Both Paulsons battled through the Challenge Tournament to reach the finals. Trent Paulson defeated Nick Marable in three periods before scoring a two-period shutout over Poeta in the semifinals. Travis Paulson dominated James Allen in the quarterfinals before toppling Askren in the semifinals.
When the Paulsons took the mat in the Challenge Tournament finals, virtually all eyes in the Mid-American Center were focused on the highly-anticipated match between the two former Iowa State wrestlers. After a scoreless first period, the match went to the ball draw and came up blue, which gave Travis Paulson the lock. Travis wasted no time converting the position to a takedown to win the first period 1-0. Trent struck first in the second period with one-point takedown, but Travis came back with a takedown of his own to knot the score at 1-1. Travis then sealed the deal with a double leg takedown in the closing seconds of the second period to seal the deal and advance to the best-of-3 finals against Howe.
Three 2008 Olympians fell in Friday's Session I. In addition to Askren, 2008 Olympians Andy Hrovat and T.C. Dantzler lost in the Challenge Tournament semifinals.
Hrovat, who was the third seed at 96 kg in men's freestyle, lost in three periods to second-seeded Pat Cummins in the Challenge Tournament semifinals. Cummins was then ousted in two straight periods against top-seeded Jake Varner in the Challenge Tournament finals. Varner, a 2009 U.S. World Team member, will now face J.D. Bergman in the best-of-3 finals. The two faced off in the U.S. Open finals in April, a match dominated by Bergman.
Dantzler, who has competed in six World-level events throughout his career, fell in the Challenge Tournament semifinals in Greco-Roman at 84 kg in a hard-fought, three-period match to 2009 U.S. World Team member Chas Betts. The 24-year-old Betts will now face fellow Minnesota native Jake Clark, a 2006 U.S. World Team member, in the best-of-3 finals. Dantzler, after placing fourth in the competition, left his shoes in the center of the mat to signify the end of his competitive wrestling career.
The best-of-3 finals at 60 kg in freestyle will be a matchup of familiar foes when 2009 U.S. World Team member Shawn Bunch, who sat out of the Challenge Tournament after winning the U.S. Open, takes on Mike Zadick, who represented the U.S. in three consecutive World-level events from 2006 to 2008. Zadick, a 2006 World silver medalist, defeated Matt Valenti and Coleman Scott to reach the best-of-3 finals.
Greco-Roman Olympians Spenser Mango (55 kg) and Dremiel Byers (120 kg) secured spots in the best-of-3 finals.
Mango's road to the best-of-3 finals included victories over Mike Pena and Nate Engel. The explosive Mango will now face a Jermaine Hodge in rematch of the U.S. Open finals.
Byers, who has won three World-level medals throughout his illustrious career, including a World championship in 2005, did not surrender a point in his two victories. He now faces fellow Army teammate Timothy Taylor in the best-of-3 finals.
The best-of-3 finals at 74 kg in Greco-Roman will pit Jake Fisher against Steven Forest.
In the women's freestyle competition, only one of the four top seeds in the Challenge Tournament, Amy Whitbeck (51 kg), advanced to the best-of-3 finals. Whitbeck will face Jessica Medina for spot on the U.S. World Team.
At 59 kg, Deanna Rix, who has placed fifth in the World Championships twice, advanced to the best-of-3 finals with a victory over Othella Lucas. Rix will now take on Kelsey Campbell for a chance to get back on the U.S. World Team.
Kristie Davis wasted little time in the Challenge Tournament finals, pinning 2009 Junior World Team member Christen Paysee with a 27-second pin at 67 kg. Davis, a two-time World champion, will now face Erin Clodgo in the best-of-3 finals.
At 120 kg, 2008 Olympian Ali Bernard needed three periods to defeat 2005 World champion Iris Smith and earn a spot in the best-of-3 finals, where she will take on Stephany Lee, a 2008 U.S. World Team member who won the U.S. Open.
Session II is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. CT.
Friday's Best-of-3 Finals Matchups
Men's Freestyle:
60 kg: Shawn Bunch (Gator WC) vs. Mike Zadick (Gator WC)
74 kg: Andrew Howe (New York AC) vs. Travis Paulson (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg: J.D. Bergman (New York AC) vs. Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC)
Greco-Roman:
55 kg: Spenser Mango (New York AC) vs. Jermaine Hodge (U.S. Army)
74 kg: Jake Fisher (New York AC) vs. Steven Forrest (U.S. Marine Corps)
84 kg: Chas Betts (Minnesota Storm) vs. Jake Clark (U.S. Air Force)
120 kg: Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army) vs. Timothy Taylor (U.S. Army)
Women's Freestyle:
51 kg: Jessica Medina (Sunkist Kids) vs. Amy Whitbeck (New York AC)
59 kg: Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) vs. Deanna Rix (Sunkist Kids)
67 kg: Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids) vs. Kristie Davis (New York AC)
72 kg: Stephany Lee (Sunkist Kids) vs. Ali Bernard (Gator WC)
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