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older brother, Keith, won the 2000 and 2004 Trials but never competed at the Olympics. Keith Sieracki lost a court bat- tle to Matt Lindland and an ensuing wres- tle-off in 2000, and did not compete in the 2004 Olympics because the U.S. did not qualify the weight class.
R.C. Johnson won the Greco title at 96
kg/211.5 lbs. with two consecutive victo- ries over Pete Gounaridis. Also in women’s freestyle, Elena Pirozhkova, a 2010 World silver medalist and fifth-place finisher at the 2011 World Championships, won two straight match- es to claim the title at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., beating Adeline Gray by identical, 1-0, 4- 0, scores. Gray was a bronze medalist at the 2011 World Championships at 67 kg. ON THE FIRST DAY of the event, eight wrestlers added the distinction Olympian to their resume. For American Greco-Roman stars
Spenser Mango and Dremiel Byers it will be visit number two to an Olympic Games.
Mango earned his fifth consecutive Olympic or World Trials title after sweep- ing Max Nowry at 55 kg/121 lbs. Mango, eighth at the 2008 Olympics, pinned Nowry to grab the first bout and followed that with a 1-0, 1-0 decision. “The first time, I’ll admit, I surprised myself,” said Mango of his win in the 2008 Trials. “I knew I could do it, but I hadn’t done it yet.”
In qualifying for his eighth straight
World-level team, Byers beat Michigan State's Steve Andrus in two straight matches at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Byers was seventh at the 2008 Olympics. “I’m just happy to be here still compet- ing strong,” said the 37-year-old 2002 World champion. “I’ve got less time (to win Olympic gold). This time I want to show them who I am, leave everything out on the mat.”
Another veteran of Greco, Justin
Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist, became an Olympian for the first time with back-to-back victories over C.P. Schlatter at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Both were four-time Ohio state champions. “I’m definitely glad to tack that on to some of my accomplishments but this is only the first part,” said Lester, who won his World medals in 2006 and 2007. “We’ve got a lot to do before we get to London. I’m pretty much eight years deep into it. That’s a pretty long time to be in to it compared to some of the guys like C.P. who’s studied for two or three years.” Chas Betts became the fourth wrestler in Greco to earn a spot, beating fellow Minnesota Storm wrestler Jordan Holm in consecutive matches for top honors at 84
Ben Provisor made his first Olympic Team in Greco-Roman. Larry Slater photo.
kg/185 lbs. In the first bout, Betts, a 2009 World Team member used a turn to secure the first period, but a powerful Holm toss sent the match to a third where Betts benefitted from a tough call to win after an extended review. The sec- ond bout saw another extended review won by Betts in a 2-0, 2-0, victory. Three champions were also crowned in freestyle – Coleman Scott (60 kg/132 lbs.), Jordan Burroughs (74 kg/163 lbs.), and Jake Varner (96 kg/211.5 lbs.) Burroughs’ powerful offensive attack was on display in a 4-2 first period victory against Andrew Howe. The first seven seconds of the second period saw a push-out and a 1-0 lead before Howe scored with a duck-under to tie it and eventually force a decisive third period. A Burroughs double-leg attack resulted in a 1-0 lead early in the third and the for- mer Nebraska Cornhusker came out of a fantastic scramble unscathed to claim the first bout.
Unfortunately, during the late scramble Howe was injured and could not step on the mat for the second bout. It was Burroughs’ ninth straight tourna- ment win, a streak that includes a World Championship in 2011.
“It was kind of anti-climactic,” said Burroughs. “It’s tough. I didn’t want it to end this way. I’m happy being on the team. Being on the team was my main goal at the beginning of the season and I did that.” Varner, a bronze medalist at the 2011
World Championships, beat Tommy Rowlands in back-to-back matches. The former Iowa State Cyclone lost the open- ing period of the first match but rallied to win four straight two-minute sessions. A push-out gave Rowlands a 1-0 period win to start the series, but Varner took the second and used an old-fashioned head snap to claim the third period. Scott beat Logan Stieber in two match- es to claim his first Olympic Trials title. Scott, a three-time third place finisher at U.S. Team Trials competition, won the opening bout in two periods, and then won the second match in a decisive third which came down to a ball draw. “I think I’ve won one ball draw in two years and it was today,” said Scott. “I think my rubber knee helped me out a couple of times (against Stieber).” In women’s freestyle, Kelsey Campbell claimed the 55 kg/121 lbs. title with a two-match victory over Helen Maroulis, who was fifth at the 2011 World Championships. Campbell was fifth at the 2010 Worlds at 59 kg/130 lbs. “It’s surreal,” said Campbell. “I feel like I am dreaming, like is this real? It’s awe- some. A lot of people believed, but I think I had to go out there and do it to believe.” Stephany Lee finished off Ali Bernard at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in decisive fashion, wrapping up the series with a technical fall in the second period of the second bout. Bernard won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships.
USA Wrestler 7
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