2015 U.S. OPEN
Snyder, Anthony, Bisek hit jackpot in Las Vegas
By Craig Sesker LAS VEGAS – Young Kyle Snyder’s impressive list of achievements continues to grow. The 19-year-old phenom took control in the second period
before holding off 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner 2-1 to win a U.S. Open freestyle title on May 9 at the South Point Arena.
Snyder, second at March’s NCAA Championships as an Ohio
State freshman, shot in on a single-leg attack and scored a pushout for what proved to be the winning point. Snyder was named Outstanding Wrestler after winning his
first U.S. Open title. “This is the biggest win I’ve ever had,” said Snyder, who won
a 2013 Junior World title. “I’ve always wanted to be an Olympic champion. (Varner) did it and he’s a great competitor. He’s a great guy and he’s actually taught me a lot. I was grateful I got an opportunity to wrestle him and come out with a victory.” World silver medalist Jake Herbert capped a superb weekend
with a 5-2 win over past World Team member Keith Gavin in the finals at 86 kg/189 lbs. Herbert, who hit a big four-point throw early in the bout, won his fourth U.S. Open title. Two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev came back
from an early deficit to down Zach Rey 3-1 in the finals at 125 kg/275 lbs. Dlagnev won his fourth Open title. Three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf edged two-
time NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Jordan Oliver 2-1 in the finals at 65 kg/143 lbs. Metcalf, who won his second straight Open title, swept Oliver
in the finals of the 2014 World Team Trials. “When you are in a match where the guy is very stingy, and
hard to get to, he's got a strategy,” Metcalf said. “Maybe he's banged up, so he really doesn't want to wrestle in certain posi- tions. I have to get to where I want to be. It was the same story as last year. I did a better job last year countering and taking advantage of opportunities than I did today.” 2014 World Team member Tony Ramos rallied for a dramatic
7-3 win over Andrew Hochstrasser in the finals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Ramos was down 3-2 with less than 20 seconds left and shot in on a leg attack before lifting and planting Hochstrasser on the mat with a clutch four-point move. Ramos won his first Open title. “I knew there was only 15 seconds left and I had to score
quickly,” Ramos said. “I never stop wrestling. This is my spot. You can’t panic out there.” Two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor scored an early
takedown to gain a 2-0 win over past NCAA champion and past Junior World medalist Andrew Howe in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. Taylor won his first Open title after being second in this event in 2013 and 2014. Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs did not compete at the U.S. Open. Burroughs has
12 USA Wrestler
2013 Junior World champion Kyle Snyder knocks off 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner. Tony Rotundo photo.
already clinched a spot in the final-round series of the World Team Trials by virtue of being a returning World medalist. Two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey held off past
NCAA champion Kendric Maple 7-6 to win the crown at 61 kg/134 lbs. Humphrey claimed his third Open title. 2014 World Team member Nick Marable scored on an early four-point move en route to downing 2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter 4-2 in the finals at 70 kg/154 lbs. Marable won his second straight Open title. Titan Mercury won the Division I team title. The Sunkist Kids won the Division II title.
Women’s freestyle World champion Elena Pirozhkova scored a pair of takedowns
early in the match before holding off Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller 4-3 in the finals. Pirozhkova, a 2014 World silver medalist, captured her sev-
enth straight U.S. Open championship. She bumped up a Continued on page 13
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