InterMat Staff

Wrestlers love to comment on the state of our sport. This mailbag, message boards and our insane interconnectivity on social media are all proof that when it comes to having an opinion we are well-equipped. Having an opinion can by default mean that you believe the anti of something. The mind searches to correct a failure in a system and in doing so our brains fixate and analyze it until it's corrected, or we are frustrated enough to move past. The current fixation among American wrestling fans is the battle over criteria and overtime. The sport itself -- the actual product -- is healthier than ever. Fans are enjoying the action and the wrestlers appreciate being asked to actually wrestle. Petty gamesmanship and referee interferences are gone, being replaced instead by the action of the wrestlers. But among the American wrestling crowd it's not enough. Despite the scoring, the excitement, the success -- American fans want overtime, nay, they NEED overtime. I've stated the merits of criteria on several occasions, but none sticks out more than asking the wrestlers to compete for six full minutes. Don't hold back, don't cruise, don't play the clock. Wrestle. We know that overtime corrupts the motivation to act in regulation by pulling the wrestlers into a risk evaluation of when to act. We've seen that the confusion occurring in criteria matches is mostly due to a lack of information between event organizers, media and fans. Which is easier to fix? I claim the latter. To your questions ... Q: I was looking at the scores at the U.S. Open and noticed that there were a lot of technical falls, a lot of 10-0 technical falls. (I did not watch any of the matches.) While one would think that more points means more exciting matches, a bunch of 10-0 matches does not seem like very competitive or exciting matches. What is the reason for so many lopsided matches? Is there a big disparity among the competitors? I noticed a lot of names of wrestlers who were successful in their collegiate careers. Does the format favor wrestlers of one style over another or if you get down early do you have to start taking risks which opens you up to counter moves. Is this a problem? -- Kenn B. Foley: No. The seven-point tech was a little quick, but at 10 points the wrestlers have ample opportunity to overcome their deficit and put points on the board. A match that ends in a technical fall has usually run its course for awesomeness and competitiveness. More isn't always better. There isn't always a huge gap in skills, though that can sometimes account for the action. I've seen a lot of freestyle over the past year and when it comes to senior level wrestlers a good portion of the technical falls occur once a wrestler has decided that they've lost the match and gives up some successive roll or gut wrench. Rare is the five-takedown technical fall. I think the technical fall gives fans a feel of domination that they can appreciate, like a knockout blow, or maybe the increasingly infrequent fall. Q: I'm a fan of the few states that have one-division individual state tournaments. I understand the school size factor, but would you be a fan of states using classifications for dual states but having one division for individuals? -- J. Wyatt Foley: That is the type of solution that needs to be forwarded to administrators around the country. As you may know, Virginia recently split their state into a preposterous six state tournaments! It was an accommodation to the sport of football, but it ended up costing the state a level of seriousness in competition that it will need in order to attract top-level division one coaches. The dual meet states will attract crowds while the individual tournament gives wrestlers a chance to compete against everyone in their region. What does it mean to be a state champions if there are five others walking about? Q: Is there a way to find out what programs are fully funded with 9.9 scholarships? I was shocked to hear that Edinboro isn't, which makes fifth place even more impressive. -- Tim J. Foley: Plenty of coaches are open to discussing their scholarship details, but a surprising portion are cagey about what they're given. Often the discrepancy is in how, or technically "where," the coaches can use their scholarship allotment. Edinboro might have a certain amount of money for scholarships, that when subdivided by out-of-state tuition might not amount 9.9, but when cast in state might be the full 9.9. That's just an example, and likely not true figures, but there are several other colleges working with similar distributions -- they can't snag 9.9 out-of-state scholarships, though they can field a team with 9.9 scholarships. I'd have picked up the phone to ask each one, but I'm not sure I'd make it very far! Side note: How awesome is Tim Flynn and the job he's done at Edinboro? MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Match of the Year? U.S. Open Highlights (Wow!) Best Article of the Year? Chinese Somersault Kiss Q: I was wondering if you can talk a bit about the struggles of Jordan Rogers (Oklahoma State) in college as a freshman? There are many freshmen finished way ahead of him even though he was the No. 4 recruit in the country 2013. Will he recover? I see a lot of Dallas Bailey. -- Ryan K. Foley: College wrestlers are also college students. There are plenty of factors that go into the success and failure of different athletes, and no coach can predict them all. If Jordan wants to win and is dedicated to the sport then he will find the support he needs in Stillwater to become and All-American and NCAA champion. I think Jordan can be both of those things. Q: Maybe it's just me, but I've noticed an increase in the number of freshman not only making the NCAA finals, but winning the NCAAs. Andrew Long, Matt McDonough, Kyle Dake, David Taylor, Logan Stieber, Jason Tsirtsis, J'den Cox, Dylan Ness, to name a few, I'm sure there are more. Granted, I'm young, and I've only been religiously following collegiate wrestling for sevenish years, but where does this correlation derive from? -- Ethan S. In 2010, freshmen Andrew Long and Matt McDonough battled in the NCAA finals (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Foley: My take is that the athletes you see now are sport-specific training from a young age and increased exposure to high-level technique during development. Essentially they don't learn bad techniques and have the ability, with money and coaching, to access the best competition. The trend will stabilize over the next few years. We'll always see more upperclassmen on the medal stands, but I think it's possible that we'll continue to get 12-15 freshmen All-Americans every year, with at least one in the NCAA finals. Funny to say this, but by the time they make it to their freshman year many of these guys will have been training for that tournament their whole life. Q: I'm sure you're aware of the use of advanced statistics in sports. (MIT hosted the Sloan conference a few weeks ago.) Is there a place for advanced stats in wrestling? I'm thinking about this whole stalling issue and wondering if we can go deeper into the story of a stalling wrestler with things like shots per period, match time moving forward vs. backwards, points per shot attempt etc. It seems to me like numbers could help us tell a more complete story about college wrestling. -- Brandon J. Foley: I don't think so. We can clip videos and count the tendencies of individual wrestlers, and maybe teams, but there is so much fluidity and creativity on the mat that grouping techniques together can often be misleading. For example, time spent going back for one wrestler might be the last 45 seconds of a match they are winning, while for another it might be a baiting technique. There is room overall, but we aren't going to discover a new Moneyball in a sport that often depends as much on emotion as it does technique. COMMENT(S) OF THE WEEK By Marcus R. Am I being too critical when I think amateur wrestling fans come off as petty? I mean some fans complain about exposure and marketability of the sport but won't put money behind watching the actual sport? This is in response to many of the comments in regards to Flowrestling charging to watch wrestling. Now it's one thing to complain about a service that's not well done and to be honest sometimes their service isn't the best quality I imagine because they haven't generated enough revenue to upgrade to a high definition cameras but wrestling fans will complain when a university doesn't see the value in a wrestling program, because we haven't put our money behind going to actually watch the program! We complain about the sports exposure to the mainstream and yet won't put money behind one of the premier international events in the country via the Internet and or watching the event. Which is really a great value if you can't make it out because you can see A LOT of matches for 20 bucks! If you think about when you're there live sometimes you miss great matched because so much wrestling is going on at once. I also think you were spot on in your critique of Flo's shot at ESPN. I mean again I thought the ESPN team did an excellent job and when I watched the finals with all the expert commentary by Dan Gable, Kyle Dake, Jordan Burroughs, you and all those other guys I thought BRILLIANT! Well-done emotion doesn't equal excellence in my opinion. That's not to say Flo doesn't do a good job a capturing the emotion of the sport but I in my personal opinion I've found that some of the best emotional broadcasts happen at the last-second "miracles" than throughout the whole match, that's what makes it brilliant! In the Burroughs-Taylor match the Flo guys were well warranted of their excitement. By Cary A. We are looking for ways to make the sport better for the audience. Here is a change to our sport that I think is necessary and make it more appealing to the viewer. Now this might rattle some old school folks' feathers (much like the death of the singlet), but the whistle use has to be reduced to a minimum. I'm not talking about match stoppages as they are necessary, I mean the actual whistle. The sound is annoying (especially during tournaments), distracting to adjacent matches, and gives no explanation to the new viewer as to why action is stopped. Hearing the referees (UFC or events like the NCAA finals) gives the viewer the feeling that they are sitting mat/octagon/ring side. Breakdown of whistle use and possible alternatives: Start on the feet: A simple "WRESTLE" would suffice and, if said with enough chutzpah, would instill excitement (much like "get it on" in the UFC). Out of bounds on the feet: Instead use "BREAK" or "OUT." Out of bounds on the Mat: Instead use "BREAK" or "OUT" coupled with a tap of both wrestlers. Start on the mat: The only time when the use of the whistle that may be necessary, though I still think "WRESTLE" would work. Stalemate: Just step in tap both wrestlers and say "STALEMATE." Miscellaneous stops (injury time/clock issues/challenges): Referees should just step in and stop the action. End of period: "TIME" coupled with a tap of the wrestlers in scrambles and on the mat. End of match including technical falls: Could use "TIME" or to be real awesome "SUPERIOR VICTORY." Fall: The whistle is only to add drama. A simple slap of the mat would work, but to add drama the slap could be coupled with something sweet like "KABOOM" "BAM" "GAME OVER" "TERMINATED." Much like umpires after a strikeout in baseball wrestling referees can develop their own signature pin call. Referees in the UFC operate without whistles. They step in and make their presence known and wear gloves in case they have to make contact. It is time for college referees glove up and get more vocally involved in the match and step in when they need to (i.e. end of periods or stalemates). Don't get me wrong, there are many referees that do an excellent job of this, but I think the whistle can be replaced and spare the wrestling world of whistle echoes in gyms across the U.S. Arguments against: Wrestlers can't hear as well. Anyone who ever wrestled knows that if they can hear their opponent breathing, I am sure they will hear if a ref leans in and barks out an instruction. Mind you I have never wrestled in an NCAA final or Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but I imagine if they can hear Tom Brands telling at them to build their lead I'm sure they can hear a referee right next to them. Language barrier: I would image 99.9% of wrestlers speak English in the U.S. So for that .1% they can watch the hand motions (make them universal) and they will eventually learn the terminology. Also, I hate the term "stalling." It makes it seem like you're doing an action. Passivity is embarrassing and is the antithesis of what we all want to watch, aggression. We should change stalling to passivity in folkstyle.

BadgerStateWrestling.com's Shane Sparks interviews 2014 Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey of the JJ Keller Racing Team. As a wrestler, Seavey was an Alaska state champion, Fargo Greco-Roman champion and Junior World Team member in Greco-Roman. Listen to interview on BadgerStateWrestling.com.

Let's examine six questions following this past weekend's U.S. Open in Las Vegas. Will Jordan Burroughs make the 2014 U.S. World Team? Answer: Yes. Though he was threatened like never before, it was obvious in Burroughs' post-match interview that he knew his technical shortcomings. On the mat it was obvious that the indescribable "it" factor that has made him a champion for three years is still very much intact. What Burroughs does need to control is the early pace of the match. Against a more seasoned wrestler on the international scene -- or one willing to wrestle from an underhook and knee -- Burroughs' three-point disadvantage might be difficult to overcome. Taylor exposed a creativity gap in Burroughs' finishes, but in addition to staying away from Taylor's right leg, it's likely that Burroughs's coaches Snyder and Manning will work to find new finishes from underneath lanky opponents. His offense will always be potent, but without better finishes, and maybe a third attack the wins and losses will continue to rely on grit and late match aggression -- something that might bother his fans and force his wife into premature labor. Can Ed "The Truth" Ruth become the man at 86 kilos? Answer: In time. Right now Keith Gavin sits atop the heap at 86 kilos in the United States, beating Clayton Foster in the finals of the U.S. Open. Foster, who beat Ruth earlier in the tournament, has a lot of potential to place at the World Championships. The former Oklahoma State wrestler has beaten an Olympic bronze medalist in Ehsan Lashgari (Iran) and World champion Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine), but still struggles with Gavin. Ed Ruth fell to Clayton Foster in the U.S. Open semifinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The other complication for Ruth is the possible addition of 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert. Though he's taken a couple years off from competition and recently had surgery, a new-look Herbert might find success in the U.S. ranks and again internationally. No doubt that Eds Ruth has the talent to surpass all these wrestlers, and with the coaching of Cael it's likely he's challenging of the spot come the World Team Trials. But Ruth might be better primed for a run at 2015 and the Rio Games in 2016. He needs to see more international competition and dedicate himself to long training camps. Ruth was the most successful collegiate wrestler among the group at 86 kilos, but it's yet to be proven that he can translate that into freestyle success. Are the new rules better or worse for the sport? Answer: Better. Way better. The old rules aren't even a close second. They rank behind Rochambeau in terms of generating fair outcomes. That's not to say the new rules aren't facing new issues. The one-point takedown attempt feels incorrect. There aren't many international referees calling the move, but at the U.S. Open there was more insistence on making the call. More often the action that might create a one-point appreciation ends in a pushout or in a full takedown. Still, it feels funny to be awarded a point just for trying. The other rules have all been a big hit. Simplified takedown for four or two has meant that sport is much easier to watch. The passivity calls are (for now) balanced and creating plenty of scoring. There will continue to be adjustments because wrestlers are always trying to game the system, but in freestyle and Greco-Roman the focus on points and the penalization of stalling has created a level of scoring never before seen in the sport. Overtime or Criteria? Answer: Criteria. No matter what system you implement there must be criteria to decide matches and with differences in skill levels narrowing there are way too many chances that an unlimited overtime would result in a lot of standing around and a very large sumo wrestling match. Criteria works, and in my opinion has helped save the sport from collapse. The action on the mats is better than ever before because the wrestlers know, absolutely, that they must figure out the winner in six minutes. Almost every iteration of overtime includes the caveat that it too might end in criteria. Why even take the risk? The scoring is out of control with points. We are seeing scoreboard shots with insane match scores both in freestyle and Greco-Roman. Though you can't point to a single motivating factor, we do know that in comparing it to the NCAA the freestyle rules seem to endear less stalling and less playing for overtime. The criteria argument is psychological. The default human nature is to reduce risk. That's a given. So if the score is 2-2 at the 4:15 mark of a match, there is little, if any, incentive to take a risk and give up a takedown or extra points. Play for OT and you can find a quick takedown and walk off the mat. That's human nature and that won't change. But with a match that always has a winner and a loser you incentivize action to occur at all times. Wrestlers have to take a risk because if they don't they lose. Similarly, if they block, they get called for stalling. The examples of wrestlers not knowing the rules for criteria is just confirmation bias that proves nothing about the rules. Absent a few minor adjustments, the rules have not changed. Have the Americans been wrestling freestyle much in the winter? No. That plays more of a factor in not knowing, than does a rule feeling obscure. Familiarity breeds understanding and though I feel bad for a kid who cruised to a loss, we've seen it happen plenty of times in NCAA wrestling (riding time, double overtime, etc.), yet the backlash seems muted. The onus is on the athlete and the coach to know the rules of the sport they are playing. If they don't it's bad form to blame the rules and referee. Who will be the new head freestyle coach for the United States? Answer: There are still a lot of names to be processed. My thoughts mirror that of most that are familiar with the team. Coach Zeke Jones really did a lot of incredible things to secure the organizational structure of the team. There was accountability and a sense of wanting to travel and compete. That needs to be retained. What Jones also did well was dissect film and understand each wrestler's upcoming opponents. He also shared the spotlight with personal coaches, something that isn't always an easy thing to do. Bruce Burnett is filling in for the time being and I think that if he decided to return full-time he'd be an excellent fit for the program. He's a real leader with insane amounts of international experience. He won't be new to the mix and is certain -- absolutely certain -- to produce results. It might be the perfect capstone to his legendary coaching career. Sammie Henson has spent the past two seasons at Missouri (Photo/Milena Wick, Tech-Fall.com)Sammie Henson needs a head coaching job. I think it's ridiculous that a coach with as much proven talent as Henson hasn't yet landed a job. He's a great international hire as he is a great hire for a collegiate program. Then there is Brandon Slay and Bill Zadick, guys that have been inside the program for a few years. All have the ability to lead, but it'll just take the right timing and a decision by USA Wrestling to keep it in house. Who will be the new head Greco-Roman coach for the United States? Answer: TBD Terry Brands coaching Tony Ramos in the NCAA finals (Photo/Simon Jimenez, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The popular rumor is still Terry Brands, though given his lack of experience coaching Greco-Roman it's likely to take on the form of a foreign coaching staff where the head coach isn't a technical lead. For that it's possible that USA Wrestling seeks out a coach who can discuss the technical aspect of what's happening on the mats. Hypothetically if Brands took the position, it's not as though he's never wrestled Greco-Roman or never seen an over-under. Winners win and wrestlers with Brands' pedigree as a coach are sure to do big things when given the chance. On a personal note, I think he's the right mixture of intelligence, toughness and name ID to reignite the Greco-Roman program in the states and maybe even seduce a few big name freestylers to make the transition.

