Cary Kolat won two matches Friday in the U.S. Open qualifying tournament. John Sachs photo.

CLEVELAND – Two-time World medalist Cary Kolat heads the list of freestyle wrestlers who have qualified for the second and final day of the U.S. Open.

Kolat won two matches Friday to earn a spot in Saturday’s tournament at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

The top eight seeds in each freestyle weight class advanced to Saturday’s tournament and were joined by eight additional wrestlers who qualified on Friday at the Cleveland Public Auditorium.

A qualifying tournament was held at 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs. and 84 kg/185 lbs. on Friday.

Friday’s qualifiers will be drawn into the brackets with the seeded wrestlers for Saturday's competition.

A qualifying tournament was not held at 55 kg/121 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 120 kg/264.5 lbs. since fewer than 20 wrestlers were entered in those divisions. All the wrestlers in those divisions will compete on Saturday.

Kolat, who turns 38 next month, was fourth in this event in 2007. He last wrestled at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where he went 2-2 and fell short of placing. He was second in the World in 1997 and third in 1998. He was a 2000 Olympian.

Todd Meneely, a three-time NCAA Division II champion for Nebraska-Omaha, also qualified for the second day at 66 kilos.  

Wrestling will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday in Cleveland. The finals are set for Saturday night.

FREESTYLE QUALIFIERS FOR DAY 2 OF U.S. OPEN

60 kg/132 lbs.
Jeremiah Biddle, Minisink, N.Y. (Husky Wrestling Club)
Conor Beebe, Boiling Springs, N.C. (Gardner-Webb University)
Andy Simmons, Williamston, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
Steve Mytych, Wilkes Barre, Pa. (Team Excel)
Conrad Rangell, Clovis, Calif. (Excessive WC)
Erik Spjut, Blacksburg, Va. (NRV Mat Club)
Jarrod Garnett, Bear, Del. (NRV Mat Club)
David Hoffman, Lewisburg, Pa. (Bison Wrestling Club)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Cary Kolat, Chapel Hill, N.C. (NCRTC)
Jonny Koepp, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army/OTC)
Todd Meneely (Maverick Wrestling Club)
Angel Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (OTC)
Bryan Pearsall, Lititz, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Mario Mason, Moorestown, N.J. (Rutgers)
Juan Archuletta, West Lafayette, Ind. (Unattached)
Mike Rowe, Huntingtown, Md. (Team Jaguar)

74 kg/163 lbs.
J.P. O’Connor, Oxford, N.Y. (New York AC/Team Excel)
Gregor Gillespie, Webster, N.Y. (ESWC)
Drew Schafer, Monroeville, Ohio (Burnett Trained Wrestling)
P.J. Gillespie, Long Beach, N.Y. (Blue & Gold Wrestling)
Michael Mitchell, Midwest City, Okla. (San Francisco Olympic Club)
Jake Salazar, Midway, Utah (Michigan)
Derek Peperas, Oklahoma City, Okla. (OCU Stars)
Bobby Nash, Rosville, Mich. (Michigan Wrestling Club)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Nick Heflin, Columbus, Ohio (Ohio RTC)
James Yonushonis, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
Terry Madden, Uniondale, N.Y. (New York AC/Team Exel)
Phillip Keddy. Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
Enock Francois, Williamsburg, Ky. (Unattached)
C.J. Magrum, Oak Harbor, Ohio (Ohio RTC)
Benjamin Wissel, Richmond, Ind. (Boiler Elite)
Kamarudeen Usman, Arlington, Texas (Grit Athletics/OTC)