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OKLAHOMA CITY - Jake Herbert (84kg) and Andrew Howe (74kg) both finished as runner-ups at the 2011 US World Team Trials held in Oklahoma City, OK, on June 10 & 11. Joining them on the US National Freestyle Team was Josh Churella (66kg), who finished in third place.
The winner of the 2011 US Open at each weight class was given a bye until the finals at the 2011 World Team Trials. The US Open champion was then pitted against the winner of the World Team Trials challenge tournament in a best-of-three series of matches.
Howe, who was an Overtime School of Wrestling student since before high school, wrestled the first day and won the challenge tournament by defeating Matt Moley, Colt Sponseller, Kirk White, and Nick Marable. He was then defeated by Jordan Burroughs (74kg) by a score of 1-0, 1-2, 3-2 in the first match and by a score of 3-1, 1-0 in the second match that evening.
2009 World Silver Medalist Jake Herbert won his third consecutive US Open this spring so he received a bye to the finals. In the most-highly anticipated match-up of the evening, Jake faced off against 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Cael Sanderson (84kg). Sanderson proved to be the superior wrestler, defeating Herbert in two matches, by scores of 4-1, 2-0 and 5-2, 2-0. It was just Sanderson's second competition back after a lay-off of over six years.
Josh Churella defeated Justin Pearch and Chase Pami to reach the finals of the challenge tournament, where he faced Brent Metcalf (66kg). In a close, low-scoring match, Metcalf prevailed 1-0, 1-1, 1-0. Metcalf split the first two matches with US Open champion Teyon Ware, but then suffered what looked like a rib injury in the second match, and Metcalf ended up dropping the decisive third match to give Ware a spot on the 2011 US World Team. Churella went on to defeat Phil Simpson (66kg) 2-0, 1-2, 1-0 in the late session to win a true third place and secure a spot on the US National Team.
Kyle Ruschell (66kg), who has trained at Overtime pretty regularly this
spring, finished fifth place overall at the 2011 World Team Trials. Also
competing at the Trials in Greco-Roman wrestling were former Overtime
School of Wrestling students Max Nowry (55kg) and Pete Kowalczuk, who took
fifth place and fourth place overall, respectively, while in freestyle
wrestling former Overtime students Brandon Precin (55kg), Angel Escobedo
(55kg), and Nick Dardanes (66kg) wrestled at the tournament. Longtime
Overtime associate Andy Hrovat (84kg), who has been doing most of his
training in Ossetia this year, competed as well.
Congratulations also to Cheney Haight (84kg), who trained with Overtime for a week this spring, on making the 2011 Greco-Roman World Team!
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