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of the U.S. Army in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs., by a 1-0, 3-0 margin. Lester is nor- mally at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. It was his fourth career U.S. Open title, and he was named Outstanding Wrestler in Greco- Roman.


“I wrestled pretty well. They guys are a lot bigger at this weight. I wrestled one of my teammates in the finals, one of the guys who helps me with everything. It seems I always run into that. I wrestled well and got the job done. You have to go out and wrestle. I always say, find a way to win,” said Lester. In women’s freestyle, two-time U.S.


World Team member Helen Maroulis of the New York AC needed three periods to defeat 2007 U.S. World Team member Leigh Jaynes of the New York AC, 1-0, 0- 2, 1-0. She scored a clean takedown in the deciding third period. It was her third U.S. Open title.


Maroulis was named Outstanding


Wrestler in the women’s freestyle divi- sion.


“I wrestled Leigh a little earlier in an exhibition match and I didn’t like the way I wrestled there. I wrestled real great in the match going up, but I closed up a little in my finals match. I think, third period, I thought, all right let it go, do or die. It paid off,” said Maroulis.


At 63 kg/138.75 lbs., 2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova of the Gator WC scored a second period pin over a surprise finalist, Melissa Apodaca of the New York AC/USOEC, 7-0, 1:16. It was Pirozhkova’s fourth straight U.S. Open title.


2008 Olympian Spenser Mango of the


U.S. Army won the the 55 kg/121 lbs. finals in Greco-Roman against his team- mate Jermaine Hodge of the U.S. Army, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0.


In a match with no scoring except from the forced par terre, Mango won the third period by defending from the bottom. It was Mango’s fourth career U.S. Open title. Three past U.S. World Team members in Greco-Roman were also among the individual champions.


In a battle of two-time U.S. World Team members at 60 kg/132 lbs., Joe Betterman of the Sunkist Kids defeated Jeremiah Davis of the U.S. Army, 2-2, 1- 0.


It was Betterman’s third career U.S. Open championship.


At 84 kg/185 lbs., 2009 U.S. World


Team member Chas Betts of the Minnesota Storm, the No. 2 seed, stopped unseeded Zac Nielsen of the Minnesota Storm in the finals, 1-0, 1-0. It was his first career U.S. Open title.


Leigh Jaynes (in blue) turns Kelsey Campbell in a battle of past World Team women’s freestyle members at 55 kg/121 lbs. Adam Fenn photo.


“I’ve got a lot of work to do to get this weight class quali- fied. I definitely want to win everything along the way, stay focused and train hard.”


- Dremiel Byers


2009 U.S. World Team member R.C. Johnson of the Sunkist Kids defeated Pete Gounaridis of the Sunkist Kids, 1-0, 1-0 in the 96 kg/211.5 lbs. finals. It was his first U.S. Open title.


Also claiming his first U.S. Open title was C.P. Schlatter of the Minnesota Storm at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., who scored a second period pin over Ben Sanchez of the New York AC, 1-0, 1:45 in the finals. The team champions in women’s freestyle were the New York Athletic Club in Div. I and the Sunkist Kids in Div. II. The team champions in Greco-Roman were the U.S. Army in Div. I and the Sunkist Kids in Div. II.


C.P. Schlatter captured his first U.S. Open title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.


Held alongside the U.S. Open was a girls high school wrestling dual meet event, the Mrs. Claus Duals, providing many young women a chance to compete on their mats alongside their Senior wrestling heroes.


USA Wrestler 7


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