Kyle Snyder elevates the leg of Jake Varner in the finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)"My whole life, ever since I knew what the Olympics was, I wanted to be an Olympic champion, and he did it," Snyder said of Varner. "He's a great competitor. Great guy to be around. He's actually taught me a lot. I'm just so grateful that I had the opportunity to wrestle him and come out with a victory."
Snyder, a two-time Junior World medalist, used his NCAA finals loss in March to fuel the fire coming into the U.S. Open.
"It kind of changed the way I think about the sport as a whole," Snyder said of his NCAA finals loss. "It definitely motivated me. A wounded animal is a dangerous animal."
In March, Snyder's Ohio State teammate Logan Stieber became just the fourth wrestler to win four NCAA titles in Division I. Snyder had his sights on joining that club before losing to Iowa State's Kyven Gadson in the NCAA finals.
"My whole life I've been dreaming of becoming a four-time NCAA champ, and then it got taken from me, so I just wanted to compete again."
Two World medalists, Jake Herbert and Tervel Dlagnev, won their fourth U.S. Open titles.
Herbert, a 2009 World silver medalist and 2012 Olympian, defeated Keith Gavin in the finals, 5-2. Herbert used a four-point move early in the match to go up 4-0. In the second period, with just under a minute remaining in the match, Gavin scored a takedown off an inside trip to cut the deficit to 4-2. Herbert would add a late pushout to win by three.
"I just have to thank my fans and everybody," said Herbert, who beat returning World Team member Ed Ruth in the semifinals. "I'm 30 years old. I just got to do what I love on a Saturday night, and it feels good to be back on top."
Herbert says that he has had a strong relationship with Gavin for several years.
"I love Keith Gavin," said Herbert. "Tenth grade we were roommates in Fargo. We go all the way back there. I was at his wedding. He's a really, really good friend of mine. I knew we were going to battle it out there hard. I know he's one of the top guys to beat. He's going to push me to keep making me better, and vice versa."
Dlagnev, a two-time World medalist, defeated Zack Rey, 3-1, to claim his fourth title. Rey scored first and led 1-0 after the opening period. But Dlagnev came out strong in the second period, scoring a quick takedown and then added another point to take the victory.
Dlagnev, who trains in Columbus, Ohio, dealt with some adversity. He had a fever the day before the tournament and had been out with an injury since January.
"It wasn't my prettiest performance," said Dlagnev. "I definitely didn't feel that great. But I got it done. I'm excited about that, thankful for that."
Two former Iowa Hawkeyes, Tony Ramos and Brent Metcalf, will bring U.S. Open titles back to Iowa City.
Ramos, a returning World Team member, claimed his first U.S. Open title in dramatic fashion, beating Andrew Hochstrasser, 7-3, in the finals at 57 kilos. With the score tied 1-1 and just under a minute remaining, Hochstrasser countered an attack for a takedown to go up 3-1. Ramos inched closer after Hochstrasser was called for fleeing the mat with 19 seconds left, which made the score 3-2. In the closing seconds, Ramos scored a four-point move to secure the come-from-behind win.
Last year Ramos did not compete in the U.S. Open, and entered the World Team Trials without any credentials on the senior level. He entered this year's U.S. Open with a target on his back as the No. 1 wrestler in the U.S. at 57 kilos.
"It's awesome," Ramos said of the target. "I beat everyone. Who else is there? I said it earlier, this is my spot. When I'm ready to give it up I'll give it up."
Metcalf put himself in a strong position to make his fourth World Team by winning the U.S. Open title with a 2-1 victory over Jordan Oliver. The two wrestlers traded pushouts in the first period, with Metcalf scoring the last one. The former Hawkeye would add another point in the second period after Oliver failed to score while on the shot clock.
"I have to get to where I want to be," said Metcalf. "It's the same story as last year. I probably did a better job last year of countering or taking advantage of opportunities on the edge and things than I did today. You get chances for re-attacks or chances to score on the edge, you have to take it."
David Taylor won his first U.S. Open title at 74 kilos after finishing as a runner-up to Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs in both 2013 and 2014. Taylor's finals victory came over Andrew Howe, 2-0.
Taylor scored a takedown in the first 30 seconds off an ankle pick. With under a minute remaining and Taylor leading 2-0, Howe shot a single leg and looked to score before a scramble ensued, which resulted in neither wrestler scoring and Taylor hanging on for the narrow victory.
The 74-kilo weight class is widely considered to be the toughest freestyle weight class in the United States. Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs did not compete in Las Vegas, nor did four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake.
"This is the first step," said Taylor. "Now the World Team Trials. Everyone's going to be there."
Nick Marable repeated as U.S. Open champion at 70 kilos, beating Dustin Schlatter, 4-2, in the finals. Thirty seconds into the match Schlatter attacked Marable on the edge of the mat, and was awarded four points after a feet-to-back technique. However, the call was challenged and eventually reversed, with Marable being awarded the four points. Schlatter would add two pushouts in the second period, but was unable to overcome the early four-point move.
"This is just another steppingstone for my World title," said Marable. "I want to win a World title. Now I get to sit out until the finals of the World Team Trials, which is big."
