Pennsylvania's Jordan Oliver Inches Closer to World Team Berth with U.S. Open Win
LAS VEGAS – Jordan Oliver is finally on top. The former Easton Area Red Rover claimed his first career U.S. Open Championship on Saturday with a win over 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro in the 65 kg finals. Winning the U.S. Open is a huge first step in the road to Paris at the 2017 World Championships. Oliver now automatically advances into the best-of-three finals for the World Team Trials where he will take on the wrestler who advances through the Challenge Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska come June 2017.
The road to the finals wasn’t an easy one for Oliver who needed to get through a pair of 2-time NCAA Champions along the way. Jordan took out former Michigan wrestler and 2-time NCAA National Champion Kellen Russell (6-0) before meeting young talent and fellow Keystone State grappler Zain Retherford (Benton Area). The 2-time National Champion from Penn State came out strong against Oliver earning a push-out point and passivity point when Oliver failed to score while on the shot clock. In the second period Retherford, holding a (2-0) advantage, was put on the shot clock but capitalized on a re-attack to secure a push-out point to go up three.
The tide turned with (1:30) left in the match when Retherford was hit with a caution for hands to the face violation which awarded Oliver with two points. Oliver went on the attack as time was winding down going for a low single, which Retherford stepped over, and the two ended up on their feet with Retherford controlling Oliver’s leg. Standing on one leg Oliver hit what some may call a ‘high-flyer’ where he lowered his level and rolled through Retherford with just twelve seconds left in the bout. Oliver was awarded two points for the unorthodox roll but it was quickly challenged by a visibly upset Penn State corner. After video review the referee confirmed the call for Oliver, which awarded him an additional one point for the failed challenge, to win (5-3) over Retherford.
In describing the win over Zain, Oliver stated “I literally had to pull that one out of my ass to win the match. It was a tough match but I wrestled through it. The rules are the rules.”
In the U.S. Open finals at 65 kg Jordan needed to get through yet another Nittany Lion grappler, this time 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro. The two are no strangers to each other meeting several times over the last several years. In 2015 at the Bill Farrell Memorial Oliver won on criteria (4-4) over Molinaro.
In the 65 kg finals Oliver was put on the shot clock in the first period and, unable to score, went down a point to Molinaro. As the shot clock ended the two were in a scramble near the edge and Molinaro capitalized on the position to earn a push-out point to go up (2-0).
The second period brought out the offense for Oliver as he was in on a sweep single when Molinaro tried to hold on to his hip. Oliver was awarded two points for a takedown and then, as Molinaro tried to hip through, Oliver rolled through exposing Frank’s back and earning two additional points. Molinaro scored a takedown with 0:30 seconds left in the match to make it (4-4) but Oliver would hold on to win on criteria (4-4).
Zain Retherford bounced back to take third at 65 kg with a hard fought (4-3) win over journeyman Jimmy Kennedy. Former Kiski Prep wrestler Evan Henderson (North Carolina) had an impressive showing at 65 kg to make it three Keystone State wrestlers finishing in the top eight. Henderson went (5-2) in the Tournament finishing in fifth.
One of the more impressive showings came from Josh Kindig (Blue Mountain) who competed at 61 kg. The former 2-time PIAA State Champion and NCAA National Runner-up for Oklahoma State is now training at the Tar Heel Wrestling Club. Kindig’s only defeat came to eventual Champion Kendric Maple as he bounced back to take third over Cody Brewer in a wild (16-16) match that he won on criteria.
After dropping a narrow (9-8) semifinals match to World Medalist James Green, Jason Nolf (Kittanning) placed fourth at 70 kg. In the third place bout Nolf fell to former NCAA Runner-up Chase Pami (12-6). Former 4-time undefeated Pennsylvania State Champion Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale) went (5-2) on the Tournament in a loaded 74 kg. After dropping his first match to former Oklahoma State teammate Alex Dieringer he bounced back to finish in seventh place his only other loss coming to fourth place finisher Anthony Valencia. The second Easton Red Rover to medal at the U.S. Open was Justin Grant (Bloomsburg) who took home sixth place at 125 kg.
Full results can be found on the FloArena, all medalists are below in addition to a recap of all the Pennsylvania wrestlers who competed in the Senior Men’s Freestyle Division.
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
1st – Anthony Ramos (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nahshon Garrett (Sunkist Kids), 5-3
3rd – Nathan Tomasello (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Frank Perrelli (Titan Mercury WC), 9-7
5th – Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm) forfeit Alan Waters (Titan Mercury WC)
7th – Jesse Delgado (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Britain Longmire (Nevada), 11-0
61 kg/134 lbs.