Kyle Dake finished runner-up at the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) ITHACA, N.Y. -- U.S. National Wrestling Team member Kyle Dake will miss the upcoming World Team Trials in Madison, Wisconsin, due to the lingering effects of an injury he suffered in March. He was initially injured while practicing with the Cornell University wrestling team as he prepared the team for March's NCAA wrestling championships. Dake, who appeared on the ESPN broadcast of the NCAA event, suffered a torn Lisfranc Ligament in his left foot. He had surgery to repair those injuries on April 14th, in Ithaca, New York. The surgery involved, essentially, a ligament replacement to ensure that the arch of Dake's foot remained supported and in proper place, post-surgery. He also had two plates and a screw inserted in his foot to prevent the foot from dislocating and losing support in the arch of his foot. Dake said: "Obviously, I'm extremely disappointed. After last year and all the training that I have done, I felt as good and confident as ever that I could make this year's world team and compete for a world championship; but it was just not meant to be. The good news is that the surgery went very well; I am told that I will make a full recovery; and I will be back stronger than ever. I thank everyone for their support." Dake's agent Nick Garone of X-Cel Worldwide added: "He's crushed. When you train as hard as Kyle and for that long, all you want to do is compete, so it's been tough on him. However, Kyle is extremely smart and he knows and understands that taking care of this now will only help him achieve his goals later. He's not going to disappear -- I can assure you of that. And, he will make his presence felt when he returns."

After the completion of last month's electric NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma City, there was much reflection about the high level of talent that is exiting collegiate wrestling after this season. Among the more notable wrestlers in this group are three-time champion Ed Ruth (Penn State), two-time champion and two-time Hodge Trophy recipient David Taylor (Penn State), as well as two-time champions Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) and Tony Nelson (Minnesota). All of those wrestlers are fifth-year seniors, which means they graduated from high school in 2009. In 2013, Class of 2009 graduates finished 1-3 at 165 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)With that as the context, let's revisit that high school graduating class. It also happens to be one that includes four-time NCAA champion and 2013 Hodge Trophy recipient Kyle Dake (Cornell). Dake won his four national titles without the benefit of a redshirt year. Another notable high school graduate in 2009 was Ellis Coleman, who did not wrestle collegiately, but represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. This feature is a re-ranking of the top 25 wrestlers from the Class of 2009 based on college wrestling accomplishments at the Division I level. The complete list of top 100 recruits from 2009 is included in the sidebar for reference. Re-Ranking Class of 2009 Top 100 recruits in Class of 2009 No. 1 David Taylor No. 2 Eric Grajales No. 3 Chris Perry No. 4 Kyle Dake No. 5 Ed Ruth No. 6 Collin Palmer No. 7 Jake Kemerer No. 8 R.J. Pena No. 9 Joey Napoli No. 10 Tony Ramos No. 11 Jon Morrison No. 12 Dan Yates No. 13 Sam White No. 14 John Nicholson No. 15 Derek St. John No. 16 Jon Fausey No. 17 Ethen Lofthouse No. 18 Matt Lester No. 19 Andrew Clement No. 20 Caleb Kolb No. 21 Dallas Bailey No. 22 Alec Ortiz No. 23 Zach Toal No. 24 Max Huntley No. 25 Zach Neibert No. 26 Alex Bridgeford No. 27 David Klingsheim No. 28 Alex Ekstrom No. 29 Shane Young No. 30 David Thorn No. 31 Glenn Carson No. 32 Sean Boyle No. 33 Tyler Cox No. 34 Zach Clemente No. 35 Jake Swartz No. 36 Robbie Fisher No. 37 Ellis Coleman No. 38 Mac Bailey No. 39 Eloheim Palma No. 40 Orlando Scales No. 41 C.J. Napier No. 42 Ian Paddock No. 43 Tyler Caldwell No. 44 Trent Weatherman No. 45 Vincent Dellefave No. 46 Ryan LeBlanc No. 47 Brock Gutches No. 48 Patrick Martinez No. 49 Tony Nelson No. 50 Kyle Lang No. 51 Bobby Barnhisel No. 52 Corey Lear No. 53 Ladd Rupp No. 54 Stephen Swan No. 55 Kendrick Sanders No. 56 Dylan Carew No. 57 Max Ortega No. 58 Michael McClure No. 59 Michael Garofalo No. 60 Derrick Borlie No. 61 Joe Colon No. 62 Joe Waltko No. 63 Camden Eppert No. 64 Steven Keith No. 65 Cashe Quiroga No. 66 Kevin Barrett No. 67 Austin Meys No. 68 Brendan Ard No. 69 Martin Gonzalez No. 70 Cody Compton No. 71 Zach White No. 72 Brian Stephens No. 73 Dale Shull No. 74 Shane Gentry No. 75 Kyle Waldo No. 76 Jeremy Goree No. 77 Tanner Keck No. 78 John Greisheimer No. 79 Jimmy Sheptock No. 80 Justin Lavalle No. 81 Erik Spjut No. 82 Tony Dallago No. 83 Nicky Gordon No. 84 Kevin Steinhaus No. 85 Steve Santos No. 86 Nick Lester No. 87 Nick Heflin No. 88 Nick Pica No. 89 Kellen Bounous No. 90 Luke Vaith No. 91 Bret Baumbach No. 92 Sean Owen No. 93 Brandon Rocha No. 94 Jeremy Johnson No. 95 Znick Ferrell No. 96 Roger McCovey No. 97 Boaz Beard No. 98 Kyle Meyer No. 99 Evan Yenolevich No. 100 Ryan MangoNo. 1 Kyle Dake (Cornell) Rank in 2009: No. 4 Dake was a four-time NCAA champion without a redshirt, Dan Hodge Trophy recipient, and InterMat Wrestler of the Year. No. 2 David Taylor (Penn State) Rank in 2009: No. 1 Taylor was a four-time NCAA finalist, two-time NCAA champion, Dan Hodge Trophy recipient twice, and InterMat Wrestler of the Year. No. 3 Ed Ruth (Penn State) Rank in 2009: No. 5 Ruth was a four-time All-American, three-time NCAA champion, and InterMat Wrestler of the Year. No. 4 Tony Nelson (Minnesota) Rank in 2009: No. 49 Nelson was a four-time All-American, three-time NCAA finalist, and two-time NCAA champion. No. 5 Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) Rank in 2009: No. 3 Perry was a four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, three-time All-American, and two-time NCAA champion. No. 6 Derek St. John (Iowa) Rank in 2009: No. 15 St. John was a four-time All-American and NCAA champion. No. 7 Tyler Caldwell (Oklahoma State) Rank in 2009: No. 43 Caldwell, who started his career at Oklahoma, was a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner-up. No. 8 Tony Ramos (Iowa) Rank in 2009: No. 10 Ramos was a four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, three-time All-American, and NCAA champion. No. 9 Kendric Maple (Oklahoma) Rank in 2009: Not in top 100 Maple was a four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, and NCAA champion. No. 10 Nick Heflin (Ohio State) Rank in 2009: No. 87 Heflin was a four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, three-time All-American, and NCAA runner-up. No. 11 Kevin Steinhaus (Minnesota) Rank in 2009: No. 84 Steinhaus was a four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, and three-time All-American. No. 12 Jimmy Sheptock (Maryland) Rank in 2009: No. 79 Sheptock was a three-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, and two-time All-American, and NCAA runner-up. No. 13 Ryan Mango (Stanford) Rank in 2009: No. 100 Mango was a four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, and two-time All-American. No. 14 Scott Sakaguchi (Oregon State) Rank in 2009: Not in top 100 Sakaguchi was a four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, and two-time All-American. No. 15 Ethen Lofthouse (Iowa) Rank in 2009: No. 17 Lofthouse was a four-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American. No. 16 Jeremy Johnson (Ohio) Rank in 2009: No. 94 Johnson was a four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, and two-time All-American. No. 17 Eric Grajales (Michigan) Rank in 2009: No. 2 Grajales was a four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time round of 12 finisher, and All-American. No. 18 Joe Colon (Northern Iowa) Rank in 2009: No. 61 Colon was an NJCAA champion, two-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, and All-American. No. 19 Steve Santos (Columbia) Rank in 2009: No. 85 Santos was a two-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 finisher, and All-American. No. 20 Steven Monk (North Dakota State) Rank in 2009: Not in top 100 Monk was a three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time round of 12 finisher, and All-American. No. 21 David Thorn (Minnesota) Rank in 2009: No. 30 Thorn was a three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American. No. 22 Mike Nevinger (Cornell) Rank in 2009: Not in top 100 Nevinger was a three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American. No. 23 Ryan Loder (Northern Iowa) Rank in 2009: Not in top 100 Loder was a four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time round of 12 finisher, and All-American. No. 24 Jon Morrison (Oklahoma State) Rank in 2009: No. 11 Morrison was a four-time NCAA qualifier and All-American. No. 25 Zach Neibert (Virginia Tech) Rank in 2009: No. 25 Neibert was a three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time round of 12 finisher, and All-American.

Guests: Terry Brands, Tim Grissel, Luke Eustice, Randy Novak, Darin Williams, Tony Ramos, Derek St. John Hour 1: Hour 2:

Zeke Jones and Rocco Mansueto will go "On the Mat" this Wednesday, April 23. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. CT on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on theopenmat.com. E-mail dgmstaff@nwhof.org with any questions or comments. Jones is the new head wrestling coach at Arizona State. He was a World freestyle wrestling champion in 1991. Mansueto is co-owner of Flips Wrestling. He was a three-time NCAA qualifier for Cleveland State.

