This article was originally posted by themat.com here. Wally Maziarz will be competing at the 66kg/145.5lbs weight class at the 2011 World Team Trials in the Greco-Roman division.
By Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
05/28/2011
Two-time World bronze medalist Justin Lester, previously known as Harry Lester, enters as a strong favorite at the 66 kg division. Lester won his World medals in 2006 and 2007, then was upset in the 2008 Olympic Trials by 18-year old phenom Jake Deitchler. In 2009, Lester made the World Team competing up at 74 kg, and then took the 2010 season off. He returned this year after joining the U.S. Army and dropping back down to 66 kg.
It has been a good season for Lester, who won the U.S. Open for the third time in his career. He also won the Dave Schultz Memorial at 66 kg, then went to Cuba and won the Granma Cup up at 74 kg.
Placing second to Lester in a close final at the U.S. Open was Glenn Garrison, a veteran who has won two U.S. Open titles and has won dozens of international medals but has yet to make a World Team. Garrison has been a consistent contender for a decade. A new challenger in this weight class is former Minnesota star C.P. Schlatter who decided to make a run in Greco-Roman this year. Schlatter was third at the U.S. Open and won the gold at the New York AC International.
Faruk Sahin, who competed at the last two World Championships at this weight class, was injured and has not yet competed this season. Should Sahin enter the field in Oklahoma City, he will be a top contender. A naturalized citizen, Sahin is excited about the prospect of competing in the 2011 World Championships, which is being hosted in his birth nation, Turkey.
This weight class has a ton of young talent, many who are still showing improvement as they gain experience. Placing fourth at the U.S. Open was Pat Smith, who came through the age-group Greco-Roman program with the Minnesota Storm and is talented in this style. Ben Sanchez, who has continued to excel with the USOEC program at Northern Michigan was fifth at the Open. Taking sixth at the U.S. Open was John Cox, a former star for the U.S. Naval Academy who now competes for the U.S Marines. Cox also won the Northeast Senior Regional this year. Tanner Anders, another USOEC product, placed seventh at the U.S. Open.
Others in the draw will include Northern Plains Regional champion RaVaughn Perkins, who is also a member of the 2011 Junior World Team. Qualifying from the University Nationals is 66 kg champion Bo Beckman and true second finisher Wally Maziarz. The top two University Nationals placers at 63 kg can also enter the event, champion Joe Colon and runner-up James Clark.
The return of Harry Lester brings additional talent and experience to this division. Because he has won a World medal in the last four years, Lester gets to sit out until the best-of-three finals series, which is a significant advantage. Faruk Sahin, who has held this spot the last two seasons, will be a strong threat if he is able to return. Glenn Garrison and C.P. Schlatter have had strong seasons and look to battle for a spot in the finals.
2011 U.S. Open results at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman
1st - Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army) dec. Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 2-2, 1-0
3rd - CP Schlatter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 3-0, 1-0
5th - Ben Sanchez, Marquette, Mich. (New York Athletic Club) inj. dft. John Cox, Hampstead, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
7th - Tanner Andrews, North Aurora, Ill. (USOEC) dec. Bo Beckman, Orem, Utah (New York Athletic Club), 2-0, 1-0
2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 66 kg/145.5 pounds in Greco-Roman
U.S. Open Champion – Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, second place – Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, third place – C.P. Schlatter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Ben Sanchez, Leominster, Mass. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – John Cox, Hampstead, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Tanner Andrews, North Aurora, Ill. (USOEC)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion – RaVaughn Perkins, Omaha, Neb. (Readyrp Mational)
Past U.S. World Team member – Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
University Nationals Champion 66 kg – Bo Beckman, Orem, Utah (New York AC)
University Nationals True Second 66 kg– Wally Maziarz, North Tonawanda, N.Y. (Buffalo WC)
University Nationals Champion 63 kg – Joe Colon, Clear Lake, Iowa (Clear Lake)
University Nationals True Second 63 kg– James Clark, Hartland, Wis. (Ringers)
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