1st – Kendric Maple (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Brandon Wright (RNO/IPWA), 10-7
3rd – Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids) dec. Cody Brewer (Titan Mercury WC), 16-16
5th – Seth Gross (Jackrabbit WC) forfeit Joe Colon (Titan Mercury WC)
7th – Christopher Dardanes (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Daniel Deshazer (Minnesota Storm), 9-0
65 kg/143 lbs.
1st – Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) dec. Frank Molinaro (Nittany Lion WC), 4-4
3rd – Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Jimmy Kennedy (New York AC), 4-3
5th – Evan Henderson (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Kellen Russell (New York AC)
7th – Nicholas Dardanes (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Mario Mason (Lehigh Valley WC), 13-5
70 kg/154 lbs.
1st – James Green (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Nazar Kulchytskyy (Titan Mercury WC), 4-1
3rd – Chase Pami (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC), 12-6
5th – Alec Pantaleo (Michigan RTC) dec. Jason Chamberlain (Titan Mercury WC), 5-1
7th – Thomas Gantt (Titan Mercury WC) fall Jason Welch (Titan Mercury WC), 5:17
74 kg/163 lbs.
1st – Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kyle Dake (Titan Mercury WC), 2-2
3rd – Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury WC) fall Anthony Valencia (Arizona State), 1:01
5th – Chris Perry (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kevin LeValley (Buffalo Valley RTC), 3-3
7th – Chance Marsteller (Dark Knights) dec. Dan Vallimont (New York AC), 8-1
86 kg/189 lbs.
1st – David Taylor (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Richard Perry (New York AC), 10-0
3rd – Nicholas Heflin (Princeton WC) dec. Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion WC), 10-6
5th – Patrick Downey III (Unattached) dec. Kyle Crutchmer (Titan Mercury WC), 7-3
7th – Gabe Dean (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Tim Dudley (Nebraska WTC), 8-8
97 kg/213 lbs.
1st – Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids) dec. Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC), 3-0
3rd – Nathan Burak (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Nikko Reyes (Valley RTC), 11-2
5th – Ty Walz (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Kallen Kleinschmidt (New York AC)
7th – Matt Williams (Road Runner) dec. Donald McNeil (New England RTC), 10-5
125 kg/275 lbs.
1st – Nick Gwiazdowski (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Zachery Rey (Lehigh Valley WC), 3-2
3rd – Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids) dec. Bobby Telford (Titan Mercury WC), 2-1
5th – Anthony Nelson (Minnesota Storm) dec. Justin Grant (New York AC), 10-0
7th – Nathan Butler (Stanford-California RTC) dec. Benjamin Durbin (Titan Mercury WC), 5-1
57 kg/125 lbs.
Nico Megaludis (Franklin Regional/Penn State)
Nico Megaludis (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) PO David Terao (TMWC), 9-0
Nico Megaludis (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) SP David White (Curby 3 Style), 12-2 3:31
Nathan Tomasello (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) PP Nico Megaludis (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 5-4
Britain Longmire (Team Nevada) VF Nico Megaludis (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club)
David White (Athens Area/Binghamton)
Nico Megaludis (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) SP David White (Curby 3 Style), 12-2 3:31
David White (Curby 3 Style) ST Nicholas Vega (The Camp Pendleton Wrestling Team), 11-0 2:30
Paul Konrath (Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club) PP David White (Curby 3 Style), 4-2
61 kg/134.5 lbs.
Jordan Conaway (New Oxford/Penn State)
Cody Brewer (TMWC) ST Jordan Conaway (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:27
Jordan Conaway (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) PP Shelton Mack (TMWC), 9-4
Christopher Dardanes (TMWC) PP Jordan Conaway (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 8-6
Joshua Kindig (Blue Mountain/Oklahoma State) – Third Place
Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) ST Vincent Leone (Rhino Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:24
Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) ST Joel Webster (TMWC), 12-0 4:16
Kendric Maple (TMWC) SP Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 11-1 5:40
Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) ST Gary Harding (Cowboy Wrestling Club/TMWC), 10-0 1:36
Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) SP Daniel Deshazer (Minnesota Storm), 9-4 6:00
Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) VF Joe Colon (TMWC)
Joshua Kindig (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PP Cody Brewer (TMWC), 16-16
Shelton Mack (Meadville/Pittsburgh)
Seth Gross (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) PP Shelton Mack (TMWC), 16-8
Jordan Conaway (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) PP Shelton Mack (TMWC), 9-4
65 kg/143 lbs.
