The 2015 Greco-Roman U.S. Open finals will have a twist like they have never had before. The finals of the Open will serve as the first match in a best of three series with the second, and third match if necessary, being contested at the the World Team Trials in Ithaca, New York on June 4th. Wrestlers who take third at the Open will earn the number three spot on the National Team.

This change was implemented by USA Wrestling, and National Team coach Matt Lindland.

United World Wrestling shook things up even more last weekend when they announced changes in rules and scoring. 

But enough talk, lets get into the action!

59kg

Contenders: 

Spenser Mango, Army WCAP
Ryan Mango, Minnesota Storm
Jesse Thielke, NYAC
Jermaine Hodge, Army WCAP
Max Lowry, Army WCAP

Summary: Two-time Olympian and five-time World Team Member, Spenser Mango is the class of the field here. Mango is coming off of his second consecutive fifth place finish at the World Championships, and will have an automatic spot in the finals thanks to the top five finish. Mango’s biggest threat could in fact be his brother Ryan. Ryan has been very active this season wrestling in seven tournaments, and earning top four finishes in four of them. The threats to crash the all Mango party are: 2013 World Team Member Jesse Thielke, and mainstays Max Lowry, and Jermaine Hodge. 

Prediction: Spenser Mango over Ryan Mango 

66kg

Contenders:

Bryce Saddoris, Marines
Revaughn Perkins, NYAC
Sammy Jones, NYAC
Bo Beckman, NYAC
Brian Graham, Minnesota Storm
Hayden Tuma, Suples Wrestling Club
Alejandro Sancho, NYAC
Joe Betterman, Army WCAP 
Ellis Coleman, Army WCAP
Michael Hooker, Army WCAP

Summary: Bryce Saddoris has emerged as the man at possibly the deepest weight in the country. Saddoris was the 2014 World Team Member, and was silver at the Military Worlds and Pan Am Championships in 2014. Returning U.S. Open champ Revaughn Perkins is cleared to return after serving a suspension from the USADA for a doping violation. Perkins hasn’t competed this year, and is yet to enter the Open. Ellis Coleman will also be looking to get back on top of the Greco scene. Coleman was a 2012 Olympian, 2014 U.S. Open runner-up to Perkins, and a 2013 U.S. Open champion. Alejandro Sancho was the champion at the Bill Farrell International, and recently took fifth at the Pan American championships. Brian Graham is also someone to watch for. Graham took third at the Bill Farrell International, and was the champ at the Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup. Bo Beckman is down from 75kg and is capable of making a run here. 2014 U.S. Open runner-up Joe Betterman is up from 59kg. Beckman was the runner-up at the Bill Farrell International. Sammy Jones could be the sleeper at this weight. Jones won bronze at the 2014 University World Championships. Hayden Tuma could be another sleeper at this weight. Jones is a past cadet and junior world team member. 

Prediciton: Saddoris over Coleman

71kg

Contenders:

Justin Lester, Army WCAP
Kendrick Sanders, NYAC
Dillon Cowan, Army WCAP
Pat Smith, Minnesota Storm

Summary: Two defending U.S. Open champions headline a thin field at 71kg. Lester, the returning champion, will be looking to win his sixth U.S. Open title. Lester was also a 2012 Olympian. 2014 80kg U.S. Open champion, Kendrick Sanders, is down a weight and looking to knock off Lester. Sanders is considered one of the United States biggest and brightest young stars, and it will be interesting to see if he can unseat the veteran Lester. Pat Smith will be looking to return the finals once again. Smith fell to Lester in both the finals of the 2014 U.S. Open, and the 2014 World Team Trail finals. Dillon Cowan is a young star that could push Lester and Sanders. 

Prediction: Lester over Sanders

 

75kg 

Contenders: 

Andy Bisek, Minnesota Storm
Jake Fisher, Minnesota Storm
Mason Manville, Minnesota Storm
Barrett Stanghill, NYAC

Summary: Known as “The Cowboy” Bisek claimed the United State first Greco world medal in five years. On his way to a bronze medal, Bisek knocked off 2012 Olympic champion Roma Vlasov of Russia. Bisek is looking to win his fourth U.S. Open in five years. Minnesota Storm teammate looks to be Bisek’s biggest challenge. Fisher has beat Bisek in the past, and was bronze at the Pan American Championships and World Team Trials a year ago. Also of note, high school stud Mason Manville is entered at this weight. 

Prediction: Bisek over Fisher

80kg

Contenders:

Joe Rau, Minnesota Storm
Ben Provisor, NYAC
Brock Gutches, NYAC
Cheney Haight, NYAC
Patrick Martinez, Florida Jets

Summary: Since 2013 Rau and Provisor have had the most heated rivalry on the Greco scene. The two have met eight since then, with each wrestler winning four a piece. Rau bested the 2012 Olympian Provisor in the 2014 World Team Trials, but Provisor won most recently in the finals of the Dave Shultz Memorial. Brock Gutches could prove to be the X-factor at this weight. The four-time NAIA national champion was third last year at the World Team Trials. Cheney Haight could also be a wildcard here. Haight made a world team in 2011, but hasn’t competed in a U.S. Open Since 2012. However, he was third this year at the Bill Farrell International.

Prediction: Provisor over Rau

 

85kg

Contenders:

Jordan Holm, Minnesota Storm
Jon Anderson, Army WCAP
Courtney Myers, Army WCAP
Mark Stenberg, NYAC

Summary: Jordan Holm has been the man at this weight and is looking to win his third consecutive U.S. Open crown. Holm has also had success outside of the United State winning the Hungarian Grand Prix and Dave Shultz Memorial. Jon Anderson is Holm’s biggest challenger. Anderson was second at 75kg at last years World Team Trials. Since moving up he won the Bill Farrell International, Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup, and was runner-up to Holm at the Dave Shultz Memorial. Courtney Myers could prove to be the sleeper here. 

Prediction: Holm over Anderson

98kg

Caylor Williams, Army WCAP
Orry Elor, NYAC
Pete Gounaridis, Army WCAP
Marcus Finau, NYAC
Patrick Carey, Minnesota Storm
John Wechter, Minnesota Storm
Kevin Beazley, Virginia Beach RTC

Summary: Caylor Williams is the clear cut favorite at this weight, and looks to win his second consecutive U.S. Open. Williams has not only dominated domestically, but internationally too. Williams was second at the Dave Shultz Memorial, but notched a win over Olympic silver medalist Rustam Totrov of Russia, and most recently claimed a bronze medal at the Pan Ams. Williams biggest challenge will be John Wechter. Wechter was the runner-up to Williams at both the U.S. Open and World Team Trials. Look for 2014 University World Team member Orry Elor to make some noise, and try to sneak into the finals. 

Prediction: Williams over Wechter

 

130kg

Contenders:

Robbie Smith, NYAC
Adam Coon, Michigan-CKWC
Toby Erickson, NYAC
Parker Betts, Minnesota Storm
Erik Nye, Army WCAP
David Arendt, Marines
Jacob Kettler, Patriot Elite WC
Niko Bogojevic, Minnesota Storm

Summary: Robbie Smith has been dominant at this weight over the past few years, making two World Teams, taking fifth at the 2013 World Championships, and recently winning the Pan Ams. Smith will be pushed by David Arendt, the last American to beat Smith. Toby Erickson will also be a factor. Erickson was the runner-up to Smith at both the 2014 U.S. Open, and the 2014 World Team Trials. Perhaps the most interesting athlete in this field is NCAA runner-up Adam Coon. Coon was a junior world bronze medalist last summer, and will once again wrestle both styles in Vegas. 

Prediction: Smith over Coon