Many of the nation's top wrestlers competed at the 2014 U.S. Open this past weekend in Las Vegas. However, there were some accomplished wrestlers that did not compete but are expected to be in the field at the 2014 U.S. World Team Trials in Madison Wis. While the U.S. Open is a premier senior level wrestling event and a qualifier for the U.S. World Team Trials, it's not the only qualifier -- or way to qualify -- for the U.S. World Team Trials. Each style has criteria to qualify for the U.S. World Team Trials and Olympic Team Trials. Some of the criteria are consistent across all three styles, like being a past World or Olympic team member, while other criteria are specific to a style. There are a variety of different reasons why wrestlers do not compete at the U.S. Open. Some reasons are injury related, others are school related, and others are personal and not made public. Let's look at 10 freestyle wrestlers that did not compete at the U.S. Open but have already qualified for the U.S. World Team Trials and could challenge for spots on the 2014 U.S. World Team. Kyle Dake was runner-up to Jordan Burroughs at the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Kyle Dake Kyle Dake injured his foot while training for the U.S. Open, which kept him from competing in Las Vegas, but he is expected to wrestle at the U.S. World Team Trials in Madison. The four-time NCAA Division I champion (in four different weight classes) was a runner-up at last year's U.S. World Team Trials to Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, and has been successful in international events overseas. In November he finished fifth at the Golden Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he had a win over two-time World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Denis Tsargush of Russia. Dake won a gold medal at the Cerro Pelado International in February. Update: On Wednesday, Kyle Dake announced that he will not be competing at the U.S. World Team Trials in Madison. Andrew Howe Andrew Howe is coming off a college season (and career) in which he finished as an NCAA runner-up at 174 pounds to Chris Perry of Oklahoma State. Howe, like Dake, has established himself as one of the top wrestlers in the U.S. at 74 kilos. He was fourth at the Trials last year behind Burroughs, Dake, and Taylor, but was runner-up in each of the previous two Trials. Howe has given Burroughs some of his toughest matches in the U.S. He took Burroughs to three periods in one of the matches at the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials, and again in the first (and only) match of the best-of-three finals at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials before Howe tore his ACL, which caused him to default. At the Trials Howe will be wrestling in familiar territory as he spent the first three seasons of his college wrestling career in Madison at the University of Wisconsin. Dustin Kilgore picked up a win at the World Cup against Armenia (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Dustin Kilgore Dustin Kilgore, a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, is expected to be in the mix for a Trials title in Madison at 97 kilos. He was a third-place finisher at the U.S. World Team Trials last year, which earned him a spot on the U.S. National Team. If he can come out on top in the challenge tournament at the U.S. World Team Trials, which will include J.D. Bergman and Wynn Michalak, among others, he will get a crack Olympic champion Jake Varner in the best-of-three finals. Kilgore was a runner-up at the Dave Schultz Memorial in February. He wrestled for Team USA at the World Cup and picked up a win in his only start against Armenia. Kilgore was also dominant in his match against India at the NCAA Fan Festival in Oklahoma City. Nick Simmons Nick Simmons finished fifth at the World Championships in 2011 at 55 kilos, but failed to make the U.S. team in 2012 and 2013. At the 2012 Olympic Team Trials, Simmons defeated Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo before losing to longtime rival Sam Hazewinkel. Last year he moved up to 60 kilos and finished fourth at the U.S. World Team Trials behind Reece Humphrey, Jimmy Kennedy, and Logan Stieber. It's unlikely that Simmons will see any of those wrestlers this year as all three are competing at either 61 kilos or 65 kilos, while Simmons is expected to compete at 57 kilos. If Simmons can win the challenge tournament in Madison, his finals opponent in the best-of-three finals will be rival Sam Hazewinkel, who received an automatic berth in the finals by winning the U.S. Open. Obe Blanc Many have wondered when Obe Blanc will return to competition after he withdrew from the 2013 World Championships following a failed drug test. In November he moved from Stillwater, Okla., to College Park, Md., where he has been training. Blanc has been a late bloomer in his wrestling career. He failed to earn All-American honors as a senior at Oklahoma State in 2009, but has since won two U.S. Open titles and two U.S. World Team Trials titles at 55 kilos. He will be one of the favorites to win the challenge tournament if he competes in Madison. Nick Gwiazdowski defeated Tony Nelson to win the NCAA title (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Nick Gwiazdowski Nick Gwiazdowski captured an NCAA title at heavyweight this past season as a sophomore at North Carolina State. His finals victory came over two-time NCAA champion Tony Nelson of Minnesota. Even though he did not compete at this year's U.S. Open, Gwiz qualified for the U.S. World Team Trials in Madison by winning the NCAA championship. He has already had success on the senior level in freestyle. Last year Gwiazdowski placed seventh at the U.S. Open and fourth at the U.S. World Team Trials. His teammate Pete Renda won a FILA Junior National freestyle title this past weekend, and his assistant coach Jamill Kelly was a 2004 Olympic silver medalist in freestyle. Les Sigman Les Sigman, who trains with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, was on the 2010 U.S. World Team, but has not been able to get back to that level since. Last year he competed at 96 kilos, where he finished fifth at the U.S. Open. With his club teammate Jake Varner returning at 97 kilos, Sigman is back at heavyweight. Adeline Gray earned a World bronze medal in 2013 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Adeline Gray The 23-year-old Adeline Gray has become the face of women's wrestling in the United States. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the world at 75 kilos. She has never made the U.S. Olympic Team, but was a World champion in 2012 and claimed a World bronze medal in both 2011 and 2013. She has been a University World champion and Junior World champion. Gray went 4-0 at the World Cup this year, and notched wins over a pair of past World champions and a World silver medalist. Gray won her World title at 67 kilos and has contemplated wrestling at 69 kilos, but has been competing at 75 kilos. Kelsey Campbell Kelsey Campbell, a 2012 Olympian, did not compete last season. She has battled inconsistency since returning to competition. She went 0-2 at the Minnesota Storm Holiday Classic in December. Earlier this year she failed to place at the Dave Schultz Memorial, but bounced back to earn a silver medal at the Golden Grand Prix and place fifth at the Klippan Lady Open. Campbell earned a spot on the U.S. World Cup team at 55 kilos by defeating Katherine Fulp-Allen. At the World Cup in mid-March she went winless in three matches and suffered an injury. Haley Augello was an undefeated national champion as a freshman (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Haley Augello Haley Augello is one of America's young, rising stars in women's wrestling. This past season as a freshman at King University she was an undefeated WCWA national champion. She was twice named ASICS High School Girls Wrestler of the Year. Augello won a Cadet World title in 2011 and competed at the Junior World Championships in 2012 and 2013. Last year she made her mark on the senior level, finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open and fifth at the U.S. World Team Trials. Augello will be looking to make her first U.S. World team on the senior level, but will have her work cut out for her. In the challenge tournament she will have to navigate her way through a field that includes Katherine Fulp-Allen, who defeated her at the Dave Schultz Memorial. If Augello does get past Fulp-Allen and others to make the best-of-three finals, she will meet U.S. Open champion Whitney Conder, a wrestler who has multiple wins over Augello in the past year.

Men's freestyle Greco-Roman Women's freestyle

Men's freestyle 57 kilos: 1st: Sam Hazewinkel tech. fall Andrew Hochstrasser, 11-0 3rd: Danny Mitcheff dec. Tyler Graff, 7-4 5th: Zach Sanders dec. Ryan Mango, 6-2 7th: Mark McKnight dec. Josh Heinzer, 15-12 61 kilos: 1st: Jimmy Kennedy dec. Coleman Scott, 7-2 3rd: B.J. Futrell tech. fall Matt McDonough, 10-0 5th: Joe Colon tech. fall Conor Beebe, 19-8 7th: Brandon Precin dec. Kyle Jahn, 9-3 65 kilos: 1st: Brent Metcalf dec. Kellen Russell, 9-0 3rd: Logan Stieber dec. Frank Molinaro, 4-2 5th: Reece Humphrey forfeit over Jordan Oliver 7th: Nick Dardanes dec. Jason Chamberlain, 2-1 70 kilos: 1st: Nick Marable dec. Moza Fay, 5-1 3rd: Kyle Ruschell dec. Kevin LeValley, 6-4 5th: James Green injury default over Jason Welch 7th: Adam Hall dec. Hunter Stieber, 10-3 74 kilos: 1st: Jordan Burroughs dec. David Taylor, 7-6 3rd: Tyler Caldwell dec. Quinton Godley, 3-1 5th: Taylor Massa dec. Thomas Gantt, 9-6 7th: Jesse Stafford tech. fall Connor Keating, 13-3 86 kilos: 1st: Keith Gavin dec. Clayton Foster, 7-4 3rd: Ed Ruth dec. Jon Reader, 12-11 5th: Robert Hamlin injury default over Phillip Keddy 7th: Quentin Wright by forfeit over Raymond Jordan. 97 kilos: 1st: Jake Varner dec. Wynn Michalak, 4-0 3rd: J.D. Bergman tech. fall Deron Winn, 10-0 5th: Micah Burak dec. David Zabriskie, 7-1 7th: Cam Simaz, tech. fall Evan Brown, 10-0 125 kilos: 1st: Tervel Dlagnev tech. fall Dom Bradley,10-0 3rd: Tyrell Fortune dec. Zack Rey, 4-1 5th: Jarod Trice dec. Matthew Meuleners, 6-3 7th: Justin Grant dec. Kyle Massey, 5-1 Greco-Roman 59 kilos: 1st: Spenser Mango dec. Joseph Betterman, 1-1 3rd: Jermaine Hodge dec. Max Nowry, 6-0 5th: Nikko Triggas tech. fall Nathan Engel, 10-2 7th: Dmitry Ryabchinskiy dec. Julian Gunnels, 10-5 66 kilos: 1st: RaVaughn Perkins pinned Ellis Coleman, 4:30 3rd: Bryce Saddoris dec. Jamel Johnson, 5-0 5th: Brian Graham dec. Marco Lara, 12-10 7th: Nick Alvarez dec. Thrasher Porcher, 10-5 71 kilos: 1st: Justin Lester tech. fall Pat Smith, 12-3 3rd: Bo Beckman dec. Santiago Martinez, 4-1 5th: Dillon Cowan dec. Anthonie Linares, 17-16 7th: Christopher Gonzalez dec. Robby Neill, 4-0 75 kilos: 1st: Andrew Bisek dec. John Anderson, 3-1 3rd: Geordan Speiller dec. Jake Fisher, 5-4 5th: John Stefanowicz injury default over Dylan Reel 7th: Alec Ortiz dec. Matthew Gray, 11-8 80 kilos: 1st: Kendrick Sanders dec. Aaron Sieracki, 2-1 3rd: Terrence Zaleski dec. Tarrence Williams, 13-9 5th: Jake Waste dec. Josh Greer, 9-2 7th: Joseph Uccellini pinned Patrick Martinez, 2:16 85 kilos: 1st: Jordan Holm tech. fall Zac Nielsen, 8-0 3rd: Peter Hicks dec. Mark Stenberg, 1-0 5th: Easton Hargrave dec. Courtney Myers, 10-5 7th: Lee Wildes by forfeit over Eugene Komissarov 98 kilos: 1st: Caylor Williams dec. John Wechter, 2-0 3rd: Daren Burns pinned Marcus Finau, 1:12 5th: Pete Gounaridis tech. fall Patrick Carey, 9-0 7th: Tyler Lehmann tech. fall Roy Nash, 8-0 130 kilos: 1st: Robby Smith tech. fall Toby Erickson, 8-0 3rd: Erik Nye pinned Nikola Bogojevic, 2:38 5th: Sam Stoll by injury default over O'Kala Makaiau 7th: Jake Kettler dec. Parker Betts, 5-3 Women's freestyle 48 kilos: 1st: Alyssa Lampe tech. fall Victoria Anthony, 10-0 3rd: Clarissa Chun tech. fall Erin Golston, 12-2 5th: Emily Webster dec. Cody Pfau, 14-12 7th: Amy Hou pinned Vanessa Smith, 2:19 53 kilos: 1st: Whitney Conder dec. Katherine Fulp-Allen, 2-0 3rd: Jessica Medina dec. Carlene Sluberski, 2-1 5th: Amy Fearnside pinned Laura Anderson, 3:24 7th: Sarah Allen pinned Madison Tung, 1:33 55 kilos: 1st: Helen Maroulis tech. fall Sarah Hildebrandt, 11-0 3rd: Jacarra Winchester dec. Hanna Grisewood, 6-0 5th: Rachel Archer dec. Cassidy Jasperson, 9-1 7th: Cara Romeike tech. fall Vanessa Gonzalez, 10-0 58 kilos: 1st: Alli Ragan pinned Trinity Griffin, 2:21 3rd: Michaela Hutchison dec. Othella Feroleto, 6-3 5th: Sally Roberts dec. Kayla Miracle, 4-2 7th: Melissa Apodaca tech. fall Areana Villaescusa, 11-0 60 kilos: 1st: Jennifer Page pinned Jenna Burkert, 1:53 3rd: Brieana Delgado dec. Shauna Isbell, 8-2 5th: Kristin Yamasaki dec. Beatrize Martinez, 9-3 63 kilos: 1st: Elena Pirozhkova dec. Erin Clodgo, 3-0 3rd: Leigh Jaynes tech. fall Olivia Seppinnedni, 12-1 5th: Shai Mason by forfeit over Amanda Hendey 7th: Deanna Betterman tech. fall,14-1 69 kilos: 1st: Randi Miller dec. Veronica Carlson, 3-1 3rd: Tamyra Mensah tech. fall Brittany David, 12-1 5th: Demi Strub dec. Amy Spafford, 14-9 7th: DeAngela Castex, by forfeit over Angelica Hernandez 75 kilos: 1st: Jackie Cataline pinned Iris Smith, 2:54 3rd: Julia Salata tech. fall Mary Westman, 10-0 5th: Lorrie Ramos pinned Kiaya Van Scoyoc, 5:57 7th: Anastasia Lobsinger dec. Heather O'Connor, 8-2

