Spenser Mango executes a lift en route to capturing his fifth U.S. Open title in Greco-Roman. Tony Rotundo photo. Continued from page 8
finals at 55 kg/121 lbs.
to see the hard work paying off,” Russell said. “I felt good out there. This is Step 1 and Step 2 is the Trials.” National Team member and past Junior
World champion Dom Bradley rallied past World bronze medalist and Olympian Tervel Dlagnev 0-4, 3-0, 1-0 in the freestyle finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Bradley scored on a pushout in the closing seconds to earn the upset over Dlagnev, who placed fifth in the 2011 Worlds and fifth in the 2012 Olympics. “I trained with Tervel last year and I’ve never beaten him, not even in a practice or a simulation or anything,” said Bradley, a U.S. training partner at the Olympics in London. “Tervel is the man, but I trained hard for this and I believed in my condi- tioning.”
National Team member Keith Gavin won his first U.S. Open title by defeating past NCAA runner-up Clayton Foster 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 in the freestyle finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. Two-time Olympian Spenser Mango earned his fifth U.S. Open title in downing Max Nowry 3-0, 1-0 in the Greco-Roman
Mango scored on a throw in the first period and then defended in par terre in the second period to prevail over Nowry, a 2012 University World champion. “My focus is always on the Worlds and the Olympics,” Mango said. “What hap- pens along the way is just a bonus. What really is on the line is coming home with a gold medal at the World Championships and the Olympics.” John Wechter captured his first U.S. Open crown by downing Ryan Halsey 1- 0, 0-1, 1-0 in the Greco-Roman finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. World champion and Olympian Elena Pirozhkova captured her fifth U.S. Open title after sweeping Erin Clodgo 1-0, 3-1 in the women’s freestyle finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
“Every year is a new year,” Pirozhkova said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a World champion last year. You have to get on the mat and prove you are No. 1 again. Every time you win a national champi- onship it’s exciting. I want another chance at Worlds and I want to start being con- sistent at the World Championships.”
2012 World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe looked strong in sweeping past Junior World champion Victoria Anthony 3-0, 5-2 in the women’s freestyle finals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Lampe headlocked Anthony to her back late in the first period and nearly gained a fall. Lampe earned her second U.S. Open title and was named Outstanding Wrestler in women’s freestyle. April 20
Jordan Burroughs came out firing, but
David Taylor made the Olympic champion work for his 52nd straight victory. Burroughs stormed out quickly to win the first period 3-1 before holding off Taylor 1-0 in the second period to capture a U.S. Open freestyle title. “Obviously, I don’t want to lose,” Burroughs said. “You can learn just as much from a win as a loss. For me, it’s all about perfecting my technique, working at as fast a pace as I can and continually trying to improve.” 2011 World Team member Reece Humphrey swept Olympic bronze medal-
Continued on page 41 USA Wrestler 9
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