| THE BIG BUZZ Big Stories In Big Pictures |
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| 2011 US World Team Trials |
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Held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, 2011, the US World Team trials brought the best wrestlers in the US together to determine the US world team. Winners of the tournament will be the country's representative at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. The biggest buzz of the event was the return of Olympic champion Cael Sanderson (Nittnay Lion WC). -- Tony Rotundo (39 Photos total)
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| 1 | University of Wisconsin senior Andrew Howe (NYAC/Badger WC) looked healthy and confident during the 74kg Mens Freestyle challenge tournament. Howe later faced rival Jordan Burroughs in the championship finals which Burroughs won in two matches. The Howe vs Burroughs rivalry was a highlight of tournament at the 2011 US World Team Trials held in Oklahoma City, OK, June 10-11, 2011. |
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| 2 | Spenser Mango (U.S. Army) looks nonchalant at the 2011 US World Team Trials as he makes the US world team for the fourth time at 55 kg in Greco. A recent newlywed, Mango looks to improve on his performance at the 2010 World Championships at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept 12-18. |
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| 3 | Ashley Hudson (red, Gator WC) and Leigh Janyes (NYAC) get into a scramble in the 55kg womens challenge tournament at the 2011 US World Team Trials. Hudson wrestled inspired as she tore through the challenge tournament on her college home turf in Oklahoma City, only to lose to Helen Maroulis (NYAC) in the finals in two sets. Jaynes is a fan and photographer favorite (the hair, the expressions!) and her passion for the sport will continue for years on and off the mat. |
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| 4 | Ashley Hudson (red, Gator WC) and Leigh Janyes (NYAC) get into a scramble in the 55kg womens challenge tournament at the 2011 US World Team Trials. Hudson wrestled inspired as she tore through the challenge tournament on her college home turf in Oklahoma City, only to lose to Helen Maroulis (NYAC) in the finals in two sets. Jaynes is a fan and photographer favorite (the hair, the expressions!) and her passion for the sport will continue for years on and off the mat. |
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| 5 | Boise State assistant coach Kirk White (Bronco WC) returned to the mat for the 2011 US World Team Trials at 74KG in mens freestyle beating NCAA champion Gregor Gillespie (NYAC) in the challenge tournament 3-0 3-1. White lost to Andrew Howe in the next match. White has been an instrumental part of Boise State's recent success, while Gillespie has just been named as assistant coach at Hofstra University. |
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| 6 | Rising star in Greco-Roman RaVaughn Perkins(ReadyRP) won by tech fall over James Clark (Ringers WC) 6-0,7-0 in this consolation bout at the 2011 US World Team Trials at 66kg. |
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| 7 | In a big upset, C.P. Schlatter (MN Storm) won by decision over Faruk Sahin (U.S. Army) Dec 3-0,0-1,3-2 in the 66kg challenge tournament. Coming off injury Sahin was doubly disappointed in his loss because the 2011 World Championships take place in his home country of Turkey. |
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| 8 | Storm Wrestling Club head coach Dan Chandler reacts after an upset victory by C.P. Schlatter (MN Storm) over Faruk Sahin (U.S. Army) Dec 3-0,0-1,3-2 in the 66kg challenge tournament. |
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| 9 | Mike Zadick (Gator WC/Hawkeye WC) and Coleman Scott battle during the 60kg challenge tournament. Zadick, a 2008 Olympian is in his ninth year on staff at Iowa. Scott won the match, but eventually lost to Shawn Bunch (Ohio RTC) 1-0 1-0 in the finals of the challenge tournament. On the Monday prior to the event Scott's wife gave birth to their first child, a baby girl. |
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| 10 | Oklahoma State head assistant coach Eric Guerrero (left) and Zack Esposito coach Coleman Scott as he battles during the 60kg challenge tournament. Guerrero was thought to be a front runner in the head coaching position at Cal Poly, but is going to stay on at OSU. |
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| 11 | Trent Paulson (Sunkist Kids) holds off Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) during the semi-finals of the 74kg mens freestyle challenge tournament. Paulson and his twin brother Trent are perennial competitors at this weight. |
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| 12 | Ohio State sophomore Logan Stieber (NYAC) continues to shock more experienced wrestlers in US freestyle at 60kg. After dropping a second round loss to Mike Zadick, he fought back to win third in the tournament, avenging his loss to Zadick in the consolation finals, and here defeating two-time NCAA champion Matt Valenti (Lehigh Valley AC) by tech-fall 9-3, 6-0. |
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| 13 | Recent NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs (red, Sunkist Kids) continues to dominate at 74kg in mens freestyle. The Burroughs vs Andrew Howe (NYAC/Badger WC) matches are a big buzz and crowd favorites. Burroughs recently won the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International and is proving himself on the international stage. |