Related: Brackets | Placers | Champion Interviews LAS VEGAS -- USA Wrestling saved the best for last on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Jordan Burroughs after defeating David Taylor in the finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)In the final match of the U.S. Open, Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs found himself in a 6-3 hole late in his finals match against David Taylor at 74 kilos. But the 25-year-old Burroughs dug deep, picking up two takedowns in the final 30 seconds, including the go-ahead takedown with 17 seconds remaining on the clock, to win 7-6 in dramatic fashion. He was named Outstanding Wrestler of the men's freestyle competition. Burroughs, a three-time World level champion, has a bye to the best-of-three finals of the U.S. World Team Trials. He will face the winner of the challenge tournament at 74 kilos, which is expected to include Taylor and potentially Kyle Dake and Andrew Howe. Another 2012 Olympic champion, Jake Varner, came through to win a U.S. Open title on Saturday night at 97 kilos. Varner, who did not compete in 2013, controlled Wynn Michalak from the opening whistle and won 4-0 in match that was never in doubt. Of the eight champions crowned in the men's freestyle competition on Saturday night, only Burroughs and Keith Gavin (86 kilos) were U.S. Open champions a year ago. Gavin, a U.S. World Team member last year, came in as the top seed and topped a red-hot Clayton Foster in the finals at 86 kilos, 7-4. Foster, a World Cup champion, started quickly, scoring two takedowns in the opening period to lead 4-0. But it was all Gavin the rest of the way as he scored seven unanswered points. Returning U.S. World Team members Brent Metcalf (65 kilos) and Tevel Dlagnev (125 kilos) claimed titles on Saturday night to put them in a strong position to get back on the U.S. World Team this year. Both beat returning U.S. Open champions. Metcalf came through arguably the deepest weight class in the men's freestyle competition, 65 kilos, which included past U.S. World Team members and Junior World medalists. Metcalf dominated Kellen Russell in the finals, 9-0, to win his first U.S. Open crown. The former University of Iowa wrestler led 1-0 after the opening period, but broke it wide open in the second period by scoring a variety of different ways. It was a rematch from last year's U.S. World Team Trials championship at 66 kilos, also won by Metcalf. Dlagnev, a four-time World or Olympic team member, earned a 10-0 technical fall victory over past Junior World champion Dom Bradley in the finals at 125 kilos. Dlagnev scored quickly with a low level attack, and then immediately followed up the takedown with a series of tilts to finish the match in the first period. Jimmy Kennedy (61 kilos) and Nick Marable (70), both ranked in the top 10 in the world, claimed their first U.S. Open titles. Kennedy, who trains at the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club in Ann Arbor, Mich., defeated 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott, 7-2, in the finals at 61 kilos. The match was tied 2-2 at the end of the first period, but Kennedy pulled away in the second period, scoring two takedowns to secure the victory. It was Kennedy's first win ever over Scott. Marable, who is best known in international wrestling for being the wrestler who snapped the 69-match win streak of Jordan Burroughs, grinded out a 5-1 victory over Moza Fay in the finals at 70 kilos. Sam Hazewinkel won his second U.S. Open title at 55 kilos, coming through as the No. 4 seed, which was the lowest seeded of any of the eight freestyle champions. He blanked Andrew Hochstrasser, 11-0, in the finals. The Titan Mercury Wrestling Club finished with the team championship in the men's freestyle competition. Spenser Mango defeated longtime teammate Joe Betterman (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)In the Greco-Roman competition, six of the eight titlists on Saturday night were U.S. World Team members last year. Those wrestlers include Spenser Mango (55 kilos), Justin Lester (71 kilos), Andy Bisek (74 kilos), Jordan Holm (86 kilos), Caylor Williams (98 kilos), and Robby Smith (130 kilos). Mango won his sixth U.S. Open title, edging four-time U.S. Open champion and U.S. Army teammate Joe Betterman in the finals on criteria. The match ended 1-1, but Mango won by scoring last. Betterman had beaten Mango in a previous meeting earlier this year at the Dave Schultz Memorial. Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist, captured his fifth U.S. Open title with a dominating 12-3 victory in the finals at 71 kilos over Pat Smith of the Minnesota Storm. Smith, a past University Nationals champion, scored with a takedown and pushout to lead 3-0 early. But Lester dominated the rest of the way, scoring with a series of takedowns and throws to run away with the victory. Bisek, a two-time U.S. World Team member, won a low-scoring battle over Jon Anderson of the U.S. Army, 3-1, in the finals at 74 kilos. Bisek was pushed in multiple matches throughout the tournament, but was able to find ways to win and come through as the No. 1 seed. Holm won his third U.S. Open title by blanking Minnesota Storm teammate Zac Nielsen, 8-0, in the finals at 85 kilos. He finished the competition with two shutout victories and a fall. Williams and Smith both won their first U.S. Open titles. Williams topped John Wechter, 2-0, in the finals at 98 kilos. Smith rolled to a 12-0 shutout victory over Toby Erickson in the finals at 130 kilos. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the Greco-Roman competition came at 66 kilos, where RaVaughn Perkins earned a fall over 2012 Olympian Ellis Coleman. Perkins trailed 4-1 in the second period before using a body lock to put Coleman on his back and earn the fall. Perkins earned Outstanding Wrestler honors in the Greco-Roman competition. Rising star Kendrick Sanders broke through to win his first U.S. Open title, beating Greco-Roman veteran Aaron Sieracki, 2-1, in the finals at 80 kilos. Last year Sanders was a runner-up at the U.S. Open and finished third at the U.S. World Team Trials. The team titles in Greco-Roman went to the U.S. Army in Division I and the Minnesota Storm in Division II. Alyssa Lampe proved to be too much for Victoria Anthony (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)World medalists Alyssa Lampe, Helen Maroulis, and Elena Pirozhkova were among the eight champions crowned in the women's freestyle competition on Saturday night. Lampe, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, proved to be too much for two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony in the finals at 48 kilos. Lampe, a two-time returning World bronze medalist, earned a 10-0 technical fall victory over Anthony, who advanced to the finals by defeating Clarissa Chun, an Olympic bronze medalist and World champion. Maroulis, a World silver medalist, also won by technical fall in the finals without surrendering a point. Her finals victory came over WCWA national champion Sarah Hildebrandt, 11-0. She was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women's freestyle competition. Pirozhkova, a World champion and 2012 Olympian, shut out Erin Clodgo, 3-0, in the finals at 63 kilos. It was Pirozhkova's sixth U.S. Open title. Randi Miller claimed her first U.S. Open title since 2008 with a 3-1 victory in the finals over 2013 World Team member Veronica Carlson at 69 kilos. Miller was an Olympic bronze medalist in 2008, but stepped away from the sport for five years and competed in MMA. Jennifer Page (60 kilos) and Jackie Cataline (75 kilos) both became first-time U.S. Open champions with falls in the finals, and both were dominant throughout the two-day competition. Page, competing at 60 kilos, won her first match by technical fall, and then followed it up with 5-0 shutout in the semifinals, before earning a fall over Jenna Burkert in the finals. Cataline had two technical fall shutout victories en route to reaching the finals at 75 kilos. In the finals she pinned Iris Smith, a past World champion and five-time U.S. Open champion, with a half nelson. Whitney Conder (53 kilos) and Alli Ragan (58 kilos) both won their second U.S. Open titles. Conder edged Katherine Fulp-Allen, 2-0, in the finals at 53 kilos. Ragan, a returning World Team member, won by fall in the first period over Trinity Griffin in the championship match at 58 kilos. Team championships in the women's freestyle competition went to the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club in Division I and the Sunkist Kids in Division II. The top seven finishers in the Olympic weight classes qualify for the U.S. World Team Trials. This year's Trials for men's freestyle and women's freestyle take place May 31-June 1 in Madison, Wis. The Trials for Greco-Roman are set for June 12-13 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Finals Results Men's freestyle: 57 kilos: Sam Hazewinkel tech. fall Andrew Hochstrasser, 11-0 61 kilos: Jimmy Kennedy dec. Coleman Scott, 7-2 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf dec. Kellen Russell, 9-0 70 kilos: Nick Marable dec. Moza Fay, 5-1 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs dec. David Taylor, 7-6 86 kilos: Keith Gavin dec. Clayton Foster, 7-4 97 kilos: Jake Varner dec. Wynn Michalak, 4-0 125 kilos: Tevel Dlagnev tech. fall Dom Bradley, 10-0 Greco-Roman: 59 kilos: Spenser Mango dec. Joe Betterman, 1-1 66 kilos: RaVaughn Perkins pinned Ellis Coleman, 4:30 71 kilos: Justin Lester tech. fall Pat Smith, 12-3 75 kilos: Andy Bisek dec. John Anderson, 3-1 80 kilos: Kendrick Sanders dec. Aaron Sieracki, 2-1 85 kilos: Jordan Holm tech. fall Zac Nielsen, 8-0 98 kilos: Caylor Williams dec. John Wechter, 2-0 130 kilos: Robby Smith tech. fall Toby Erickson, 8-0 Women's freestyle 48 kilos: Alyssa Lampe tech. fall Victoria Anthony, 10-0 53 kilos: Whitney Conder dec. Katherine Fulp-Allen, 2-0 55 kilos: Helen Maroulis tech. fall Sarah Hildebrandt, 11-0 58 kilos: Alli Ragan pinned Trinity Griffin, 2:21 60 kilos: Jennifer Page pinned Jenna Burkert, 1:53 63 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova dec. Erin Clodgo, 3-0 69 kilos: Randi Miller dec. Veronica Carlson, 3-1 75 kilos: Jackie Cataline pinned Iris Smith, 2:54

LAS VEGAS -- Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs came from behind to defeat David Taylor, 7-6, at 74 kilos, in the final match, and main event, of the U.S. Open on Saturday night at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Twenty-four U.S. Open champions were crowned across three styles of wrestling. Check back later for a recap of the finals. Men's freestyle: 57 kilos: Sam Hazewinkel tech. fall Andrew Hochstrasser, 11-0 61 kilos: Jimmy Kennedy dec. Coleman Scott, 7-2 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf dec. Kellen Russell, 9-0 70 kilos: Nick Marable dec. Moza Fay, 5-1 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs dec. David Taylor, 7-6 86 kilos: Keith Gavin dec. Clayton Foster, 7-4 97 kilos: Jake Varner dec. Wynn Michalak, 4-0 125 kilos: Tevel Dlagnev tech. fall Dom Bradley, 10-0 Greco-Roman: 59 kilos: Spenser Mango dec. Joe Betterman, 1-1 66 kilos: RaVaughn Perkins pinned Ellis Coleman, 4:30 71 kilos: Justin Lester tech. fall Pat Smith, 12-3 75 kilos: Andy Bisek dec. John Anderson, 3-1 80 kilos: Kendrick Sanders dec. Aaron Sieracki, 2-1 85 kilos: Jordan Holm tech. fall Zac Nielsen, 8-0 98 kilos: Caylor Williams dec. John Wechter, 2-0 130 kilos: Robby Smith tech. fall Toby Erickson, 8-0 Women's freestyle 48 kilos: Alyssa Lampe tech. fall Victoria Anthony, 10-0 53 kilos: Whitney Conder dec. Katherine Fulp-Allen, 2-0 55 kilos: Helen Maroulis tech. fall Sarah Hildebrandt, 11-0 58 kilos: Alli Ragan pinned Trinity Griffin, 2:21 60 kilos: Jennifer Page pinned Jenna Burkert, 1:53 63 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova dec. Erin Clodgo, 3-0 69 kilos: Randi Miller dec. Veronica Carlson, 3-1 75 kilos: Jackie Cataline pinned Iris Smith, 2:54

Mat 1 53 kilos: Whitney Conder dec. Katherine Fulp-Allen, 2-0 58 kilos: Alli Ragan pinned Trinity Griffin 69 kilos: Randi Miller dec. Veronica Carlson, 3-1 48 kilos: Alyssa Lampe tech. fall Victoria Anthony, 10-0 66 kilos: RaVaughn Perkins pinned Ellis Coleman 57 kilos: Sam Hazewinkel tech. fall Andrew Hochstrasser, 11-0 55 kilos: Helen Maroulis tech. fall Sarah Hildebrandt, 11-0 61 kilos: Jimmy Kennedy vs. Coleman Scott 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf vs. Kellen Russell 125 kilos: Tevel Dlagnev vs. Dom Bradley 70 kilos: Nick Marable vs. Moza Fay 86 kilos: Keith Gavin vs. Clayton Foster 63 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova vs. Erin Clodgo 71 kilos: Justin Lester vs. Pat Smith 97 kilos: Jake Varner vs. Wynn Michalak 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs vs. David Taylor Mat 2 59 kilos: Spenser Mango dec. Joe Betterman, 1-1 75 kilos: Andy Bisek dec. John Anderson, 3-1 85 kilos: Jordan Holm tech. fall Zac Nielsen, 8-0 60 kilos: Jennifer Page pinned Jenna Burkert 80 kilos: Kendrick Sanders dec. Aaron Sieracki, 2-1 98 kilos: Caylor Williams dec. John Wechter, 2-0 75 kilos: Jackie Cataline pinned Iris Smith 130 kilos: Robby Smith tech. fall Toby Erickson, 8-0

LAS VEGAS -- Three past Cadet or Junior World champions now stand one best-of-three series away from getting another chance to compete for a World title. Aaron Pico blanked Zain Retherford in the finals, 7-0 (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Returning World champions Aaron Pico and Kyle Snyder, along with past Cadet World champion Adam Coon, claimed titles in the FILA Junior National freestyle competition on Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas. Pico, a high school sophomore and full-time freestyle wrestler, was unscored upon throughout the competition, racking up 61 points against his six opponents. He had five technical falls leading up to the finals. In the finals he won 7-0 over Zain Retherford in a battle of Cadet World champions. Pico won a Cadet World title last year, while Retherford won his World gold in 2012. Pico used three first-period takedowns to race out to 6-0 lead after the first period against Retherford, and then added a pushout in the second period. Snyder, a 2013 Junior World champion, registered five technical falls in five matches to win the title at 96 kilos. His finals victory came over Old Dominion wrestler Kevin Beazley, 10-0. Snyder has signed with Ohio State. Coon claimed the title at 120 kilos two days after winning the FILA Junior Greco-Roman competition. Like Snyder, Coon won each of his five matches by technical fall. In the finals he blanked OTC resident athlete Garrett Ryan, 11-0. Anthony Valencia edged Isaiah Martinez in the finals (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The wildest and most controversial finals match took at place at 74 kilos between two California wrestlers, Anthony Valencia and Isaiah Martinez. Valencia, a high school junior at St. John Bosco, found his offense early and jumped out to an 8-1 lead. Martinez, a freshman at the University of Illinois, battled back and found himself down 10-6 in the final 30 seconds of the match. Martinez then took down Valencia and transitioned to a turn for a four-point move to knot the score at 10-10 with 16 seconds remaining. Valencia had the lead based on criteria, which in this case was number of two-point moves. Neither wrestled scored in the final 16 seconds and Valencia took the 10-10 victory on criteria. InterMat All-American Joey McKenna, a Stanford signee, won his first FILA Junior National title at 63 kilos after finishing fourth in the same weight class a year ago. He finished the competition with four technical fall victories and a 44-second pin in the semifinals. His finals victory came over University of Iowa wrestler Topher Carton, 10-0. Ohio State wrestler Nathan Tomasello made his first Junior World team at 55 kilos after finishing runner-up at both the FILA Junior Nationals and FILA Junior World Team Trials last year. Tomasello was untested up to the finals where he met InterMat All-American Stevan Micic, a Cadet World Team member last year. Micic, a Northwestern signee, scored the first point of the match on Tomasello with a pushout to go up 1-0. But Tomasello responded with a late first-period takedown and another takedown early in the second period to go up 4-1. Micic was able to cut the deficit to 4-3 after countering a Tomasello gut wrench attempt. However, Tomasello would eventually pull away with two late takedown for a five-point victory. Logan Massa, one of the nation's top wrestlers in the Class of 2015, crushed Junior National freestyle champion Ryan Blees, 10-0, in the finals at 70 kilos. Illinois natives Kirk Johansen, Zane Richards, and Ricky Robertson won titles. Johansen won by technical fall, 13-2, over Michael Beck in the finals at 50 kilos, scoring with a fireman's carry twice, and finishing the match with a bow-and-arrow turn. Richards, an NCAA qualifier this past season at the University of Illinois, rolled to a 12-0 technical fall victory in the finals at 60 kilos over Blair Academy wrestler Matthew Kolodzik. Robertson, who attends the University of Wisconsin, earned an 11-8 victory in the in the finals at 84 kilos over T.J. Dudley, an NCAA qualifier at the University of Nebraska. Pete Renda, an NCAA qualifier this past season at North Carolina State, captured the title at 79 kilos with a 13-2 technical fall victory in the finals over Army wrestler Brian Harvey. Renda won each of his matches throughout the tournament by technical fall. The champions earned the No. 1 position for the 2014 U.S. Junior World Team Trials, which take place on May 30 in Madison, Wis. That event will determine which wrestlers represent the United States at the 2014 FILA Junior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, Aug. 5-10 Finals Results: 50 kilos: Kirk Johansen dec. Michael Beck, 13-2 55 kilos: Nathan Tomasello dec. Stevan Micic, 10-5 60 kilos: Zane Richards tech. fall Matthew Kolodzik, 12-0 63 kilos: Joey McKenna tech. fall Topher Carton, 10-0 66 kilos: Aaron Pico dec. Zain Retherford, 7-0 70 kilos: Logan Massa tech. fall Ryan Blees, 10-0 74 kilos: Anthony Valencia dec. Isaiah Martinez, 10-10 79 kilos: Pete Renda tech. fall Brian Harvey, 13-2 84 kilos: Ricky Robertson dec. T.J. Dudley, 11-8 96 kilos: Kyle Snyder tech. fall Kevin Beazley, 10-0 120 kilos: Adame Coon tech. fall Garrett Ryan, 11-0

Men's freestyle: 57 kilos: Andrew Hochstrasser vs. Sam Hazewinkel 61 kilos: Jimmy Kennedy vs. Coleman Scott 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf vs. Kellen Russell 70 kilos: Nick Marable vs. Moza Fay 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs vs. David Taylor 86 kilos: Keith Gavin vs. Clayton Foster 97 kilos: Jake Varner vs. Wynn Michalak 125 kilos: Tevel Dlagnev vs. Dom Bradley Greco-Roman: 59 kilos: Joe Betterman vs. Spenser Mango 66 kilos: Ellis Coleman vs. RaVaughn Perkins 71 kilos: Justin Lester vs. Pat Smith 75 kilos: Andy Bisek vs. John Anderson 80 kilos: Kendrick Sanders vs. Aaron Sieracki 85 kilos: Jordan Holm vs. Zac Nielsen 98 kilos: Caylor Williams vs. John Wechter 130 kilos: Robby Smith vs. Toby Erickson Women's freestyle 48 kilos: Alyssa Lampe vs. Victoria Anthony 53 kilos: Katherine Fulp-Allen vs. Whitney Condor 55 kilos: Helen Maroulis vs. Sarah Hildebrandt 58 kilos: Alli Ragan vs. Trinity Griffin 60 kilos: Jennifer Page vs. Jenna Burkert 63 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova vs. Erin Clodgo 69 kilos: Randi Miller vs. Veronica Carlson 75 kilos: Jackie Cataline vs. Iris Smith

