2019 U.S. Open Preview 61kg: Light Up The Scoreboard
2019 U.S. Open Preview 61kg: Light Up The Scoreboard
We preview 61 kg and tell you what you need to know about the division at the 2019 U.S. Open.
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By attracting contenders from across the country that vie for a limited number of national team spots, freestyle season often attracts comparisons to popular works of fiction, notably the hit HBO series "Game of Thrones."
But unlike the fictional fantasy land of the television program, or the dragon books upon which the show is based, international freestyle competitions have a clearly defined ruleset, and don't involve giant wolves or zombies or elves or goblins or any other manner of inhuman beings. And so any comparison between the two should be skeptically viewed as a flimsy attempt to glom off the popularity of the current cultural sensation.
Both are quite entertaining, however, and 61kg may be the most entertaining of the all the men's freestyle divisions. Let's dig into what to expect in Las Vegas at the end of the month.
Watch the 2019 U.S. Open Live On Flo
April 25-28 | 12 PM ET
Historical Perspective
Four different Americans have claimed the starting job at 61 kilos since the rearrangement of the weight classes in 2014. Those wrestlers and their placement at the World Championships are below.
2014: Jimmy Kennedy - 10th
2015: Reece Humphrey - 12th
2016: Logan Stieber - Gold
2017: Logan Stieber - 12th
2018: Joe Colon - Bronze
Kennedy and Steiber have moved up weight classes and Humphrey now heads up the NJ-RTC. Their departure, along with a host of other wrestlers who bumped up when UWW went to same-day weigh-ins in 2018, amounted to a changing of the 61-kilogram guard.
Into the breach rushed a new batch of competitors that have made 61kg a must-watch weight class all year long.
It started at the 2018 Open, which Joe Colon would win in an instant classic 33-point barnburner over Nahshon Garrett, which you can and should watch below.
That final match followed a 31 point scoring bonanza in the semifinals between Garrett and Seth Gross. Gross was fresh off an NCAA title, so no one was doubting his ability, however, last year's Open was definitely a formal announcement that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with on the freestyle scene as well.
At the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, it was another NCAA champion, Nico Megaludis, making sure people didn't forget about him. Nico made the final but was felled in two straight matches by Garrett. This was after Garrett and Gross lit up the scoreboard once again with 16-12 semifinal bout, which you should watch below because it ruled.
With no returning medalist at 61kg in 2018, the Open win secured a spot in Final X for Colon, while Garrett's victory at the team trials gave him the other spot. Those two would steal the show at Final X - Lehigh.
Colon and Garrett wrestled three matches, the only men's freestyle weight to not be a two-match sweep. In the first match, it was Colon who prevailed, just like at the Open. Garrett stormed back to win the second match, and then sealed the deal with a 12-0 first-period blitz to win the inaugural 61kg Final X.
Injuries unfortunately kept Garrett from competing in the world championships in Budapest, but Colon was ready to step up and rep the red, white, and blue. Colon won a bronze medal, ensuring that he would be back at Final X in 2019, assuming he accepts the bid at 61.
U.S. Open Previews: 57kg | 65kg
Registered Contenders
You can find out who's registered for the U.S. Open on FloArena. Colon, as mentioned, can receive a bye to Final X thanks to his world gold medal, and is expected to do so. Garrett has already qualified for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, as has 133-pound NCAA Champion Nick Suriano. A full list of Team Trial qualifiers can be found here.
It's unlikely we'll see Colon, Garrett, or Suriano in Vegas. And with Gross not registered and recovering from surgery, it's doubtful he will participate.
But national team member Nico Megaludis is registered. Megaludis finished third on the USA ladder, and will be one of the favorites to win the Open.
Finishing fourth on the ladder, based on the team trials challenge tournament, was Tyler Graff, who is also registered to compete in Vegas.
Mega placed above Graff at both the Open and the Team Trials, which should be enough for Nico to secure the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Watch Megaludis in the semis of the 2018 Team Trials below:
But Graff has the skills to challenge Megaludis, specifically his gut wrench, and should not be counted out yet. He's got plenty of international experience as well, having won freestyle tournaments in Brazil, Canada, the USA, Cuba, France, and Spain.
Megaludis has also been ramping up his overseas participation lately. Nico joined team USA for the 2019 Freestyle World Cup, winning three of four matches and helping the Americans finish in third place.
One of the USA's big guns from the 2018 team trials at 57kg who will be bumping up and providing extra firepower to 61 is Tony Ramos. An NCAA champ and two-time world team member, Tony won the 2018 U.S. Open at 57 kg over Daton Fix. Fix would get revenge in the Team Trials Challenge Tournament final, but Ramos would still make the national team by being third on the ladder. Ramos is also no stranger to wrestling up at 61kg, having wrestled his last four international tournaments at the weight.
Another contender that's registered and should be in the mix to win is Cody Brewer. Brewer won the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial, beating Samat Nadyrbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan in the finals. Brewer also out-placed Shelton Mack and Ben Whitford at the Schultz, both of whom are also registered to compete in Vegas.
Watch Brewer win the Schultz in the video below:
Additional Notes
Cory Clark has thrown his hat in the ring. Clark is a four-time NCAA All-American and national champion who recently traveled to Siberia to compete in the prestigious Ivan Yarygin. Clark will be part of a typically strong Hawkeye Wrestling Club contingent of competitors that includes Thomas Gilman at 57 and Brandon Sorenson at 70.
Johnni DiJulius has not been as active as other senior circuit but knows how to put up points in a hurry with his tricep control barrel rolls. He's also not a bad Twitter follow, especially if you enjoy sky diving content.
Earl Hall was a two-time All-American at Iowa State who is continuing his competitive career in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the Cavalier Wrestling Club. The previously mentioned Shelton Mack, a three-time NCAA qualifier at Pittsburgh, is Hall's teammate at the CWC and will also wrestle in Vegas.
Alan Waters is one of the best lightweights in recent memory to not win an NCAA championship, finishing fourth and third at 125-pounds in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Waters is still training in Columbia, Missouri, where he went to college and should be in the mix this year, having finished sixth at the 2018 Open.
Finally, we would be remiss if we did not at least mention Linear Vining, wrestling out of the storied Harvey Twisters wrestling club in Chicago, for being a favorite to win the title of best name at the Open.
Spey's Spredictions
1) Nico Megaludis, TMWC
2) Tony Ramos, SKWC
3) Tyler Graff, TMWC/SE-RTC
4) Cody Brewer, TMWC/Chicago-RTC
This one very well could come back to haunt me, as Ramos has a habit of coming through in the clutch and making FloWrestling writers that pick against him look stupid. Ramos will have no problem bringing enough horsepower to Vegas to win it all, its can he score enough points on Megaludis and his gumby-defense? That's what we'll get to soon find out!