cody Brewer (Evanston, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Chicago RTC).
“He has looked good. This training is on point. Logan likes to mix it up and get in a lot of positions. Against Ness, who can be dangerous, he held back a little bit. I see his scoring going up against Graff in the finals. He is in a groove. Logan is a risk taker and he will take risks tonight, which for him is being consistent,” said Ohio RTC coach Tervel Dlagnev.
At 70 kg/154 lbs., based upon the Trials procedures approved in men’s freestyle, 2015 World bronze medalist James Green (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC) advances directly to the Championship Series tonight.
Winning the Challenge Tournament to earn the right to face Green will be Jordan Oliver (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids), who powered through a loaded bracket to reach the finals. In the Challenge Tournament finals, Oliver scored an impressive 9-2 win over 2014 World Team member Jimmy Kennedy (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC/Michigan RTC).
The semifinals had the fans on their feet, especially in Kennedy’s 10-9 win over two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif. /Illinois RTC). Kennedy led early 7-2 with some great technique and tactics, but Martinez came back strong in the second period. Martinez got within one point with 14 seconds to go, but was unable to get a final attack on Kennedy.
In the other semifinals, Oliver was in control and able to score with consistency, beating Jason Chamberlain (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC), 8-2
“He has wrestled well. He is sticking and moving. His body is strong. He is scoring with a variety of attacks, and has been very strong on top. He has all of the pieces of the puzzle needed to win it here. But make no mistake. The real battle is tonight. He will need to bring his best game tonight,” said Sunkist Kids coach Zeke Jones.
They will compete in a best-of-three championship series, with the winner earning the World Team berth.
The winners in these two weight classes will compete for the United States at the Non-Olympic Weight World Championships in Budapest, Hungary on December 10-11.
In addition, the men’s freestyle gold medal and bronze-medal bouts have also been established for the Bill Farrell Memorial International, which includes action in the six Olympic weights. For the Bill Farrell event, the finals will be one match.
U.S. wrestlers have done well so far, as 10 of the 12 finalists are American wrestlers. Four of the six finals are all-USA battles.
One of the international battles of interest is at 74 kg/163 lbs., where three-time NCAA champion and Freestyle Team USA member Alex Dieringer (Stillwater, Okla.Titan Mercury WC) will take on Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan/NYAC), who was fifth in the Olympic Games.
The other battle with an international competitor comes at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., where Penn State NCAA champion Nico Megaludis (State College, Pa./Titan Mercury WC) will face Khansankhusein Badrudinov of Russia. Badrudinov has won three Junior World medals, a gold in 2014, a silver in 2016 and bronze in 2015.
The championship finals are set for approximately 6:30 p.m. Eastern time tonight. All of the action will be broadcast live on Flowrestling.
Consolation rounds are continuing, and bronze medal matches in all eight weight classed will be determined later this afternoon.
Greco-Roman weighins are today, and the tournament concludes with Greco-Roman on Saturday, with action starting in the afternoon.
U.S. NON-OLYMPIC WEIGHT WORLD TEAM TRIALS
Men’s freestyle Best of Three Final Series pairings
61 kg/134 lbs. - Logan Stieber (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) vs. Tyler Graff (New Brunswick, N.J./New York AC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green (Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC) vs. Jordan Oliver, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Men’s Challenge Tournament final
61 kg/134 lbs. - Oliver dec. Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC), 9-2
Men’s freestyle Semifinal results
61 kg/134 lbs. - Stieber dec. Jayson Ness (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 13-6
61 kg/134 lbs. - Graff dec. Cody Brewer (Evanston, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Chicago RTC), 13-2
70 kg/154 lbs. – Jordan Oliver dec. Jason Chamberlain (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC), 8-2
70 kg/154 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy dec. Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif. /llinois RTC), 10-9
BILL FARRELL INTERNATIONAL
Medal Match pairings
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Nico Megaludis (USA/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Khansankhusein Badrudinov (Russia)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold – Hunter Stieber (Titan Mercury WC) vs. B.J. Futrell (Titan Mercury WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan/NYAC)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold – Austin Trotman (Titan Mercury WC), vs. Timmy McCall (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold – Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) vs. J.T. Felix (Titan Mercury WC)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Anthony Nelson (Minnesota Storm) vs. Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids)
NEW YORK, N.Y. The finals have been established in men’s freestyle at the U.S. Non-Olympic Weights World Team Trials and at the Bill Farrell Memorial International, held at the New York Athletic Club on Friday.