LAS VEGAS -- Olympic champions Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner, along with Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott, were among the 48 wrestlers to advance to the finals of the U.S. Open at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Jake Varner defeated Deron Winn in the semifinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Burroughs was completely dominant on Friday, winning all four of his matches by technical fall to reach the finals at 74 kilos in men's freestyle. In the semifinals he blanked Quinton Godley, 10-0. Burroughs will face David Taylor in the finals in a rematch of last year's U.S. Open finals match at 74 kilos. Taylor earned a 4-0 shutout in the semifinals over Tyler Caldwell less than a month after the two wrestlers met in the NCAA finals at 165 pounds. Varner, who entered the event seeded No. 2, punched his ticket to the finals at 97 kilos in men's freestyle with a technical fall shutout, 11-0, over Deron Winn. The former Iowa State Cyclone outscored his opponents 24-2 on Friday. Varner will face Wynn Michalak in the finals. Michalak came from behind to earn a fall, by cradle, over top-seeded J.D. Bergman in the semifinals. The third-seeded Scott reached the finals by edging B.J. Futrell, 4-3, avenging a loss from the Dave Schultz Memorial. Futrell scored a late takedown to get within a point, but was unable to score in par terre. Scott will meet top-seeded Jimmy Kennedy in the finals. The two have a rivalry that dates back several years. Scott defeated Kennedy in the NCAA semifinals in 2008 en route to winning his NCAA championship. Clayton Foster and Ed Ruth battled at 86 kilos in arguably the most thrilling match of the semifinal round. Ruth raced out to a 5-0 lead early, but Foster responded with seven unanswered points to lead 7-5 after the opening period. The second period was back-and-forth, and Ruth took a 12-10 lead with a takedown in the final 20 seconds. Then, in the closing seconds, Foster attacked and scored a takedown as time expired. The call was challenged but upheld, and Foster took the 13-12 victory. Every No. 1 seed advanced to the finals in the Greco-Roman and women's freestyle competitions. Victoria Anthony came from behind to defeat Clarissa Chun (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Past World Team members Joe Betterman and Spenser Mango both cruised to the finals at 59 kilos in Greco-Roman. Betterman had two technical falls, and a first-period pin over Nikko Triggas in the semifinals. Mango was unscored upon in four matches, picking up three technical falls and a 5-0 victory over Jermaine Hodge in the semifinals. Four-time WCWA national champion Victoria Anthony mounted a late comeback to defeat Olympic bronze medalist and World champion Clarissa Chun, 6-3, in the semifinals at 48 kilos in women's freestyle. Chun controlled the action until late in the match when Anthony scored with a headlock to take the lead. Anthony will meet world No. 1 Alyssa Lampe, a two-time returning World bronze medalist, in the finals. The finals are scheduled for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. PT. Semifinal Results Men's Freestyle 57 kilos: Sam Hazewinkel dec. Zach Sanders, 9-7 Andrew Hochstrasser pinned Tyler Graff, 5:04 61 kilos: Jimmy Kennedy tech. fall Matt McDonough, 10-0 Coleman Scott dec. B.J. Futrell, 4-3 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf tech. fall Reece Humphrey, 10-0 Kellen Russell dec. Jordan Oliver, 4-2 70 kilos: Nick Marable dec. James Green, 5-1 Moza Fay tech. fall Kevin LeValley, 14-4 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs tech. fall Quinton Godley, 10-0 David Taylor dec. Tyler Caldwell, 4-0 86 kilos: Keith Gavin dec. Jon Reader, 5-0 Clayton Foster dec. Ed Ruth, 13-12 97 kilos: Wynn Michalak pinned J.D. Bergman, 5:20 Jake Varner tech. fall Deron Winn, 11-0 125 kilos: Tevel Dlagnev tech. fall Matt Meuleners, 10-0 Dom Bradley dec. Tyrell Fortune, 6-1 Greco-Roman 59 kilos: Joe Betterman pinned Nikko Triggas, 1:56 Spenser Mango dec. Jermaine Hodge, 5-0 66 kilos: Ellis Coleman tech. fall Jamel Johnson, 8-0 RaVaughn Perkins dec. Bryce Saddoris, 10-6 71 kilos: Justin Lester tech. fall Santiago Martinez, 9-0 Pat Smith dec. Bo Beckman, 2-0 75 kilos: Andy Bisek dec. Geordan Speiller, 10-7 John Anderson dec. Jake Fisher, 2-1 80 kilos: Aaron Sieracki tech. fall Josh Greer, 8-0 Kendrick Sanders dec. Tarrence Williams, 7-0 85 kilos: Jordan Holm pinned Mark Stenberg, 4:33 Zac Nielsen tech. fall Peter Hicks, 8-0 98 kilos: Caylor Williams dec. Daren Burns, 9-4 John Wechter dec. Marcus Finau, 4-1 130 kilos: Robby Smith tech. fall Sam Stoll, 10-0 Toby Erickson tech. fall Nikola Bogojevic, 8-0 Women's Freestyle 48 kilos: Alyssa Lampe tech. fall Erin Golston, 11-1 Victoria Anthony dec. Clarissa Chun, 6-3 53 kilos: Katherine Fulp-Allen tech. fall Carlene Sluberski, 13-0 Whitney Condor dec. Jessica Medina, 10-2 55 kilos: Helen Maroulis tech. fall Hanna Grisewood, 10-0 Sarah Hildebrandt dec. Jacarra Winchester, 6-4 58 kilos: Alli Ragan dec. Michaela Hutchison, 6-4 Trinity Griffin tech. fall Othella Feroleto, 13-2 60 kilos: Jennifer Page dec. Shauna Isbell, 5-0 Jenna Burkert pinned Brieana Delgado, 1:38 63 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova tech. fall Shai Mason, 10-0 Erin Clodgo tech. fall Amdanda Hendey, 10-0 69 kilos: Randi Miller tech. fall Brittany David, 10-0 Veronica Carlson tech. fall Tamayra Mensah, 10-0 75 kilos: Jackie Cataline tech. fall Mary Westman, 12-0 Iris Smith dec. Julia Salata, 12-4

Note: Semifinal matches get underway at 5 p.m. PT Mat 1 Women's freestyle: Katherine Fulp-Allen vs. Carlene Sluberski (Women's freestyle, 55 kilos) Alli Ragan vs. Michaela Hutchinson (Women's freestyle, 58 kilos) Jennifer Page vs. Shauna Isbell (Women's freestyle, 60 kilos) Jenna Burkert vs. Brieana Delgado (Women's freestyle, 60 kilos) Amanda Hendey vs. Erin Clodgo (Women's freestyle, 63 kilos) Veronica Carlson vs. Tamayra Mensah (Women's freestyle, 69 kilos) Jackie Cataline vs. Mary Westman (Women's freestyle, 75 kilos) Julia Salata vs. Iris Smith (Women's freestyle, 75 kilos) Men's freestyle: Sam Hazewinkel vs. Zach Sanders (Men's freestyle, 57 kilos) Andrew Hochstrasser vs. Tyler Graff (Men's freestyle, 57 kilos) Coleman Scott vs. B.J. Futrell (Men's freestyle, 61 kilos) Nick Marable vs. James Green (Men's freestyle, 70 kilos) Moza Fay vs. Kevin LeValley (Men's freestyle, 70 kilos) Women's freestyle: Alyssa Lampe vs. Erin Golston (Women's freestyle, 48 kilos) Elana Pirozkhova vs. Shai Mason (Women's freestyle, 63 kilos) Men's freestyle: Jimmy Kennedy vs. Matt McDonough (Men's freestyle, 61 kilos) Brent Metcalf vs. Reece Humphrey (Men's freestyle, 65 kilos) Kellen Russell vs. Jordan Oliver (Men's freestyle, 65 kilos) Jordan Burroughs vs. Quinton Godley (Men's freestyle, 74 kilos) David Taylor vs. Tyler Caldwell (Men's freestyle, 74 kilos) Keith Gavin vs. Jon Reader (Men's freestyle, 86 kilos) Clayton Foster vs. Ed Ruth (Men's freestyle, 86 kilos) J.D. Bergman vs. Wynn Michalak (Men's freestyle, 97 kilos) Tervel Dlagnev vs. Matt Meuleners (Men's freestyle, Mat 2 Women's freestyle: Jessica Medina vs. Whitney Condor (Women's freestyle, 53 kilos) Sara Hildebrandt vs. Jacarra Winchester (Women's freestyle, 55 kilos) Othello Feroletto vs. Trinity Griffin (Women's freestyle, 58 kilos) Greco-Roman: Spenser Mango vs. Jermaine Hodge (Greco-Roman, 59 kilos) Bryce Saddoris vs. Ravaughn Perkins (Greco-Roman, 66 kilos) Bo Beckman vs. Pat Smith (Greco-Roman, 71 kilos) Andy Bisek vs. Geordan Speiller (Greco-Roman, 75 kilos) John Anderson vs. Jake Fisher (Greco-Roman, 75 kilos) Kendrick Sanders vs. Tarrence Williams (Greco-Roman, 80 kilos) John Wechter vs. Marcus Finau (Greco-Roman, 98 kilos) Caylor Williams vs. Darren Burns (Greco-Roman, 98 kilos) Robby Smith vs. Sam Stoll (Greco-Roman, 130 kilos) Toby Erickson vs. Niko Bogojevic (Greco-Roman, 130 kilos) Women's freestyle: Victoria Anthony vs. Clarissa Chun (Women's freestyle, 48 kilos) Helen Maroulis vs. Hanna Grisewood (Women's freestyle, 55 kilos) Randi Miller vs. Britney David (Women's freestyle, 69 kilos) Greco-Roman: Joe Betterman vs. Nikko Triggas (Greco-Roman, 59 kilos) Ellis Coleman vs. Jamel Johnson (Greco-Roman, 66 kilos) Justin Lester vs. Santiago Martinez (Greco-Roman, 71 kilos) Aaron Sieracki vs. Josh Greer (Greco-Roman, 80 kilos) Jordan Holm vs. Mark Stenberg (Greco-Roman, 85 kilos) Peter Hicks vs. Zach Nielsen (Greco-Roman, 85 kilos) Men's freestyle: Jake Varner vs. Deron Winn (Men's freestyle, 97 kilos) Tyrel Fortune vs. Dom Bradley (Men's freestyle, 125 kilos)

Men's Freestyle 57 kilos: Sam Hazewinkel vs. Zach Sanders Andrew Hochstrasser vs. Tyler Graff 61 kilos: Jimmy Kennedy vs. Matt McDonough B.J. Futrell vs. Coleman Scott 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf vs. Reece Humphrey Kellen Russell vs. Jordan Oliver 70 kilos: Nick Marable vs. James Green Moza Fay vs. Kevin LeValley 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs vs. Quinton Godley David Taylor vs. Tyler Caldwell 86 kilos: Keith Gavin vs. Jon Reader Clayton Foster vs. Ed Ruth 97 kilos: J.D. Bergman vs. Wynn Michalak Jake Varner vs. Deron Winn 125 kilos: Tevel Dlavnev vs. Matt Meuleners Tyrell Fortune vs. Dom Bradley Greco-Roman 59 kilos: Joe Betterman vs. Nikko Triggas Spenser Mango vs. Jermaine Hodge 66 kilos: Ellis Coleman vs. Jamel Johnson Bryce Saddoris vs. RaVaughn Perkins 71 kilos: Justin Lester vs. Santiago Martinez Bo Beckman vs. Pat Smith 75 kilos: Andy Bisek vs. Geordan Speiller John Anderson vs. Jake Fisher 80 kilos: Aaron Sieracki vs. Josh Greer Kendrick Sanders vs. Tarrence Williams 85 kilos: Jordan Holm vs. Mark Stenberg Zac Nielsen vs. Peter Hicks 98 kilos: Caylor Williams vs. Daren Burns John Wechter vs. Marcus Finau 130 kilos: Robby Smith vs. Sam Stoll Toby Erickson vs. Nikola Bogojevic Women's Freestyle 48 kilos: Alyssa Lampe vs. Erin Golston Victoria Anthony vs. Clarissa Chun 53 kilos: Katherine Fulp-Allen vs. Carlene Sluberski Jessica Medina vs. Whitney Condor 55 kilos: Helen Maroulis vs. Hanna Grisewood Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Jacarra Winchester 58 kilos: Alli Ragan vs. Michaela Hutchison Othella Feroleto vs. Trinity Griffin 60 kilos: Jennifer Page vs. Shauna Isbell Jenna Burkert vs. Brieana Delgado 63 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova vs. Shai Mason Erin Clodgo vs. Amdanda Hendey 69 kilos: Randi Miller vs. Brittany David Veronica Carlson vs. Tamayra Mensah 75 kilos: Jackie Cataline vs. Mary Westman Julia Salata vs. Iris Smith

