Jake Varner downed Wynn Michalak 4-0 in the U.S. Open finals at 97 kg/213 lbs. on April 19. Tony Rotundo photo. Continued from page 14
The powerful Varner looks even bigger at his new weight class.
The new weight class is now one kilogram (2.2 pounds) higher than his previous weight class of 96 kg/211.5 lbs. “Maybe it’s just because I’m getting older,”
Varner said with a smile. “I’ve been lifting hard and wrestling hard, so hopefully that’s the case.” Varner said he enjoyed competing in front of
the packed house of 2,000 fans on the spot- lighted and elevated platform during the Open semifinals and finals at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“This is a good atmosphere to wrestle in front of,” he said. “To have the venue packed and have all the fans here, it is an awesome thing for the sport of wrestling.
“It was fun wrestling in front of crowds like that.”
Varner is shooting for a World championship this year after capturing a bronze medal at the 2011 Worlds in Istanbul, Turkey. Larry Slater photo.
15 USA Wrestler
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