The first session saw four returning U.S. World Team members fail to advance to tonight's best-of-three finals. Those wrestlers included Mike Zadick and J.D. Bergman in the freestyle competition; Faruk Sahin in the Greco-Roman competition; and Kelsey Campbell in the women's freestyle competition.
Scott's run came to an end in the finals of the Challenge Tournament when he fell to 2009 U.S. World Team member Shawn Bunch in two straight periods. Bunch will now battle Ohio RTC teammate and training partner Reece Humphrey in the best-of-three finals. Humphrey defeated Bunch in the U.S. Open finals, 0-4, 1-0, 2-0.
The 96-kilo weight class in men's freestyle was turned upside down when the top three seeds, including Bergman, lost before the semifinals.
The 26-year-old Bergman, who has battled injures all year and missed the U.S. Open, was knocked out of the championship bracket in the quarterfinals by 2011 NCAA champion Dustin Kilgore. Chad Hanke, a University Nationals champion, eventually emerged as the Challenge Tournament at 96 kilos, beating Kilgore in the finals.
Sahin was defeated C.P. Schlatter in the Challenge Tournament. Glenn Garrison then took out Schlatter in the Challenge Tournament finals, setting up an all-Army final at 66 kilos between two-time World medalist Justin Lester and Garrison.
Campbell, who placed fifth at last year's World Championships, was upset by Ashley Hudson in the Challenge Tournament semifinals at 55 kilos, 0-1, 1-1, 1-0. Hudson, a collegiate star at Oklahoma City University, then went on to beat Sharon Jacobson in the Challenge Tournament finals, 6-0, 1-4, 5-3.
Timothy Taylor lived up to his No. 1 seed in the Challenge Tournament at 120 kilos in Greco-Roman. Taylor beat Brandon Rupp in the Challenge Tournament finals. Taylor will now face U.S. Army teammate Dremiel Byers in the best-of-three finals. The two have met several times throughout their careers, including in this year's U.S. Open finals, a match won by Byers, 2-0, 1-0.
Jordan Holm will face Cheney Haight in the best-of-three finals at 84 kilos in Greco-Roman. The two met in the U.S. Open finals, with Holm coming out on top 1-0, 0-1, 1-0.
Iris Smith, a World champion in 2005, won the Challenge Tournament at 120 kilos in women's freestyle. Smith will now battle Ali Bernard in the best-of-three finals. Bernard pinned Smith in the U.S. Open finals.
Andrew Howe put together an impressive run to win the Challenge Tournament at 74 kilos in freestyle. Howe, an NCAA champion and three-time All-American at Wisconsin, defeated a quartet of NCAA All-Americans -- Matt Moley, Colt Sponseller, Kirk White, and Nick Marable -- en route to reaching the final. Howe will now face U.S. Open champion Jordan Burroughs in the best-of-three finals. Burroughs, a two-time NCAA champion at Nebraska, won 10-7 over Howe this past college season at the Midlands Championships.
Tonight's best-of-three finals matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CDT.
Friday's Best-of-Three Finals Matchups
Men's Freestyle:
60 kg: Reece Humphrey (Ohio RTC) vs. Shawn Bunch (Ohio RTC)
74 kg: Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) vs. Andrew Howe (New York AC)
96 kg: Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Chad Hanke (NWRTC)
Greco-Roman:
55 kg: Spenser Mango (U.S. Army) vs. Paul Tellgren (Minnesota Storm)
66 kg: Justin Lester (U.S. Army) vs. Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army)
84 kg: Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm) vs. Cheney Haight (New York AC)
120 kg: Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army) vs. Timothy Taylor (U.S. Army)
Women's Freestyle:
55 kg: Helen Maroulis (New York AC) vs. Ashley Hudson (Gator WC)
120 kg: Ali Bernard (Gator WC) vs. Iris Smith (U.S. Army)
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