2005 U.S. Senior Nationals Greco-Roman Preview
Like the freestyle tournament, the absence of many accomplished veterans could lead to the emergence of USA’s rising stars
By Andrew Hipps “Staff Writer
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The 2005 Las Vegas/ASICS United States National Wrestling Championships will get underway Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top seven place winners in each weight class at this event qualify for the 2005 World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa, June 17-19.
Like the freestyle tournament, numerous top Greco-Roman competitors have retired or not competing, leaving the door open for new names to emerge as the top Greco wrestlers in the USA.
Below is a weight-by-weight breakdown of the Greco-Roman portion of the event.
55 kg:
Two of the most accomplished Greco-Roman wrestlers in U.S. history, Dennis Hall and Brandon Paulson, both Olympic silver medalists, have opted for retirement, leaving the door wide open for someone to step in and take control of this weight class.
The future of this weight class might soon be in the hands of 22-year-old Sam Hazewinkel of the Gator WC, who placed third at the Olympic Team Trials. Hazewinkel, who just finished his sophomore season at the University of Oklahoma, also comes from great bloodlines. His father, Dave, and uncle, Jim, were both two-time Olympians in Greco (1968 and 1972).
Lindsay Durlacher of the New York AC is a talented veteran who has finished runner-up at the last three U.S. National Championships. He has defeated Hazewinkel all but one time, which also happens to be their last meeting, at the 2004 Olympic Team Trials.
Joe Betterman of the USOEC/New York AC, a young talent who placed sixth at the U.S. Nationals last year, claimed a gold medal at the 2005 Dave Schultz Memorial.
Neal Rodak of the U.S. Navy has always been a tough draw for anyone at this weight class, and just recently picked up gold medal at the Armed Forces Championships.
Another young and talented wrestler to watch is Spenser Mango of the Gator WC, who recently finished second to Betterman at the University Nationals. Jermaine Hodge of the U.S. Army, a 2005 Rocky Mountain Regional champion, should add depth to this weight class.
Finals Prediction: Lindsay Durlacher over Sam Hazewinkel
60 kg:
With two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald not competing, Olympic Team Trials runner-up Joe Warren of the New York AC becomes the favorite in this weight class. Warren is an outstanding, young talent who is driven to become the best in the world. He won gold medals at the Poland Open, Hungarian Grand Prix, and the Dave Schultz Memorial this year.
Jacob Hey of the U.S. Air Force is a tough veteran who finished second at the Armed Forces Championships, and won the title at the Rocky Mountain Regional Championships.
Willie Madison of the USOEC/Gator WC is an up-and-comer who placed second (to Warren) at the NYAC Christmas International and fifth at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
Jeremiah Jarvis, Marco Lara of the New York AC, and Duaine Martin of the U.S. Army are all talented Greco wrestlers who will be looking to break through. Martin placed fifth at the 2004 U.S. Nationals.
Finals Prediction: Joe Warren over Duaine Martin
66 kg:
Oscar Wood of the U.S. Army, a 2004 Olympian, has steadily climbed his way to the top of this weight class. He finished second to Faruk Sahin (who was given a two year ban for doping) at the U.S. Nationals last year, and then defeated Kevin Bracken, a five-time U.S. Nationals champion and former Olympian, in the finals of the Olympic Team Trials.
Marcel Cooper, another U.S. Army wrestler, is a veteran who won a bronze medal at the Dave Schultz memorial up a weight class at 74 kg.
Veteran Glenn Garrison, the third U.S. Army standout at this weight class, placed fourth at the 2004 U.S. Nationals, and is a former national team member.
Another young and talented star is Harry Lester of the USOEC/Gator WC. Lester, who left Iowa State three years ago to pursue Greco full-time, is on the fast track to stardom. In 2004, he placed fifth at both the Olympic Team Trials and the 2004 University World Championships. In 2005, Lester picked up a Gold medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
Mike Ellsworth of the Michigan WC, a five-time U.S. Nationals place winner, recently finished runner-up at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Mark Rial of the Gator WC, who placed seventh in the 2004 Olympic Team Trials, has been busy competing in international events and could figure into the mix.
Cam Jones of the New York AC recently returned from a two year mission and will be looking to make an immediate impact in a new weight class. Jones is an immensely talented wrestler who placed third at the 2001 U.S. Nationals at age 17.