In the U.S. Non-Olympic Weights World Team Trials, the finals matchup at 61 kg/134 lbs. will feature No. 1 seed Logan Stieber (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) taking on the No. 2 seed Tyler Graff (New Brunswick, N.J./New York AC)
In the semifinals, Stieber was pushed early by Jayson Ness (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), but kept adding to his lead before winning 13-6. Graff had a distinct edge in his 13-2 technical fall over the explosive Cody Brewer (Evanston, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Chicago RTC).
“He has looked good. This training is on point. Logan likes to mix it up and get in a lot of positions. Against Ness, who can be dangerous, he held back a little bit. I see his scoring going up against Graff in the finals. He is in a groove. Logan is a risk taker and he will take risks tonight, which for him is being consistent,” said Ohio RTC coach Tervel Dlagnev.
At 70 kg/154 lbs., based upon the Trials procedures approved in men’s freestyle, 2015 World bronze medalist James Green (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC) advances directly to the Championship Series tonight.
Winning the Challenge Tournament to earn the right to face Green will be Jordan Oliver (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids), who powered through a loaded bracket to reach the finals. In the Challenge Tournament finals, Oliver scored an impressive 9-2 win over 2014 World Team member Jimmy Kennedy (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC/Michigan RTC).
The semifinals had the fans on their feet, especially in Kennedy’s 10-9 win over two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif. /Illinois RTC). Kennedy led early 7-2 with some great technique and tactics, but Martinez came back strong in the second period. Martinez got within one point with 14 seconds to go, but was unable to get a final attack on Kennedy.
In the other semifinals, Oliver was in control and able to score with consistency, beating Jason Chamberlain (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC), 8-2
“He has wrestled well. He is sticking and moving. His body is strong. He is scoring with a variety of attacks, and has been very strong on top. He has all of the pieces of the puzzle needed to win it here. But make no mistake. The real battle is tonight. He will need to bring his best game tonight,” said Sunkist Kids coach Zeke Jones.
They will compete in a best-of-three championship series, with the winner earning the World Team berth.
The winners in these two weight classes will compete for the United States at the Non-Olympic Weight World Championships in Budapest, Hungary on December 10-11.
In addition, the men’s freestyle gold medal and bronze-medal bouts have also been established for the Bill Farrell Memorial International, which includes action in the six Olympic weights. For the Bill Farrell event, the finals will be one match.
U.S. wrestlers have done well so far, as 10 of the 12 finalists are American wrestlers. Four of the six finals are all-USA battles.
One of the international battles of interest is at 74 kg/163 lbs., where three-time NCAA champion and Freestyle Team USA member Alex Dieringer (Stillwater, Okla.Titan Mercury WC) will take on Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan/NYAC), who was fifth in the Olympic Games.
The other battle with an international competitor comes at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., where Penn State NCAA champion Nico Megaludis (State College, Pa./Titan Mercury WC) will face Khansankhusein Badrudinov of Russia. Badrudinov has won three Junior World medals, a gold in 2014, a silver in 2016 and bronze in 2015.
The championship finals are set for approximately 6:30 p.m. Eastern time tonight. All of the action will be broadcast live on Flowrestling.
Consolation rounds are continuing, and bronze medal matches in all eight weight classed will be determined later this afternoon.
Greco-Roman weighins are today, and the tournament concludes with Greco-Roman on Saturday, with action starting in the afternoon.
U.S. NON-OLYMPIC WEIGHT WORLD TEAM TRIALS
Men’s freestyle Best of Three Final Series pairings
61 kg/134 lbs. - Logan Stieber (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) vs. Tyler Graff (New Brunswick, N.J./New York AC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green (Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC) vs. Jordan Oliver, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Men’s Challenge Tournament final
61 kg/134 lbs. - Oliver dec. Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC), 9-2
Men’s freestyle Semifinal results
61 kg/134 lbs. - Stieber dec. Jayson Ness (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 13-6
61 kg/134 lbs. - Graff dec. Cody Brewer (Evanston, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Chicago RTC), 13-2
70 kg/154 lbs. – Jordan Oliver dec. Jason Chamberlain (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC), 8-2
70 kg/154 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy dec. Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif. /llinois RTC), 10-9
BILL FARRELL INTERNATIONAL
Medal Match pairings
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Nico Megaludis (USA/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Khansankhusein Badrudinov (Russia)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold – Hunter Stieber (Titan Mercury WC) vs. B.J. Futrell (Titan Mercury WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan/NYAC)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold – Austin Trotman (Titan Mercury WC), vs. Timmy McCall (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold – Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) vs. J.T. Felix (Titan Mercury WC)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Anthony Nelson (Minnesota Storm) vs. Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids)
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