Evan Henderson (The Kiski School/North Carolina) – Fifth Place
Evan Henderson (TMWC) ST Devin Poppen (Southern Oregon University), 10-0 1:51
Evan Henderson (TMWC) PO Devin Reynolds (Unattached), 10-0
Jimmy Kennedy (NYAC) SP Evan Henderson (TMWC), 12-2 5:46
Evan Henderson (TMWC) SP Anthony Abidin (Valley RTC), 17-7 5:33
Evan Henderson (TMWC) VT Mario Mason (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club), 9-0 3:38
Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) ST Evan Henderson (TMWC), 10-0 1:19
Evan Henderson (TMWC) FOR Kellen Russell (NYAC)
Jordan Oliver (Easton Area/Oklahoma State) – Champion
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) SP Jaydin Eierman (Missouri Wrestling Foundation), 11-1 3:39
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) SP Deondre Wilson (Indiana Pride), 13-3 3:34
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PO Kellen Russell (NYAC), 6-0
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PP Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 5-3
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PP Frank Molinaro (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 4-4
Zain Retherford (Benton Area/Penn State) – Third Place
Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) ST Koby Reyes (Bronco Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:09
Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) ST Nicholas Dardanes (TMWC), 10-0 2:16
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PP Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 5-3
Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) ST Evan Henderson (TMWC), 10-0 1:19
Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) PP Jimmy Kennedy (NYAC), 4-3
70 kg/154 lbs.
Michael DePalma (Jeannette/Kent State)
Jason Chamberlain (TMWC) SP Mike DePalma (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club), 12-2 1:58
Mike DePalma (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) SP James Fleming (Division 1), 13-2 4:20
Isaac Dukes (U.S. Army) SP Mike DePalma (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club), 12-2 0:53
James Fleming Division (West Mifflin/Clarion)
Joshua Nolan (Legends of Gold) PP James Fleming (Division 1), 6-5
Mike DePalma (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) SP James Fleming (Division 1), 13-2 4:20
Jason Nolf (Kittanning/Penn State) – Fourth Place
Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) SP Markus Scheidel (TMWC), 11-1 3:43
Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) SP Isaac Dukes (U.S. Army), 15-4 3:51
Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) ST Thomas Gantt (TMWC), 10-0 5:54
James Green (TMWC) PP Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 9-8
Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) PO Jason Chamberlain (TMWC), 8-0
Steven Pami (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PP Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 12-6
74 kg/163 lbs.
Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale/Lock Haven) – Seventh Place
Alex Dieringer (TMWC) PP Chance Marsteller (DARK KNIGHTS), 5-3
Chance Marsteller (DARK KNIGHTS) ST Tyler Mclean (Big Cat Wrestling), 10-0 0:44
Chance Marsteller (DARK KNIGHTS) ST Jacen Petersen (Arizona State University), 10-0 1:16
Chance Marsteller (DARK KNIGHTS) SP Jacob Thalin (Road Runner), 13-2 1:18
Chance Marsteller (DARK KNIGHTS) SP Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army), 8-3 6:00
Anthony Valencia (Arizona State University) VT Chance Marsteller (DARK KNIGHTS), 2-0 0:54
Chance Marsteller (DARK KNIGHTS) PP Dan Vallimont (NYAC), 8-1
86 kg/189.5 lbs.
John M. Staudenmayer (Plymouth Whitemarsh/North Carolina)
John Staudenmayer (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) VT Luis Eduaedo-Cerrantes (Valdez), 4-0 0:35
John Staudenmayer (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PP Austin Trotman (TMWC), 4-4
Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) ST John Staudenmayer (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 10-0 3:33
Kyle Crutchmer (Cowboy Wrestling Club/TMWC) PO John Staudenmayer (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 6-0
Peter Renda (Brandywine Heights/N.C. State)
Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) ST Matthew Penyacsek (Road Runner), 10-0 0:44
Patrick Downey III (Unattached) PP Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club), 9-6
Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) VT Adam Fierro (Unattached), 4-0 0:28
Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) PP Victor Terrell (U.S. Army), 10-5
Timothy Dudley (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) VT Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club), 15-6 5:18
125 kg/175.5 lbs.
Joseph Goodhart (Hempfield/Drexel)
Nathan Butler (Stanford – California RTC) PO Joseph Goodhart (Drexel), 5-0
Braden Atwood (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PP Joseph Goodhart (Drexel), 10-6
Justin Grant (Easton Area/Bloomsburg) – Sixth Place
Justin Grant (NYAC) ST Trevor Rasmussen (Stanford – California RTC), 10-0 1:58
Justin Grant (NYAC) ST Ike Okoli (TMWC), 10-0 1:37
Anthony Nelson (Minnesota Storm) PP Justin Grant (NYAC), 5-3
Justin Grant (NYAC) ST Braden Atwood (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 10-0 3:36
Justin Grant (NYAC) PP Benjamin Durbin (TMWC), 7-3
Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) PO Justin Grant (NYAC), 5-0
Anthony Nelson (Minnesota Storm) ST Justin Grant (NYAC), 10-0 0:58