LAS VEGAS -- The 2014 U.S. Open kicked off on Friday morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center with preliminary round matches in men's freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women's freestyle, and the session concluded with quarterfinal matches. Zach Sanders, seeded No. 8, registered the biggest upset in the men's freestyle competition as he earned a second-period fall over top-seeded Angel Escobedo, a returning U.S. World Team member, in the quarterfinals at 57 kilos. Escobedo was the lone No. 1 seed to fall. In one of the most anticipated matches of the first session, Jordan Oliver edged Logan Stieber, 5-3, at 65 kilos in a rematch of the NCAA finals match in 2012 at 133 pounds. Late in the match Stieber was in on a shot and close to scoring the go-ahead takedown, but was only awarded a pushout point and Oliver held on for the victory. The semifinals are set for 5 p.m. PT. Men's Freestyle 57 kilos: Zach Sanders pinned Angel Escobedo, 3:16 Sam Hazewinkel dec. Ryan Mango, 9-4 Tyler Graff dec. Mark McKnight, 4-1 Andrew Hochstrasser pinned Dan Mitcheff, 4:36 61 kilos: Jimmy Kennedy tech. fall Kyle Jahn, 10-0 Matt McDonough pinned Joe Colon, 2:41 Coleman Scott tech. fall Brandon Precin, 10-0 B.J. Futrell tech. fall Conor Beebe, 10-0 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf tech. fall Chase Pami, 10-0 Reece Humphrey tech. fall Frank Molinaro, 10-0 Jordan Oliver dec. Logan Stieber, 5-3 Kellen Russell dec. Jason Chamberlain, 8-4 70 kilos: Nick Marable tech. fall Hunter Stieber, 11-0 James Green dec. Jason Welch, 10-10 Kevin LeValley dec. Dan Vallimont, 5-2 Moza Fay tech. fall Kyle Ruschell, 18-8 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs tech. fall Taylor West, 12-2 Quinton Godley dec. Taylor Massa, 7-3 Tyler Caldwell tech. fall Thomas Gantt, 10-0 David Taylor pinned Paul Rademacher, 0:14 86 kilos: Keith Gavin dec. Austin Trotman, 8-2 Jon Reader dec. Raymond Jordan, 3-0 Ed Ruth dec. Phil Keddy, 14-10 Clayton Foster tech. fall Quentin Wright, 10-0 97 kilos: J.D. Bergman tech. fall David Zabriskie, 10-0 Wynn Michalak dec. Jack Jensen, 14-7 Deron Winn dec. Chris Pendleton, 9-5 Jake Varner dec. Micah Burak, 5-1 125 kilos: Tevel Dlavnev tech. fall Ross Larson, 10-0 Matt Meuleners tech. fall Connor Medbery, 12-1 Dom Bradley tech. fall Zach Merrill, 11-0 Tyrell Fortune tech. fall Jahsua Marsh, 11-0 Greco-Roman 59 kilos: Joe Betterman tech. fall Dmitry Ryabchinskiy, 9-0 Nikko Triggas tech. fall Nate Engel, 8-0 Jermaine Hodge dec. Max Nowry, 4-2 Spenser Mango tech. fall Paul Tellgren, 10-0 66 kilos: Ellis Coleman tech. fall Carter Mcelhany, 8-0 Jamel Johnson dec. Austin Morrow, 6-1 RaVaughn Perkins tech. fall Marco Lara, 10-1 Bryce Saddoris tech. fall Nick Alvarez, 8-0 71 kilos: Justin Lester tech. fall Christopher Gonzalez, 9-1 Santiago Martinez tech. fall Dillon Cowan, 9-1 Pat Smith dec. Anthonie Linares, 4-0 Bo Beckman tech. fall Sean O'Malley, 8-0 75 kilos: Andy Bisek tech. fall Bobby Yamashita, 8-0 Geordan Speiller dec. John Stefanowicz, 6-2 Jake Fisher tech. fall Camden Grimes, 8-0 John Anderson dec. Alec Ortiz, 5-0 80 kilos: Aaron Sieracki tech. fall Aiseah Achesah, 8-0 Josh Greer dec. Nate Hartley, 2-1 Tarrence Williams tech. fall Patrick Martinez, 9-0 Kendrick Sanders tech. fall Adam Carey, 8-0 85 kilos: Jordan Holm dec. Courtney Myers, 5-0 Mark Stenberg tech. fall Anthony Gardner, 8-0 Peter Hicks dec. Easton Hargrave, 6-4 Zac Nielsen tech. fall David Irish, 8-0 98 kilos: Caylor Williams dec. Patrick Carey, 12-6 Daren Burns pinned Roy Nash, 1:26 Marcus Finau tech fall. Tyler Lehmann, 9-0 John Wechter dec. Pete Gounaridis, 3-2 130 kilos: Robby Smith tech. fall Donny Longendyke, 8-0 Sam Stoll tech. fall Zach Merrill, 9-0 Nikola Bogojevic dec. Erik Nye, 2-0 Toby Erickson dec. Parker Petts, 5-2 Women's Freestyle 48 kilos: Alyssa Lampe tech. fall Emily Webster, 10-0 Erin Golston tech. fall Amy Hou, 10-0 Clarissa Chun tech. fall Vanessa Smith, 11-0 Victoria Anthony pinned Cody Pfau, 1:30 53 kilos: Katherine Fulp-Allen tech. fall Samantha Klingel, 11-0 Carlene Sluberski tech. fall Sarah Allen, 11-0 Whitney Condor pinned Samantha Montoya, 0:07 Jessica Medina tech. fall Laura Anderson, 11-0 55 kilos: Helen Maroulis tech. fall Rachel Archer, 10-0 Hanna Grisewood pinned Cara Romeike, 0:36 Jacarra Winchester tech. fall Vanessa Gonzalez, 10-0 Sarah Hildebrandt tech. fall Cassidy Jasperson, 10-0 58 kilos: Alli Ragan tech. fall Kayla Miracle, 10-0 Michaela Hutchison pinned Mayleen Soto, 1:41 Trinity Griffin tech. fall Areana Villaescusa, 10-0 Othella Feroleto dec. Tarkyia Mensah, 8-8 60 kilos: Jennifer Page tech. fall Beatrize Martinez, 10-0 Shauna Isbell received a bye Brieana Delgado received a bye Jenna Burkert tech. fall Kristin Yamasaki, 10-0 63 kilos: Elena Pirozhkova tech. fall Leigh Jaynes, 12-1 Shai Mason dec. Deanna Betterman, 8-1 Amdanda Hendey tech. fall Olivia Seppinni, 12-2 Erin Clodgo tech. fall Rachel Young, 10-0 69 kilos: Randi Miller tech. fall Valerie Rosales, 11-1 Brittany David pinned Angelica Hernandez, 0:46 Tamayra Mensah tech. fall Amy Spafford, 10-0 Veronica Carlson tech. fall DeAngela Castex, 12-2 75 kilos: Jackie Cataline tech. fall Heather O'Connor, 10-0 Mary Westman tech. fall Kiaya Van Scoyoc, 10-0 Iris Smith tech. fall Lorrie Ramos, 10-0 Julia Salata tech. fall Anastasia Lobsinger, 12-2

The NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee this week suggested experimental rules recommendations for the 2014-2015 season. The initial reaction of many fans was to welcome the changes even as few details were given about the interpretations of the rules. According to the NCAA's release, these are the rules they'll be asking for coaches to discuss at their annual meeting this summer: 1. "... wrestlers who step out of bounds with both feet while in a neutral position. In this scenario, the referee will call stalling on that wrestler." 2. "... from a kneeling starting position on the mat, the wrestler in the top position drops to a lower extremity or uses a side headlock. In either of these situations, the referee will make a visual five-second count using his arm. If the wrestler who started in the top position doesn't make an attempt to engage in action before the referee reaches the count of five, the referee will call stalling." 3. "... a wrestler earning a position of control, such as a takedown or a reversal to earn the top position, and the action comes to a natural stoppage. An example of a natural stoppage would be when the wrestlers go out of bounds. In the proposed experimental rule, instead of beginning in a kneeling position on the re-start, the wrestler who earned the top position can indicate to the referee that he elects for the next action to begin in the neutral position. (No point would be awarded for the escape)" Nahshon Garrett and Jesse Delgado battle in the NCAA finals (Photo/Simon Jimenez, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)There are plenty of scenarios to suss out, and many, many ways for craftier wrestlers to exploit the rule changes. It's not too difficult to see there will be some belly-aching should a wrestler make an attempt at a takedown on the edge, but end up being pushed out for a stall call. What happens if both feet go out during a scramble? Will restarts where the top wrestler pushes out the bottom wrestler be called stalling? A discussion of what might happen is sure to progress through the comments section, but what about the bigger questions? Why are we not addressing what it is we want the wrestlers to accomplish on the mat? We're missing the bigger picture on what we want from the sport of American wrestling. Do we want takedowns and points? Or do we want falls? Do we want action? Or do we want the illusion of "fairness?" It's obvious (to me) that in order to please more coaches and fans, the committee has intentionally blurred boundary lines -- both physical and temporal -- to compensate for a lack of desire to make concrete decisions. The 32-foot circle use to be the steadfast out-of-bounds demarcation, as in literally out-of-bounds, but recently the committee sought to create action by making that line irrelevant and extending wrestling to virtually all wrestle-able surfaces. There is still an out-of-bounds, but now it's sort of an amorphous conglomeration of judgmental boundaries that includes hardwood floors, other mat space, scorer's table and simple referee discretion. Compare this to the international set of rules which treats the out-of-bounds line like a ring of fire. That hardened approach to the boundary has created massive action in the center of the mat. Scoring is up by almost 200 percent across all styles and though pushouts occur regularly, they do so mostly as a penalty to defensive wrestlers and draws them into creating scoring actions. The NCAA's rules want to address this problem, but instead of getting to the heart of any matter, they simply come up with a patchwork of solutions -- each as susceptible to gamesmanship as the rules that preceded their implementation. The NCAA has also grayed the lines with the idea of what a match has become in terms of time. International rules don't have overtime, and that's because at some point wrestling -- when decided by points, not pin -- must come down to some criteria or else simply run into perpetuity. The calculation of the international community was to make athletes compete in the time given and level out the time of the match so that everyone knows what to expect. No gamesmanships is available to a wrestler who doesn't have the one shot miracle takedown in overtime. Remember the ball draw? The elimination of overtime also eliminates playing for coin flips in OT or riding out a leg. Six minutes, get it done or don't. The NCAA is trying to address their own failures in creating definitive ends to boundaries and matches by eliminating the side headlock and dropping to the leg. These are without question the two most popular moves in rideout scenario, and yet instead of addressing the problem that rideouts exist at all, the committee chose to quasi-eliminate the overuse of popular moves. At the center of the rules interpretation is something much more disturbing. The NCAA Wrestling Committee is now the head for all wrestling rules in the United States and yet they have no oversight and accept very little influence sans annual reports from the convention. Scholastic style is the traditional wrestling style of the American people and whether or not we like it, the NCAA has hijacked our ability to determine what type of matches we want to see. The NCAA takes a beating for a lack of transparency (as they should) but instead of just restricting food intake, they are now leading a traditional sport in whichever direction they choose without clearly stating their guiding principles or intentions. What is their operating motivation? TV Ratings? Scoring? Pinning? What do they wish to accomplish in changing the rules each year? The NCAA doesn't govern the universal rules of football, basketball, baseball or soccer. Their rules are mostly static. Why should we let wrestling's largest stakeholders and those deciding the future of the sport be appointed and approved through a largely opaque process with no accountability? Why can't there be an independent body able to look at these matters with clear eyes and a bent towards the history of the sport? Say for example these rules fail, or more accurately that the last set of rule changes proved to be a detriment to the sport. What is the fallout for those who manipulate the rules? Are they kicked from the board? Are they asked to resign their post? Also, just how diverse is this committee? Are there any student-athletes on the committee? Any press? Anybody who lives outside the oligarchy of Oz? What does the NCAA Rules committee handle, and what does the Championship committee cover? Who is the overseer of both? Nothing about the organization is clear, and the more power they assume the less that the coaches and those invested in the sport can provide influence. Our fans have great ideas on what wrestling can become and though we live in a democratic society the rulers of our sport are appointed. Why? Look around the world and you'll find traditional wrestling styles that have been unchanged for hundreds and even thousands of years. The outfits, rules and dance that surround their style have importance within the culture. The choices they made, the people they've become, the people they want to be. Wrestling is a mirror on their cultures. I hope that's not true in America. The America I enjoy is one that elects decision-makers, that opens the floor to debate and that sets out clearly-defined goals. Right now the America that I see reflected in our wrestling style is soulless, profit-focused, reactionary and exploitative bureaucracy accountable to nothing and nobody. The rules will change. People will either enjoy them, or hate them, but at the end of the day the process is run by the same dozen people, none of whom are elected and none of whom are accountable. To your questions ... Q: Can anyone stop Logan Stieber from becoming a four-time NCAA champ? If so, who? -- Gregg Y. Foley: No. The other answer is "Logan Stieber" but he doesn't strike me as self-destructive. The only things keeping Stieber from winning four straight titles is an injury. That's about it. Q: Do you think Jason Tsirtsis has the skills to be a four-time NCAA champ? -- Gregg Y. Greg Jones (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)Foley: Having the skills to win it as a freshman guarantees that you have the skills to win it three more times. However, the odds of him winning three more titles are pretty slim. Look at Greg Jones, arguably the most dominant freshman wrestler to win a title in the past 20 years. Jones looked like he'd cruise to four titles after an impressive freshman campaign, but he failed to place as a sophomore, losing to Ralph Everett (Hofstra) and Rashad Evans (Michigan State). His junior and senior seasons were laughable. He was hardly challenged en route to rattling off back-to-back titles. In addition to the odds working against Tsirtsis, the middleweights see a lot of talent get trafficked through and for Tsirtsis that means guys like Hunter Stieber who come off redshirt seasons hungry to win a title. Q: What are your feelings on the job Bob Patnesky is doing at Davidson? He's had four NCAA qualifiers in the past four years compared to two the previous 40, and three SoCon champs compared to zero since the late 60's. As an alum, I'm thrilled with the progress the team has made under his leadership. What, in your opinion, will it take to get Davidson from the bottom tier of the SoCon to consistently getting NCAA qualifiers? -- Jason D. Bob PatneskyFoley: I think it's likely that Davidson will stay near the bottom for a few years to come. Finding recruits is difficult at every school, and though Davidson is having more success, the separation between the haves and have nots is only widening. As you noted, Coach Patnesky is doing a great job with what he has, but for now that'll be the pace of growth until he gets a big star to help draw in more interest, fans and alumni support. There is hope. Take a look at Franklin & Marshall and what they've been able to accomplish over the past couple of years. With the addition of Richard Durso's All-American plaque the program is likely to see more support both financially and in support from high school coaches sending their athletes to college. Prove you can win and the talent will follow. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Highlight film from the European Championships Citadel Highlight Film (Go, Turtog!) Q: What are you hearing on the coaching search at West Virginia? Who would be a good fit? -- Jim A. Foley: There have been whispers of it staying in-house, but since it's a national search I'd expect to see at least a few big names to apply and think that Virginia Tech's Tony Robie would be a regional selection with some pop. Sammie Henson is the best coach in the country and though he seems cozy in Mizzou could be compelled to make the move for the type of head coaching position he deserves. Also keep any eye out on some of these Big Ten assistants who might be looking to start their own program. Q: I'm looking at the new weight classes for this year's Worlds, and my basic takeaway is that there is really just one new weight class, which is 70 kilos (154 pounds). So what do you know about who will be competing at the different weights this freestyle season? Anyone you think was a tweener before, but might break out at a new weight class this year? -- Brandon J. Foley: The big name for the American side is Nick Marable at 70 kilos. He's shown that he can beat anyone in the world at 74 kilos, so having him at 70 kilos, I think, makes him a favorite to place at the World Championships. How to populate that weight class is still being figured out by coaches around the world, but early gold medal contenders include Turkey's GOP and Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev of Azerbaijan. Q: I have been licking my chops at the potential showdown between J'den Cox and the human cyborg known as Kyle Snyder. This rivalry is Dake vs. Taylor in its potential for epic-ness, and as fans we could get to see play out three times! Do you think J'den will make the jump to heavyweight next year? If this ends up happening I feel that the wrestling community should ban together, not unlike they did with the Save Olympic Wrestling campaign, and petition to make sure we see this Goliath vs. Goliath matchup at least once over the next three years. -- Craig F. J'den Cox defeated Nick Heflin in the NCAA finals (Photo/Simon Jimenez, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Foley: I hope you're right. To see those two battle all season long would be something for fans to follow all season. They're tremendous talents and pushing each other will not only make them better wrestlers. Remember, it's Cox who owns the last victory over Snyder. Though Snyder is certainly training to win an NCAA title, it's his freestyle that has been the most impressive part of his young development. I actually favor Cox in the matchup. He's the right mixture of talent and poise and having already been in the college ranks he gets the idea of how to escape and ride when necessary. Still, this could be a three-year battle for supremacy and if the wrestling stays exciting, it would be a treat for the fans.

