Les Sigman has put together an impressive season and is now the man to beat at the World Team Trials.

Sigman won titles earlier this season at the Hargobind and Dave Schultz events before knocking off returning World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev in the finals of the U.S. Open.

Sigman now advances to the best-of-3 final-round series for the World Team Trials on June 11-12 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Sigman will face the winner of the Challenge Tournament for the World Team spot.

Sigman will be wrestling in front of a home crowd as he won four NCAA Division II titles just across the river from Council Bluffs for Nebraska-Omaha.

Dlagnev will have his share of support as well. He won two NCAA Division II titles for Nebraska-Kearney. Dlagnev has had another strong season before falling in three periods to long-time rival Sigman in the finals of the Open.

Past World Team member Tommy Rowlands returned to competition for the first time in nearly two years at the Open. Rowlands lost to Sigman in the semifinals before placing third. Look for Rowlands to be much stronger and in better condition at the Trials.

Olympian Steve Mocco did not compete at the Open, but obviously would be one of the top contenders at the Trials if he enters the event.

Past NCAA Division III champion Blake Gillis has wrestled well this season. Gillis placed fourth at the Open.

Two wrestlers Sigman trains with in State College – Aaron Anspach and Cameron Wade – placed fifth and sixth at the Open.

Zach Rey was seventh at the Open.

2009 Junior World champion Dom Bradley is another wrestler who could be a factor. Bradley placed third in last year’s Trials.

2010 U.S. Open Results – 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
1st – Les Sigman, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids), 3-4, 2-1, 2-0
3rd – Tommy Rowlands, Hilliard, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Blake Gillis, Iowa City, Iowa (Lehigh Valley AC), 3-0, 6-0
5th – Aaron Anspach, St. College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) inj. dft. Cameron Wade, Twinsburg, Ohio (Nittany Lion WC), 
7th – Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC) dec. David Zabriskie, Branchville, N.J. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0,2-0

2010 U.S. World Team Trials Qualifiers – 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
U.S. Open Champion – Les Sigman, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
U.S. Open, second place – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, third place – Tommy Rowlands, Hilliard, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Blake Gillis, Iowa City, Iowa (Lehigh Valley AC)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Aaron Anspach, St. College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Cameron Wade, Twinsburg, Ohio (Nittany Lion WC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion – Paul Snyder, Hempstead, N.Y. (Strong Island Wrestling)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Steve Mocco, Coralville,, Iowa (New York AC)
University Nationals Champion – Jarod Trice, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Central Michigan RTC)
University Nationals Runner-up – Kevin Lester, Nampa, Idaho (Columbia)
International Tour medalist –
10 Cerro Pelado International (CUB) champion – Steve Mocco, Coralville,, Iowa (New York AC)