Sanderson, an Olympic gold medalist and widely considered the greatest college wrestler ever, showed that he's still got it, even after a seven-year layoff, by winning three matches at the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials to advance to tonight's best-of-three finals series against 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert.
Returning U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf was pushed in the Challenge Tournament, but prevailed to advance to the best-of-three finals series. He beat Kyle Ruschell in three periods in the semifinals and then needed three periods to beat Josh Churella in the finals. Metcalf will now get another shot at Teyon Ware, the wrestler who beat him in the quarterfinals of the 2011 U.S. Open.
Nick Simmons pinned returning U.S. World Team member Obe Blanc in the Challenge Tournament finals at 55 kilos. He will face 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel in the best-of-three finals series. For Simmons, it will be his second appearance in the best-of-three finals at the Trials. He was a U.S. World Team Trials runner-up in 2009. Hazewinekl has won three U.S. Open titles (two in Greco-Roman, one in freestyle), but has yet to make a U.S. World Team.
The other freestyle wrestler to come through the Challenge Tournament was Steve Mocco at 120 kilos. Mocco defeated Junior World champion Dom Bradley and 2007 U.S. World Team member Tommy Rowlands.
A pair of 2011 U.S. Open champions in Greco-Roman, Joe Betterman and Ben Provisor, cruised through the Challenge Tournament on Saturday to advance to the best-of-three finals series.
Betterman, who won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2008, was unscored upon in his two matches during Saturday's first session. He will battle two-time returning U.S. World Team member Jeremiah Davis in the best-of-three finals series. Betterman defeated Davis in this year's U.S. Open finals, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0.
Provisor had wins over Aaron Briggs and Andy Bisek in the Challenge Tournament. He will wrestle Jake Fisher in the best-of-three finals series.
Top-seeded John Lorenz won the Challenge Tournament at 96 kilos, beating Justin Millard in the finals. Lorenz will now face Justin Ruiz, a seven-time U.S. Open champion and 2005 World bronze medalist, in the best-of-three finals series.
In the women's freestyle competition, Adeline Gray defeated nine-time World medalist Kristie Davis to win the Challenge Tournament at 63 kilos by injury default. Davis took the first period of the match, but suffered an injury early in the match. She continued to wrestle, but was clearly in pain. Gray came back to win the second period to force a third period. Gray jumped out to an early lead in the third period and ultimately Davis was forced to injury default. Gray will now take on 2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova in the best-of-three finals.
Alyssa Lampe came through the Challenge Tournament at 48 kilos, beating Whitney Condor, C.C. Weber, and Victoria Anthony. Lampe will take on 2008 World champion Clarissa Chun for a spot on the 2011 U.S. World Team.
Tonight's best-of-three finals series matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CDT.
Saturday's Best-of-Three Finals Matchups
Freestyle:
55 kg: Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids) vs. Nick Simmons (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg: Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Brent Metcalf (New York AC)
84 kg: Jake Herbert (New York AC) vs. Cael Sanderson (Nittany Lion WC)
120 kg: Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) vs. Steve Mocco (New York AC)
Greco-Roman:
60 kg: Joe Betterman (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jeremiah Davis (U.S. Army)
74 kg: Ben Provisor (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jake Fisher (New York AC)
84 kg: Justin Ruiz (New York AC) vs. John Lorenz (U.S. Army)
Women's Freestyle
48 kg: Clarissa Chun (Sunkist Kids) vs. Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg: Elena Pirozhkova (Gator WC) vs. Adeline Gray (New York AC)
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