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| 14 | With rival JD bergman knocked out in the challenge tournament by recent NCAA champion Dustin Kilgore, 96kg freestyle champion Jake Varner (red, Nittany Lion WC) cruises to a victory and birth on the mens freestyle world team with two wins over Chad Hanke (NWRTC). Varner will wrestle alongside his coach Cael Sanderson at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept 12-18, 2011. |
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| 15 | Using the second move every wrestler is taught (half nelson), Justin Lester (U.S. Army) defeats Glen Garrison (U.S. Army) in the 66kg mens Greco finals. Two-time World bronze medallist, Lester is an important part of the US Greco team. His recent challenge match with freestlye World Team member Jordan Burroughs at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs was an immediate fan favorite. |
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| 16 | Recent NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs (red, Sunkist Kids) continues to dominate at 74kg in mens freestyle. The Burroughs vs Andrew Howe (NYAC/Badger WC) matches are a big buzz and crowd favorites. Burroughs recently won the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International and is proving himself on the international stage. His tough competition in Howe is surely a reason for his success. |
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| 17 | Reece Humphrey (NYAC/Ohio RTC) hits a deep double on Shawn Bunch (Ohio RTC) during their first of three finals matches for the 60kg world team slot. Humphrey came in confident after beating Bunch at the US Nationals, and defeated Bunch again in three exciting matches. Since Bunch had won a designated elite international tournament, the Medved International in Belarus, he and Humphrey had to enter the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International tournament to decide who was the world team member. Humphrey placed fifth in that tournament to secure the spot on the world team. |
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| 18 | Reece Humphrey (NYAC/Ohio RTC) chases after a falling Shawn Bunch (Ohio RTC) during their first of three finals matches for the 60kg world team slot. Humphrey came in confident after beating Bunch at the US Nationals, and defeated Bunch again in three exciting matches. Since Bunch had won a designated elite international tournament in the Medved International in Belarus, so he and Humphrey had to enter the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International tournament to decide who was the world team member. Humphrey placed fifth in that tournament to secure the spot on the world team. |
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| 19 | Reece Humphrey (NYAC/Ohio RTC) hits a deep double on Shawn Bunch (Ohio RTC) during their first of three finals matches for the 60kg world team slot. Humphrey came in confident after beating Bunch at the US Nationals, and defeated Bunch again in three exciting matches. Since Bunch had won a designated elite international tournament in the Medved International in Belarus, so he and Humphrey had to enter the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International tournament to decide who was the world team member. Humphrey placed fifth in that tournament to secure the spot on the world team. |
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| 20 | One of the Big Buzzes of the 2011 US World Team Trials was the success of Jordan Holm in the 84kg Greco challenge tournament. Holm has used wrestling to persevere through personal struggles and will be an ambassador for the sport for years to come. |
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| 21 | 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat (NYAC) competed in his final tournament at the 2011 US World Team Trials at 84kg in mens freestyle. Having recently trained for months in Russia, Hrovat "left his shoes" on the mat after not qualifying for the US World Team, here losing to 2011 NCAA champion Quentin Wright (Nittany Lion WC). |
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| 22 | The biggest buzz of the 2011 US World Team Trials was the come back of 2004 Olympic champion Cael Sanderson (Nittany Lion WC) at 84kg in mens freestyle. Igniting a spark in the crowd and other athletes, Sanderson won the tournament, saying about his come back, "I had the itch." Here he squares up with Raymond Jordan (Sunkist Kids) in the challenge Quarterfinal. Sanderson won by decision 4-0, 0-1, 2-0. |
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| 23 | Dropping a weight to 48kg, two-time world team member Jessica Medina (Sunkist Kids) wrestled well in the challenge tournament losing in the challenge finals to Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids). |
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| 24 | Fiancee, coach, and teammate, Joe Betterman lightens the mood for Deanna Rix (Sunkist Kid) during her opening match against Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids) at 63kg in womens freestyle. Clodgo won the match 4-0, 1-0. Betterman went on to win the World Team birth at 60kg in Greco. |
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| 25 | Always bringing intensity to the mat, Brent Metcalf (red, NYAC/Hawkeye WC) was a favorite to win the challenge tournament at 66kg. Metcalf won by decision over Kyle Ruschell (NYAC) Dec 6-0,2-3,5-1 in the semis and did win the challenge tournament, but was beaten by Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC) in three matches in the finals. |