Jordan Holm claimed a title at the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler Jordan Holm of the Minnesota Storm is currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S. at 85 kilos. In 2013, Holm won the U.S. World Team Trials and represented the U.S. at the World Championships, after being a runner-up at the Trials the two previous years. InterMat catches up with the 32-year-old Holm. Over the past few months you won both the Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup and Dave Schultz Memorial, and placed third at the Granma Cup. You were also undefeated at the Pinto Cup. How do you do you feel about the way you're wrestling this season? Holm: The season is going well, but everything up to this point doesn't really matter. My focus is on doing well at the Open and World Team Trials and then getting ready for the playoffs, the important part of the season. Being that you have your sights set on winning a World medal this year, how do you prevent yourself from not looking ahead too far? Holm: I just tell myself that I have to love the process of improving. It's hard. Wrestling is a challenging sport. As you get up to the senior level it takes a lot of effort to make small improvements. You put in several hours to just improve a little bit. You just have to really appreciate that process. That's what I try to focus on, instead of the fact that I'm currently No. 1 and then start thinking ahead and overlooking opponents. I try take everything one moment at a time. What do you like about your training situation at the Minnesota Training Center? Holm: The Minnesota Training Center is awesome. We have a bunch of guys here who are committed full time to training Greco-Roman. We get on the mat eight to ten times a week. We have a legendary coach in Dan Chandler, a three-time Olympian. We have Brandon Paulson, who brings a different dynamic to the room. He's very enthusiastic, bouncing off the walls with energy. He's just a great technician. I think we're doing a good job of keeping the sport fun. I think we enjoy the atmosphere in the room as a team, and that's a big element. I really try to pay attention to how people are getting along with each other, where they're at, how much they want to be here or not be here, and we address it right away. Dan Chandler (Photo/The Guillotine)You have been with Dan Chandler for several years. What do you like about Chandler? Holm: Chandler is unlike any coach I've ever had. I've had a number of coaches, as is expected at this level. Chandler is very relaxed. He's kind of empowering in the sense that he communicates and demonstrates his faith in the athlete's ability to improvise and develop their own style. He's able to work with each athlete individually on their particular styles and kind of bring that out by just kind of demonstrating his faith in what they're doing. Chandler is very chill and relaxed in his overall approach. When we're going live he's on the whistle and he's yelling at us, pushing us, and telling us to go hard and he certainly has moments of intensity. But he does a great job of communicating his faith in the athlete to pick up on what he's teaching and is very encouraging. You competed in your first World Championships this past September, going 1-1, after being a runner-up at the Trials the previous two years. What did you take away from your experience at the World Championships that will help you in future world level competitions? Holm: Taking second two years in a row at the World Team Trials and Olympic Trials was tough. Coming back in 2013 was not a slam-dunk decision. I'm very glad at this point that I did, and that the Minnesota Training Center was able to be revived to the level that it is and that I'm committed through 2016. Like a lot of wrestlers, I don't really remember my wins very well compared to my losses. My performance at the World Championships has certainly been on my mind a lot. Just being able to be there in that atmosphere and get out onto the mat, just knowing this has been on my mind all season keeps my focus on winning World and Olympic medals. For an athlete that hasn't been on the national team and had opportunities to go overseas and train and compete in international tournaments and to make it to the World Championships, it might be a lot more difficult for them to set their goals appropriate to what it is we're trying to accomplish on the senior level. Since I've been there it just becomes all the more realistic in my mind that I would return and contend for a medal. The weight classes were changed this year in Greco-Roman. Did the weight class changes have much of an impact on you? Holm: When I heard the weights were changing I was hoping that it would go up and I'm glad it did. I would jokingly say that if it goes down one kilo that I would have to go up one weight class. So I'm glad we got the extra kilo. As far as making weight, it's part of the sport and the reality is I don't care what they make the weight classes, I'm just going to go out there and compete as hard as I can. I think there's an overemphasis on the importance of cutting weight and how you will perform, especially in younger age groups. I really think as you get up to the senior level, all that washes out and people just get the attitude, 'I don't care what weight you are. I'm going to compete and wrestle you.' So that's kind of the approach I've developed as I've gotten into the senior level. The reality is 98 kilos is a huge weight class. 85 kilos is a little better for me than 84 kilos. I was hoping for about two or three kilos, but I'll take 85 kilos. I looked back through past World Championship results and the history of Minnesota's club, and we've had quite a few guys who have gone to the World Championships at 187.25 pounds. So the weight class has been out there before I see. Hopefully we will keep representing it well. When you first started getting back into wrestling a few years ago, you were competing in both Greco-Roman and freestyle, but then decided to focus strictly on Greco-Roman. What went into that decision? Holm: It was a decision that wasn't easy. I really like the freestyle program at the University of Minnesota. They really help us out. I didn't finish my college wrestling career like I expected to finish it. I fully expected to be a national champion wrestling for Northern Iowa. I know that I had a lot of good offense that would help me transition to freestyle much easier. I actually performed better at my first World Team Trials in freestyle than I did in Greco-Roman. But there were several things that went into my decision to focus on Greco-Roman. I'm very thankful that Jake Clark brought me along as a training partner to the World Championships in 2010, along with the Greco team. Obviously, I was around Chandler and Paulson, and knowing the history of success that Greco has had here in Minnesota I decided to go that direction. But I'm not going to say I haven't thought, 'I want to wrestle freestyle too.' I would love to be able to do both, but at my age I'm not able to do that and compete at the level I need to in one if I'm doing both. Greco-Roman wrestling in the U.S. does not receive as much attention from fans as the other wrestling styles. Does that bother you? Holm: I take a lot of personal responsibility for that as an athlete in Greco-Roman. There's nobody to point a finger at except for ourselves. So it doesn't really bother me. Here in Minnesota we're launching a new website very soon. It's going to be put together by Basch Solutions. He's very good at putting together websites, particularly for the sport of wrestling. He put together websites for David Taylor and Jordan Burroughs. We have been working with him to put together a site for the Minnesota Training Center for people to follow our athletes, both Greco-Roman and freestyle. I've been having fun putting that together. I'm trying to do my part as a club leader here in Minnesota and helping our fans become more informed about what it is we're doing, and to try to get them to appreciate the level of commitment that we have. We're coming in two to three times a day all week long. The same basic things that draw people to the sport of wrestling will draw them to the sport of Greco-Roman if they have a better understanding of the level of commitment we have. You can't fault the fans when we're barely doing our job promoting our sport. I'm not going to be one of the guys who gets on message boards and becomes super critical without any real direction. I want to be one of the guys who takes action and ownership for the promotion of our sport here in Minnesota. We're trying to accomplish that through the Minnesota Training Center and building up our base of participants with the Minnesota Storm and having a website to keep people informed of where it is we're going as we build toward this year's World Championships, next year's World Championships in Las Vegas, and the 2016 Olympic Games. You wrestled in college at Northern Iowa. This past season UNI was the only undefeated dual meet team in Division I. Do you take pride in seeing that program have success? Holm: I do. I'm very excited about how Northern Iowa performed this year. I'm very proud of the turnaround that Northern Iowa has had … back to the form that they were when I was there in a sense, where I think we were headed when I left. Three of my teammates and I were ranked in the top five. We were headed in a strong direction. I'm very proud of Doug Schwab. I go down there and see Tolly Thompson and Randy Pugh. They're still on staff. I have a great relationship with them. I have been down there to train with them a few times. But, yeah, I'm very proud of how they performed this past season. I like the direction they're going. Jordan Holm gets his hand raised after winning the 2014 U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)What do you need to do to finish with a World medal this year? Holm: There's not a big gap. There's not a big disparity. Jordan Burroughs went 69-0, which is such an incredible feat. Very few people have any real understanding of how amazing that is at the highest level of the sport. I look at the European Championships as a great example. You go in there and everybody gets their draws and they go out there and compete. I think if that tournament was wrestled five times in a row, you would have different champions and different medalists. I think the same is true for the World Championships. I think I'm ready to medal in the World Championships right now. It's a matter of putting it together on the day of competition. All I can do to better ensure that happens is to continue to focus on improving in every position. That's what I try to do. I try to get better particularly in pummeling, par terre offense, and par terre defense. Those three things. It really comes down to believing that I can do it, being ready to go, and putting it together on the day of competition. This story also appears in the April 18 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

LAS VEGAS -- The athletes have weighed in for all three of the Olympic styles at the 2014 ASICS/Las Vegas Senior Open Wrestling Championships, which will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., April 18-19. A final seeding meeting was held for men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle to determine the seeds after weighins concluded. The number of athletes seeded in each weight class were determined by the committees. Greco-Roman and women's freestyle have chosen to seed four athletes in each weight class. The men's freestyle committee seeded a different number of athletes in each weight, based upon the depth in that weight class. Men's Freestyle 57 kilos: 1. Angel Escobedo, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC) 2. Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Tyler Graff, Loveland, Colo. (New York AC) 4. Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) 5. Kyle Hutter, Norfolk, Va. (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Steve Mytych, Coplay, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) 7. Frank Perrelli, Itahca, N.Y. (New York AC) 8. Zach Sanders, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 9. Brad Pataky, West Point, N.Y. (New York AC) 10. Dan Mitcheff, Kent, Ohio (NEORTC) 11. Mark McKnight, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 12. Ryan Mango, Palo Alto, Calif. (Cardinal WC) 61 kilos: 1. Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 2. B.J. Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC) 3. Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC) 4. Matt McDonough, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) 5. Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Panther WC) 6. Brandon Precin, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 65 kilos: 1. Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC) 2. Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 3. Jordan Oliver, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC) 4. Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC) 5. Frank Molinaro, New Brunswick, N.J. (Nittany Lion WC) 6. Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC) 7. Jason Chamberlain, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC) 8. Chase Pami, Champaign, Ill. (Sunkist Kids/Illinois RTC) 9. Montell Marion, College Park, Md. (Titan Mercury WC) 70 kilos: 1. Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/Missouri RTC) 2. Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 3. Kevin LeValley, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 4. Jason Welch, Evanston, Ill. (Chicago RTC) 5. James Green, Willingboro, N.J. (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) 6. Dan Vallimont, Long Beach, N.Y. (Blue & Gold WC) 7. Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (Badger WC) 8. Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) 9. Hunter Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (Ohio RTC) 10. Nate Carr Jr., College Park, Md. (Titan Mercury WC) 11. Vladyslav Dombrovskiy, Rocklin, Calif. (U.S. Army) 12. Bubba Jenkins, Corona, Calif. 74 kilos: 1. Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) 2. David Taylor, St. Paris, Ohio (Nittany Lion WC) 3. Tyler Caldwell, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Quinton Godley, Greenville, N.C. (Wolfpack WC) 5. Taylor Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (Cliff Keen WC) 86 kilos: 1. Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) 2. Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (Cowboy WC/GRIT Athletics) 3. Phil Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC) 4. Jon Reader, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/OTC) 5. Raymond Jordan, Atlanta, Ga. (Sunkist Kids) 6. Ed Ruth, Harrisburg, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 7. Robert Hamlin, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) 8. Enock Francois, New Windsor, N.Y. (West Point WC) 9. Austin Trotman, Boone, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) 10. Quentin Wright, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 11. Tyrel Todd, Chandler, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) 12. Bryce Hasseman, Cheektowaga, N.Y. (New York AC) 13. Matt Brown, West Valley City, Utah (Nittany Lion WC) 97 kilos: 1. J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) 2. Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 3. Chris Pendleton, Laramie, Wyo. (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Jack Jensen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 5. Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC) 6. Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Cyclone WC) 7. Cam Simaz, Ithaca, N.Y. (Finger Lakes WC) 8. David Zabriskie, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) 9. Evan Brown, Dubuque, Iowa (Cyclone WC) 10. Micah Burak, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) 11. Cayle Byers, Chugiak, Alaska (Titan Mercury WC) 12. Ryan Flores, Norman, Okla. (Sooner WC) 125 kilos: 1. Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC) 2. Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC) 5. Matt Meuleners, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Kyle Massey, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 7. Jarod Trice, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (New York AC) Greco-Roman 59 kilos: 1. Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 4. Nikko Triggas, Moraga, Calif. (NYAC) 66 kilos: 1. Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. Bryce Saddoris, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines) 3. Ravaughn Perkins, Omaha, Neb. (RRPN) 4. Jamel Johnson, Greensboro, N.C. (YES Wrestling) 71 kilos: 1. Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. Bo Beckman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) 3. Patrick Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 4. Robbie Neil, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines) 75 kilos: 1. Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) 2. Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. Jake Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 4. Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida Jets) 80 kilos: 1. Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. Kendrick Sanders, Homestead, Fla. (NYAC) 3. Jake Waste, Apple Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 4. Terrance Zaleski, Jacksonville, N.C. (YES Wrestling) 85 kilos: 1. Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 2. Zac Neilson, Zimmerman, Colo. (Minnesota Storm/USOEC) 3. Peter Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 4. Mark Stenberg, Lockport, Ill. (NYAC) 98 kilos: 1. Caylor Williams, Greensboro, N.C. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. John Wechter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 3. Marcus Finau, Ewa Beach, Haw. (NYAC) 4. Daren Burns, Boone, N.C. (App State RTC) 130 kilos: 1. Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) 2. Toby Erickson, East Helena, Mont. (NYAC/USOEC) 3. Erik Nye, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 4. Sam Stoll, Kasson, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) Women's Freestyle 48 kilos: 1. Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 2. Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) 3. Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Erin Golston, Lake in the Hills, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC) 53 kilos: 1. Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 2. Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3. Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Co (U.S. Army WCAP) 4. Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (Brock WC) 55 kilos: 1. Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids) 2. Sarah Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind. (King University) 3. Jacarra Winchester, San Leandro, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) 4. Hanna Gricewood, Warsaw, N.Y. (King University) 58 kilos: 1. Alli Ragan, Carbondale, Ill. (New York AC/King University) 2. Othella Feroleto, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. Melissa Apodaca, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines) 4. Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Bearcat WC) 60 kilos: 1. Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Jenna Burkert, Rocky Point, N.Y. (New York AC) 3. Brieana Delgado, Fountain Inn, S.C. (OKCU Gator RTC) 4. Shauna Isbell, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Titan Mercury WC) 63 kilos: 1. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) 2. Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 3. Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Shai Mason, Gardenia, Calif. (Jimmie Wrestling Club) 69 kilos: 1. Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 3. Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas (Wayland Baptist University) 4. Brittany David, Brentwood, Calif. (Lindenwood) 75 kilos: 1. Jackie Cataline, Alhambra, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (New York AC/King University) 3. Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 4. Mary Westman, Cattaraugas, N.Y. (Jimmie Wrestling Club)

