PA’s Keith Gavin Wins U.S. Open, Jordan Oliver Takes Second

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Photo From the Times Tribune

Photo From the Times Tribune

Former Lackawanna Trail and University of Pittsburgh wrestler Keith Gavin won his first U.S. Open Championship in Freestyle at 84kg/185 lbs. Gavin was second at the U.S. Open in 2009 and 2011, capturing the title with a (1-0), (1-1), (2-1) victory in the finals over former NCAA runner-up Clayton Foster.

Gavin is no stranger to the National Freestyle scene as he was a third place finisher at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and a 2011 World Team Trials runner-up. His victory at the U.S. Open gives Gavin a spot in June’s U.S. World Team Trials Finals.

Competing for District 2’s Lackawanna Trail in high school Gavin had a (130-21) career record that included a Third Place finish his senior year and a Seventh Place finish his junior season. Gavin went on to compete for Pittsburgh and head coach Rande Stottlemyer where he was a 2x NCAA All-American. In 2008 Keith Gavin reached the height of his wrestling career when he became just the second Panther to capture a NCAA Division I National Championship as a senior.

After a thrilling victory over U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf in the semi-finals, Oklahoma State’s 2x NCAA Champion Jordan Oliver (Easton Area) fell in the finals to Kellen Russell at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Russell, a Blair Academy and Michigan graduate, was a 2x NCAA Division I Champion for the Wolverines. Oliver upset Metcalf by score of (1-0), (0-1), (1-0). In the first period Oliver scored a point on a push-out that was initially awarded to Metcalf but was overturned after Oliver’s corner threw in the challenge brick. In the second period Metcalf scored on a flawless high crotch takedown to tie the match at 1 period a piece. In the third and decisive period, the two were scoreless and Oliver won the ball-draw and earned the victory finishing in the leg clinch.

Watch the match here.

Complete results can be found at Track Wrestling[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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