2011 U.S. OPEN 1 Night, 21 Champs
Burroughs, Ware, Humphrey top list of first-time freestyle winners in Cleveland
By Craig Sesker CLEVELAND – The magical 2011 season continues for
Jordan Burroughs. An NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner for Nebraska, Burroughs continued his winning ways by capturing his first U.S. Open title on April 9 before 1,300 fans at the Cleveland Public Auditorium. Burroughs dropped the first period 3-0 before rebounding to
sweep the final two periods from Nick Marable 1-0, 3-0 in the freestyle finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. Burroughs drove in on a double-leg attack and exposed Marable’s back to the mat for three points in the final period. “He’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever wrestled,” Burroughs said. “It was tough out there and I just tried to score when I could. I haven’t wrestled freestyle in a few years, so I’m just trying to get better. I’m excited to see what I can do at this level.” The top seven finishers in each weight class advance to
June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City. Past two-time NCAA champion and No. 8 seed Teyon Ware dropped the first period before coming back to down two-time World medalist Cary Kolat in the freestyle finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. The unseeded Kolat, 37, returned to the mat for the first time since 2008. Ware was named Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle. 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev captured his first
U.S. Open title after sweeping 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in the freestyle finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Two-time World medalist Harry Lester made a triumphant
return to his home state in defeating Glenn Garrison to win the Greco-Roman title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Lester, from nearby Akron, won this event for the third time. “I’m having fun wrestling again,” Lester said. “I took a break
and I’m refreshed now. I’m feeling good again and I’m excited about wrestling. I have a lot of work to do, but I’m headed in the right direction.” Past World champion Dremiel Byers won his ninth U.S. Open
title after topping U.S. Army teammate Tim Taylor in the Greco- Roman finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Past World medalist Justin Ruiz downed New York AC team-
mate Robbie Smith to win his seventh U.S. Open title in Greco- Roman at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert won his third straight
U.S. Open title by edging past NCAA champion Keith Gavin in the freestyle finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. 2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova edged two-time
World champion Kristie Davis 1-0, 1-0 in the women’s finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Both periods went to the clinch and
10 USA Wrestler
Jordan Burroughs captured his first U.S. Open title on April 9 in Cleveland. Larry Slater photo.
Pirozhkova scored both times after winning the ball draw. She scored the winning takedown with one second left in the second period.
Pirozhkova won this event for the third straight year. “I just kept wrestling until the last second,” Pirozhkova said. “Kristie’s a tough wrestler. She’s really solid and doesn’t make stupid mistakes.” Sam Hazewinkel came out strong early in downing Troy
Nickerson 6-0, 4-3 to win the freestyle title at 55 kg/121 lbs. Hazewinkel won his first U.S. Open title in freestyle after win- ning Greco-Roman titles in this event in 2005 and 2007. Past World University silver medalist Reece Humphrey dropped the first period 4-0, but rebounded to down 2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch 1-0, 2-0 in the final two periods to capture the freestyle title at 60 kg/132 lbs. Humphrey won his first U.S. Open crown. 2009 World Team member Jake Varner turned in a strong performance in sweeping Dan Erekson 7-0, 5-0 in the freestyle finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Varner also won this event in 2009.
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