Lance Benick is the nation's No. 1 junior (Photo/Mary Christen, The Guillotine) InterMat released updated high school grade rankings on Thursday morning. All five No. 1-ranked wrestlers remain unchanged. Junior World champion Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, Md.), an Ohio State signee, is on top of the senior rankings. Three-time state champion Lance Benick (Totino-Grace, Minn.) leads the junior class. Four-time state champion Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) anchors the sophomore class. Undefeated state champion Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) is the nation's No. 1 freshman. Cade Olivas (California) is the top junior high wrestler. InterMat Platinum is required to view all the rankings. InterMat ranks the top 100 seniors, top 50 juniors, top 50 sophomores, top 25 freshmen, and top 15 junior high wrestlers. Sneak Peek Senior Rankings (Top 10): 1. Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, Md.) -- Ohio State 2. Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) -- Oklahoma State 3. Bryce Brill (Mount Carmel, Ill.) -- Northwestern 4. Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) -- Penn State 5. Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas) -- Penn State 6. Micah Jordan (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) -- Ohio State 7. Jason Nolf (Kittanning, Pa.) -- Penn State 8. Joey McKenna (Blair Academy, N.J.) -- Stanford 9. Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) -- Ohio State 10. Sam Stoll (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) -- Iowa Junior Rankings (Top Five): 1. Lance Benick (Totino-Grace, Minn.) 2. Logan Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) 3. Anthony Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.) 4. Ke-Shawn Hayes (Park Hill, Mo.) 5. Myles Martin (McDonogh, Md.) Sophomore Rankings (Top Five): 1. Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) 2. Mason Manville (Blair Academy, N.J.) 3. Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) 4. Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) 5. Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) Freshman Rankings (Top Five): 1. Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) 2. Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) 3. Nick Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.) 4. Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) 5. Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) Junior High Rankings (Top Five): 1. Cade Olivas (California) 2. Ryan Thomas (Ohio) 3. Gavin Teasdale (Pennsylvania) 4. Gable Steveson (Minnesota) 5. Rocky Jordan (Ohio)

Chance Marsteller finished as an undefeated four-time state champion (Photo/Bill Rudick) State tournaments across the country came to an end just over one month ago, and in some cases close to two months ago. Even so the last few weeks were pretty stock full of high-level competition with all-star matches and the various postseason national tournaments. With all of that in the books, the 2013-14 season/cycle has come to an end, and it's time to wrap things up with a pretty little bow. InterMat does so by naming its All-American team, a listing of the top-ranked wrestler at each weight class, along with the selection of the High School Wrestler of the Year. It marks the fourth such year of this end of season presentation format for InterMat. 2014 InterMat High School Wrestler of the Year Chance Marsteller (Kennard-Dale, Pa.), 170 Pounds, Senior Many words have been written about this young man since he competed in a college open while in seventh grade, and actually won a match in the event. While in eighth grade, Marsteller was one match away from placing at the Super 32 Challenge in the 130 pound weight class. This would set up one of the seminal high school careers in Keystone State history. When all was said and done, Marsteller would finish 166-0 over four seasons, including a 41-0 mark during his senior campaign. It was a campaign in which only three matches would go the distance: an 8-1 decision in the final of the POWERade, a 14-2 major decision victory over that same wrestler (Kyle Coniker) in the state final, and a 16-5 major decision victory in the South Central regional final. InterMat Wrestler of the Year Winners 2014: Chance Marsteller (Pennsylvania) 2013: Kyle Snyder (Maryland) 2012: Jason Tsirtsis (Indiana) 2011: Morgan McIntosh (California)When Marsteller won the title at POWERade, he became a four-time champion in that event. In the preseason, he dominated through a solid field at the Super 32 Challenge on the way to a second such title with a pin, two technical falls, major decisions against an Ohio and New York state champion, and then a decisive 9-3 decision over No. 13 Taylor Lujan in the championship bout. During his sixteen match state tournament career at the GIANT Center, only the semifinal and final match from his freshman year were not bonus point outcomes: a 9-2 decision over Lorenzo Thomas and a 9-4 decision over Mark Havers. Elevating the quality of the accomplishment was the fact he beat defending state champions by major decision in the state final during his sophomore and junior seasons -- Brian Brill (Central Mountain) and Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin), both of those coming at 160 pounds. Marsteller will be wrestling at Oklahoma State University in the fall. Rounding out the All-American Team … 106: Yianni Diakomihalis, Hilton (N.Y.), Freshman Diakomihalis won major national tournaments in the preseason (Super 32 Challenge) and postseason (FloNationals). In between, he capped off an undefeated scholastic season with three major decisions and a technical fall on the way to his second state title in as many seasons; Diakomihalis won state as an eighth-grader in New York State's 99-pound weight class. 113: Spencer Lee, Franklin Regional (Pa.), Freshman It would probably be easier to list what Lee did not accomplish during this cycle than what he did accomplish. Noneth less, let's list the c.v. for this freshman phenom: FILA Cadet National freestyle champion at 110 pounds, Disney Duals All-Star Division gold medalist at 106 (+5), Super 32 Challenge champion at 113, Walsh ronman champion at 113, POWERade champion at 113, and was state champion at 113 to cap off an undefeated 49-0 freshman campaign. Lee was named the Outstanding Wrestler at both the Super 32 Challenge and Walsh Ironman this past season. In fact his dominance was so profound that 48 of 49 victories came by bonus points, and 44 were either pins, forfeits (three total), or technical falls. He was one of two runners-up for InterMat High School Wrestler of the Year, along with Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), a senior at 170 pounds. 120: Nick Piccininni, Ward Mellville (N.Y.), Junior This past season added a third straight state title for Piccininni, with this one coming via an undefeated season that reflected profound levels of dominance. During the state tournament, Piccinnini gave up two points from four matches in amassing a pair of technical fall victories and a pair of 3-0 decisions. Then in the postseason, he would upend previous No. 1 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) by 10-2 major decision in the FloNationals final. This was a second such win for Piccininni during the cycle, as he had defeated Pletcher at the Disney Duals on the way to a gold medal in the 113 (+5) weight class this summer. 126: Stevan Micic, Hanover Central (Ind.), Senior When Micic won his third straight state title in late February at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, it finalized a 138 consecutive match winning streak that started after a loss in the state semifinals as a freshman. The future Northwestern Wildcat would end his career with an overall record of 180-5, and added to that with a 13-4 major decision victory in the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. Additional accomplishments for Micic include a Cadet National freestyle title and a FILA Cadet National freestyle title. 132: Zahid Valencia, St. John Bosco (Calif.), Junior Valencia has lost one match in three seasons of high school wrestling, that being a loss that came out of nowhere during the state semifinal his sophomore year. Other than that, it's one hundred percent perfect: two state titles and three Walsh Ironman titles the most notable of those accomplishments. Should Valencia win the Ironman this coming fall, he would join David Taylor (St. Paris Graham/Penn State) as the only four-time champions in the 20-year history of that prestigious event. Valencia has won Junior National folkstyle titles the last two years, and was a FloNationals champion in 2011. He is also a two-time Cadet National freestyle champion, and was a Cadet Greco-Roman champion last summer. 138: Joey McKenna, Blair Academy (N.J.), Senior Despite not competing at the National Prep Championships, which precluded McKenna the chance to be a four-time champion in the event, he still had a superlative senior campaign. The Stanford-bound wrestler was undefeated with titles at the Walsh Ironman, Beast of the East, and Escape the Rock tournaments. Last summer, McKenna earned his third Fargo Greco-Roman title (two coming at the Cadet level in 2010 and 2011) and a second straight runner-up in Junior freestyle. 145: Micah Jordan, St. Paris Graham (Ohio), Senior Jordan became a four-time state champion this year; joining older brother Bo, father Jeff, and uncle Jim in achieving that distinction. Over the last two years, the Ohio State-bound wrestler went 99-1, losing only a 4-3 decision to Aaron Pico in the 2012 Walsh Ironman final along the way. Micah won the Ironman this year as part of a 48-0 campaign, which capped off a four-year career mark of 187-9. 152: Bryce Brill, Mt. Carmel (Ill.), Senior Like Micic before, Brill finishes his high school career with a record of 180-5 and as a three-time state champion. Also like Micic, Brill will be attending Northwestern University in the fall, and also beat a Pennsylvania state champion in the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic last month. After losing in the state final as a sophomore, Brill -- a 2012 Junior National freestyle champion -- ran off 94 straight wins to end his high school career. 160: Dylan Milonas, Blair Academy (N.J.), Senior After missing all the second half of last season, Milonas bounced back with an undefeated senior season, even though he missed a one month stretch of competition from after the Massillon Perry dual meet until the Prep State tournament. While on the mat, Milonas would win titles at the Ironman and Beast of the East, something he also did during his sophomore season. In addition, Milonas would earn a National Prep championship to go with runner-up finishes from his freshman and sophomore seasons. The Lehigh-bound wrestler amassed seven wins over nationally ranked opponents during 2013-14. 182: Johnny Sebastian, Bergen Catholic (N.J.), Senior Sebastian is the third of the trio of Northwestern-bound top-ranked wrestlers in their respective weight classes. During the last three years of his high school career, Sebastian amassed a record of 114-5 on the way to becoming a three-time state champion (placing fifth at state as a freshman). He also won a title at the Beast of the East in December, after placing second and third in the previous two seasons. Also on the resume are a FloNationals title from 2013, and a win at this fall's Who's Number One event over Junior National freestyle champion Michael Pixley (Blue Springs, Mo.) 195: Lance Benick, Totino-Grace (Minn.), Junior Benick has gone 84-1 over the past two seasons. The nation's top-ranked Class of 2015 prospect compiled a 51-0 record this past season en route to winning his third state championship. He has swept Greco-Roman and freestyle titles at the Cadet Nationals each of the previous two summers, earned Folkstyle Nationals titles in 2012 (Cadet) and 2013 (Junior), and was a FILA Cadet National freestyle champion last year at 220 pounds. 220: Roy Nash, Taylorsville (Utah), Senior The Utah Valley University-bound wrestler has been an undefeated state champion in each of the last two seasons, amassing a record of 88-0 along the way. In addition Nash was a Junior National double champion this past summer in Fargo, N.D. at 220 pounds; and also was a Cadet National double champion in the summer of 2012 at 220 pounds. He was also a FILA Cadet National double finalist at 220 pounds last spring, upending Benick in Greco-Roman, but falling short against Benick in freestyle. 285: Nick Nevills, Clovis (Calif.), Senior The three-time state champion Nevills ended his career on a winning streak of 105 matches dating back to a state semifinal loss during his sophomore year, which came after he had already won a state title as a freshman. During his senior season, Nevills went 50-0 with 44 pins, 2 forfeits, 1 technical fall, and 3 major decisions. This would cap off a career in which the Penn State-bound wrestler went 200-5. At the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, Nevills would upend No. 2 Thomas Haines (Solanco), a four-time Pennsylvania state champion 5-3. He also has a 2013 FloNationals title and a 2012 FloNationals runner-up finish on the resume.

The pre-seeds have been announced for the men's freestyle competition at the 2014 U.S. Open, which takes place Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 57 kilos: 1. Angel Escobedo, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC) 2. Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Tyler Graff, Loveland, Colo. (New York AC) 4. Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) 5. Brandon Precin, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 6. Frank Perrelli, Itahca, N.Y. (New York AC) 7. Zach Sanders, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 8. Brad Pataky, West Point, N.Y. (New York AC) 9. Kyle Hutter, Norfolk, Va. (Titan Mercury WC) 10. Steve Mytych, Coplay, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) 11. Dan Mitcheff, Kent, Ohio (NEORTC) 12. Mark McKnight, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 13. Ryan Mango, Palo Alto, Calif. (Cardinal WC) 61 kilos: 1. Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 2. B.J. Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC) 3. Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC) 4. Matt McDonough, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) 5. Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Panther WC) 65 kilos: 1. Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC) 2. Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 3. Jordan Oliver, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC) 4. Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC) 5. Frank Molinaro, New Brunswick, N.J. (Nittany Lion WC) 6. Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC) 7. Jason Chamberlain, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC) 8. Chase Pami, Champaign, Ill. (Sunkist Kids/Illinois RTC) 9. Montell Marion, College Park, Md. (Titan Mercury WC) 70 kilos: 1. Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/Missouri RTC) 2. Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 3. Kevin LeValley, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 4. Jason Welch, Evanston, Ill. (Chicago RTC) 5. James Green, Willingboro, N.J. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) 6. Dan Vallimont, Long Beach, N.Y. (Blue & Gold WC) 7. Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (Badger WC) 8. Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC) 9. Hunter Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (Ohio RTC) 10. Nate Carr Jr., College Park, Md. (Titan Mercury WC) 11. Vladyslav Dombrovskiy, Rocklin, Calif. (U.S. Army) 74 kilos: 1. Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) 2. David Taylor, St. Paris, Ohio (Nittany Lion WC) 3. Tyler Caldwell, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Quinton Godley, Greenville, N.C. (Wolfpack WC) 5. Taylor Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (Cliff Keen WC) 86 kilos: 1. Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) 2. Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (Cowboy WC/GRIT Athletics) 3. Phil Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC) 4. Jon Reader, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/OTC) 5. Raymond Jordan, Atlanta, Ga. (Sunkist Kids) 6. Ed Ruth, Harrisburg, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 7. Robert Hamlin, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) 8. Enock Francois, New Windsor, N.Y. (West Point WC) 9. Austin Trotman, Boone, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) 10. Quentin Wright, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 11. Tyrel Todd, Chandler, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) 12. Bryce Hasseman, Cheektowaga, N.Y. (New York AC) 13. Matt Brown, West Valley City, Utah (Nittany Lion WC) 97 kilos: 1. J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) 2. Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 3. Chris Pendleton, Laramie, Wyo. (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Jack Jensen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 5. Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC) 6. Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Cyclone WC) 7. Cam Simaz, Ithaca, N.Y. (Finger Lakes WC) 8. David Zabriskie, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) 9. Evan Brown, Dubuque, Iowa (Cyclone WC) 10. Micah Burak, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) 11. Cayle Byers, Chugiak, Alaska (Titan Mercury WC) 12. Kyven Gadson, Waterloo, Iowa (Cyclone WC) 13. Ryan Flores, Norman, Okla. (Sooner WC) 125 kilos: 1. Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC) 2. Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC) 5. Matt Meuleners, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Kyle Massey, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) 7. Jarod Trice, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (New York AC)