2014 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS - GRECO-ROMAN
Mango tops Hazewinkel in battle of Olympians
Six more U.S. wrestlers punched their tickets to the 2014 Worlds in Uzbekistan
By Craig Sesker DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Spenser Mango won the battle of Olympians. And did it in a big way. Mango used huge second periods in both matches to sweep
Sam Hazewinkel in two straight matches in the finals of the U.S. Greco-Roman World Team Trials on June 13 at the Ocean Center. Both matches were scoreless after the first period before
Mango prevailed 13-2 and 8-0 over Hazewinkel, a 2012 Olympian in freestyle who was second at the U.S. World Team Trials in freestyle just 13 days before the Greco Trials. “Me and Sam have wrestled so many times,” Mango said. “He
has a good arm throw, and he’s kind of sneaky with it and it’s almost impossible to stop. I was ready for him. The more com- petition we have at this weight the better we will be internation- ally.”
Mango, a two-time Olympian, made his fifth straight U.S.
World Team. He was fifth at the 2013 World Championships. Mango used his strength in the top position, gaining turns and lifts to power to the finals win at 59 kg/130 lbs. “I was really close to winning a medal last year,” Mango said.
“I’m working hard and making improvements. I’m looking to bring home that medal finally.” Hazewinkel turned in a strong performance to win the Challenge Tournament earlier in the day to earn a shot at Mango in the finals. Hazewinkel last wrestled Greco full-time in 2009 and trained only briefly before this event. He was second at the World Team Trials in Greco for the third time. Champions at the Trials advance to September’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. RaVaughn Perkins, who is just 21, made his first World Team
in dramatic fashion. Perkins won the first finals match over Bryce Saddoris 5-0
before falling behind 7-0 in the second bout. A point from losing by technical fall, Perkins launched Saddoris with a body lock to earn a stunning fall. Perkins jumped to his feet and clapped his hands in celebra-
tion after winning the title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. “You just got to keep pushing – you can’t stop,” Perkins said.
“I just had to keep attacking and get to the body.” Robby Smith, fifth in the 2013 Worlds, continued his strong
season by sweeping top young prospect Toby Erickson in the Greco finals at 130 kg/286 lbs.
12 USA Wrestler
Spenser Mango, shown at the 2013 World Championships, made his seventh straight World/Olympic Team for the U.S. in Greco-Roman wrestling. Tony Rotundo photo.
Andrew Bisek will compete in his third World Championships
after sweeping Jon Anderson in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs. Bisek has been on a roll this season and has excelled interna- tionally. Jordan Holm made his second straight World Team, rolling to
a pair of technical falls over Zachary Nielsen at 85 kg/187 lbs. Caylor Williams also made his second straight World Team, capping his sweep over John Wechter with a spectacular throw that resulted in a fall. Five of the six champions crowned in Daytona Beach repeat-
ed as World Team members. The final two World Team spots in Greco-Roman, in the two non-Olympic weight classes, will be determined at the Phase II
Continued on page 13
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