Reece Humphrey edged Kendric Maple, 7-6, in the championship match at 61 kilos. The match was knotted at 4-4 after the opening period. In the second period Humphrey scored a takedown off a leg attack, and then added a pushout to go up 7-4. Maple would add two late pushouts, but would come up a point shy of tying the match.
Humphrey, who made two World teams at 60 kilos, spent last season wrestling at 65 kilos after the weight classes were changed, and recently made the move down to 61 kilos.
"I spent a whole year at 65 trying to get a lot better, stopped cutting weight for a little bit. I really improved on my wrestling because I had to wrestling Metcalf, Oliver and Stieber every day in practice, so I really had to get better with my skills. Going back down it was a tough cut. A lot of dedication and hard work, but it paid off obviously today. "
Finals results:
57 kilos: Tony Ramos dec. Andrew Hochstrasser, 7-3
61 kilos: Reece Humphrey dec. Kendric Maple, 7-6
65 kilos: Brent Metcalf dec. Jordan Oliver, 2-1
70 kilos: Nick Marable dec. Dustin Schlatter, 4-2
74 kilos: David Taylor dec. Andrew Howe, 2-0
84 kilos: Jake Herbert dec. Keith Gavin, 5-2
97 kilos: Kyle Snyder dec. Jake Varner, 2-1
125 kilos: Tervel Dlagnev dec. Zack Rey, 3-1
Maroulis named OW in women's freestyle
Two-time World medalist Helen Maroulis was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women's freestyle competition of the U.S. Open after winning by a 10-0 technical fall over 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell in the finals at 58 kilos. It was her sixth U.S. Open title.
"I'm really thankful for my coach that prepared me," said Maroulis. "I lost to her in the 2012 Olympic Trials."
World champion and multiple-time World medalist Elena Pirozhkova held off Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller, 4-3, at 69 kilos to win her seventh U.S. Open title.
"Winning a national title, every single time it's something special," said Pirozhkova. "Every match has been different. I think this is the first time I've won it at a heavier weight, so I think that's something new."
At 75 kilos, two-time World champion Adeline Gray fell behind early in the finals against Jackie Cataline, but eventually rolled to a 15-4 technical fall on the strength of a leg lace.
"Jackie is real tough," said Gray. "She's got a strong base and strong legs. You really have to fight to get those points, each one of them. She's going to have sore ribs tomorrow."
Victoria Anthony, a two-time Junior World champion, came out on top in one of the most anticipated weight classes in the women's freestyle competition, 48 kilos. Anthony topped two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe, 6-4, in the finals. It was her first U.S. Open title after finishing as a runner-up in each of the past three years.
"It's awesome," said Anthony. "We've been working really hard. I have to thank a million times over coach Valentin Kalika. I've been working with him since immediately after the tournament last year. It's really just improved my wrestling in a huge way."
Other U.S. Open champions in the women's freestyle competition were Whitney Conder (53 kilos), Sharon Jacobson (55 kilos), Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (60 kilos) and Erin Clodgo (63 kilos).
Finals results:
48 kilos: Victoria Anthony dec. Alyssa Lampe, 6-4
53 kilos: Whitney Conder dec. Carlene Sluberski, 5-3
55 kilos: Sharon Jacobson dec. Jacarra Winchester, 12-9
58 kilos: Helen Maroulis tech. fall Kelsey Campbell, 10-0
60 kilos: Leigh Jaynes-Provisor dec. Jenna Burkert, 6-1
63 kilos: Erin Clodgo dec. Amanda Hendey, 9-3
69 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova dec. Randi Miller, 4-3
75 kilos: Adeline Gray tech. fall Jackie Cataline, 15-4
Bisek, Mango, Williams, Martinez win Greco-Roman titles
Returning World bronze medalist Andy Bisek made quick work of his finals opponent Dillon Cowan at 74 kilos. Bisek won by technical fall, 11-0, in just 39 seconds.
"If I get on top I've got to finish the match," said Bisek. "That's what I did. That's what I'm training for."
Also winning U.S. Open Greco-Roman titles on Saturday night were Spenser Mango, Caylor Williams and Patrick Martinez.
For Mango, it was his seventh U.S. Open title. He blanked Jesse Thielke, 5-0, in the finals at 59 kilos.
"It feels great," said Mango, a 2012 Olympian. "Every one is special. We train so hard for this. Coming here and winning tonight, it makes it all worth it."
Caylor Williams, a two-time World Team member, won by technical fall over Kevin Beazley in the finals at 98 kilos.
Martinez, seeded fourth, capped off an impressive tournament by defeating C.J. Myers, 3-1, in the finals at 80 kilos. He had a win over top-seeded Joe Rau in the semifinals.
Finals results:
59 kilos: Spenser Mango dec. Jesse Thielke, 5-0
75 kilos: Andy Bisek tech. fall Dillon Cowan, 11-0
80 kilos: Patrick Martinez dec. C.J. Myers, 3-1
98 kilos: Caylor Williams tech. fall Kevin Beazley, 13-3
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