Finals Prediction: Oscar Wood over Glen Garrison
74 kg:
In 2004, this was the lone weight class (in both freestyle and Greco) in which the U.S. didn’t qualify to compete in at the Olympics. Darryl Christian of the New York AC claimed the title at last year’s U.S. Nationals, and has been solid presence on the scene for the past four years. He is a three-time place winner at the U.S. Nationals, and also boasts a runner-up and third place finish at the U.S. World Team Trials.
T.C. Dantzler, also of the New York AC, is a seasoned veteran in Greco-Roman with an impressive resume. He has placed in nearly every U.S. and international tournament in which he has competed in since graduating from Northern Illinois in 1993. Dantzler was a member of the 2002 World Team and has placed at the U.S. Nationals seven times, finishing runner-up three times. He lost by injury default to Christian in the finals of the NYAC Christmas International in December.
Josh Henson claimed a bronze medal at both the Sunkist International Open and NYAC Christmas International.
Zac Dominguez of the Sunkist Kids is a young and talented wrestler with a bright future, but aside from outscoring Christian in a period, he has yet to show the consistency necessary to be a top contender.
Two armed forces wrestlers, Jess Hargrave of the U.S. Marines and Michael Mathers of the U.S. Army, have the ability to shake things up in this weight class.
Finals Prediction: T.C. Dantzler over Darryl Christian
84 kg:
2004 Olympian Brad Vering has been the dominant wrestler in the U.S. at this weight class for the past four years. He has placed fifth at the World Championships twice, and after a disappointing loss to the Egyptian at the Olympics, he is looking to make his mark on the World stage.
Jake Clark of the U.S. Marines, at age 25, is a wrestler who has continued climb the U.S. ladder each year. Clark finished second to Vering at both the 2003 World Team Trials and the 2004 Olympic Team Trials, but will miss this year’s U.S. Nationals because he is stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and must to fulfill his military obligations. He is expected to come back for the World Team Trials in June.
Keith Sieracki of the U.S. Army, a four-time U.S. Nationals champion, has moved up from 74 kg, and will make an immediate impact at this weight class. John Wechter of the Michigan WC won a bronze medal at both the Sunkist International Open and NYAC Christmas International. Justin Millard of the U.S. Air Force recently won the title at University Nationals, and finished second at the Armed Forces Championships (at 96 kg), so he could make some noise in this weight class. Aaron Boone of the USOEC has had a good year in 2005, placing fifth at the Dave Schultz Memorial and second at University Nationals.
Finals Prediction: Brad Vering over Keith Sieracki
96 kg:
With two-time Olympian Garrett Lowney out of action, Justin Ruiz of the New York AC, last year’s champion at the U.S. Nationals, enters the tournament as the favorite. Ruiz finished second to Lowney at the last three World/Olympic Trials. Already in 2005, though, Ruiz has won a gold medal at the Granma Cup, a silver medal at the Poland Open, and a bronze medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
Adam Wheeler of the Gator WC is a talented, up-and-comer who has placed well in international competitions. He claimed the silver medal at both the Petrov International and the NYAC Christmas International.
Philip Johnston of the U.S. Air Force, who was seventh at the 2004 U.S. Nationals, has been wrestling well lately, and picked up a gold medal at the Armed Forces Championships. R.C. Johnson of the New York AC won a bronze medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial, and claimed a University Nationals title a year ago.
Two Armed Forces wrestlers, Frank Workman of the U.S. Marines and Al Sankey of the U.S. Army, have the ability and experience to knock off some higher seeded wrestlers in this weight class. Also competing in this weight class is 2004 North Regional most outstanding wrestler Mark Knauer of the Cyclone WC. Knauer defeated Workman in the 2004 Olympic Team Trials, but missed placing by one round.
Finals Prediction: Justin Ruiz over Adam Wheeler
120 kg:
Dremiel Byers of the U.S. Army, a 2002 World Champion, looks to be the clear favorite to represent the U.S. in this weight class, especially after the retirement of wrestling icon Rulon Gardner. Byers has been active in 2005, winning gold medals in the Dave Schultz Memorial, Poland Open, and Armed Forces Championships, as well as bronze medal at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Russ Davie of the New York AC was second to Byers at the Dave Schultz Memorial, and seems to be progressing well.
Brian Keck of the New York AC is coming back from an injury, but if healthy, has the ability to compete with the best. Keck is also an accomplished freestyle wrestler, and picked up a bronze medal in that style at the 2004 Pan American Championships.
Josh Feldman of the U.S. Navy was second to Byers at the Armed Forces Championships, and could be a factor in this weight class as well.
Finals Prediction: Dremiel Byers over Brian Keck
Andrew Hipps also accepts feedback on his articles at [email protected]
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