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| 26 | Always bringing intensity to the mat, Brent Metcalf (red, NYAC/Hawkeye WC) was a favorite to win the challenge tournament at 66kg. Metcalf won by decision over Kyle Ruschell (NYAC) Dec 6-0,2-3,5-1 in the semis and did win the challenge tournament, but was beaten by Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC) in three matches in the finals. |
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| 27 | Shocking many, Quentin Wright won by fall in his first two matches at 84kg in mens freestyle. Beating 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat (NYAC) in the first round 5-2, 4-3, and then NCAA champion Keith Gavin (LVAC) in the second round by fall. Wright was stopped in the semis by Jon Reader (blue, CWC) 1-0, 2-1. |
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| 28 | On his way to a challenge tournament win and eventual 2011 US World Team birth, Nick Simmons (Sunkist Kids) won by fall over Obe Blanc (Gator WC/Cowboy WC) 0-1, 1:11, at 55kg in mens freestyle. |
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| 29 | Brent Metcalf (red, NYAC/Hawkeye WC) was a favorite to win the challenge tournament at 66kg. Metcalf won by decision over Josh Churella (NYAC) Dec 1-0,1-1,1-0 in the finals of the challenge tournament, but was beaten by Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC) in three matches in the finals. |
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| 30 | Wrestling his former student Jon Reader (CWC), Penn State head coach and 2004 Olympic champion Cael Sanderson (NLWC) stepped on the mat again at 84kg in mens freestyle and become the US representative for the World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept 12-18. When asked about the unique situation of wrestling his former student, Sanderson replied, "Yeah, that was weird." |
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| 31 | With a new short hair cut and unstoppable determination 2008 Olympian Clarissa Chun easily won the World Team birth at 48kg in womens freestyle. Hitting a beautiful high-crotch, against Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids), Chun won the second of two matches 6-0,4-1. Chun said the new hairdo was to stop competitors from pulling her hair. |
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| 32 | After blazing her way through the challenge tournament, 67kg 2009 World Team member Adeline Gray (blue, NYAC) dropped down a weight class to challenge for the spot at the Olympic weight of 63kg. Her domination ended in the finals when she met up with her training partner and 2010 world silver medallist Elena Pirozhkova. |
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| 33 | Hoping to secure the fall and end the match, 2004 Olympic champion and Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson looks to the ref for the call in his first of two finals matches against Jake Herbert (NYAC) at 84kg. Sanderson, recently out of retirement, was the biggest buzz at the 2011 US World Team Trials, in Oklahoma City, OK. |
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| 34 | Hoping to secure the fall and end the match, 2004 Olympic champion and Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson looks to the ref for the call in his first of two finals matches against Jake Herbert (NYAC) at 84kg. Sanderson, recently out of retirement, was the biggest buzz at the 2011 US World Team Trials, in Oklahoma City, OK. |
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| 35 | Getting concerned looks by his coaches, Brent Metcalf nurses a rib injury suffered during the second of three matches against Teyon Ware at 66kg in mens freestyle. Metcalf went on to win the match 2-1, 0-6, 2-0, but lose the other two, with Ware picking up the World Team birth. The Ware vs Metcalf matches were some of the most exciting at the 2011 US World Team Trials. |
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| 36 | After blazing her way through the challenge tournament, 67kg 2009 World Team member Adeline Gray (blue, NYAC) dropped down a weight class to challenge for the spot at the Olympic weight of 63kg. Her domination ended in the finals when she met up with her training partner and 2010 world silver medallist Elena Pirozhkova. |
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| 37 | Winning another scramble, 2004 Olympic champion and Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson wins the second of two finals matches 5-2, 2-0 against Jake Herbert (NYAC) at 84kg. Sanderson, recently out of retirement, was the biggest buzz at the 2011 US World Team Trials, in Oklahoma City, OK. |
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| 38 | In an epic battle of lightweights at 55kg in mens freestyle, Nick Simmons (Sunkist Kids) and Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids) had a three match set that went down to the wire. Simmons (blue), nicknamed the "East Lansing Strangler" for his long arms, won the final match 2-6, 8-1, 6-1 in one of the most exciting sets of finals at the 2011 US World Team Trials in Oklahoma City, OK. |
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| 39 | A perfect double wasn't good enough to pull out the victory for Sam Hazewinkle (Sunkist Kids) in this epic battle of lightweights at 55kg in mens freestyle. Nick Simmons (blue, Sunkist Kids) nicknamed the "East Lansing Strangler" for his long arms, won the final match 2-6, 8-1, 6-1 in one of the most exciting sets of finals at the 2011 US World Team Trials in Oklahoma City, OK. |
All photos © Tony Rotundo | www.wrestlersarewarriors.com |
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