Jordan Burroughs fires in for a takedown in his finals win over Nick Marable. Larry Slater photo.

CLEVELAND – The magical 2011 season continues for Jordan Burroughs.

An NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner for Nebraska, Burroughs continued his winning ways by capturing his first U.S. Open title on Saturday night before 1,300 fans at the Cleveland Public Auditorium.

Burroughs dropped the first period 3-0 before rebounding to sweep the final two periods from Nick Marable 1-0, 3-0 in the freestyle finals at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Burroughs drove in on a double-leg attack and exposed Marable’s back to the mat for three points in the final period.

“He’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever wrestled,” Burroughs said. “It was tough out there and I just tried to score when I could. I haven’t wrestled freestyle in a few years, so I’m just trying to get better. I’m excited to see what I can do at this level.”

The top seven finishers in each weight class advance to June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City.

Past two-time NCAA champion and No. 8 seed Teyon Ware dropped the first period before coming back to down two-time World medalist Cary Kolat in the freestyle finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. The unseeded Kolat, 37, returned to the mat for the first time since 2008.

Ware was named Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle.

2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev captured his first U.S. Open title after sweeping 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in the freestyle finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Two-time World medalist Harry Lester made a triumphant return to his home state in defeating Glenn Garrison to win the Greco-Roman title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Lester, from nearby Akron, won this event for the third time.

“I’m having fun wrestling again,” Lester said. “I took a break and I’m refreshed now. I’m feeling good again and I’m excited about wrestling. I have a lot of work to do, but I’m headed in the right direction.”

Past World champion Dremiel Byers won his ninth U.S. Open title after topping U.S. Army teammate Tim Taylor in the Greco-Roman finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Past World medalist Justin Ruiz downed New York AC teammate Robbie Smith to win his seventh U.S. Open title in Greco-Roman at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert won his third straight U.S. Open title by edging past NCAA champion Keith Gavin in the freestyle finals at 84 kg/185 lbs.

2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova edged two-time World champion Kristie Davis 1-0, 1-0 in the women’s finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Both periods went to the clinch and Pirozhkova scored both times after winning the ball draw. She scored the winning takedown with one second left in the second period.

Pirozhkova won this event for the third straight year. She had lost to Davis earlier this season in the New York AC event.

“I just kept wrestling until the last second,” Pirozhkova said. “Kristie’s a tough wrestler. She’s really solid and she doesn’t make stupid mistakes.”

Sam Hazewinkel came out strong early in downing Troy Nickerson 6-0, 4-3 to win the freestyle title at 55 kg/121 lbs. Hazewinkel won his first U.S. Open title in freestyle after winning Greco-Roman titles in this event in 2005 and 2007.

Past World University silver medalist Reece Humphrey dropped the first period 4-0, but rebounded to down 2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch 1-0, 2-0 in the final two periods to capture the freestyle title at 60 kg/132 lbs. Humphrey won his first U.S. Open crown.

2009 World Team member Jake Varner turned in a strong performance in sweeping Dan Erekson 7-0, 5-0 in the freestyle finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Varner, a two-time NCAA champion, also won this event in 2009.

World champion Clarissa Chun rolled to a finals win over past Junior World champion Nicole Woody in the women’s finals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Chun, fifth in the 2008 Olympics, won this event for the third time.

Chun was named Outstanding Wrestler in women’s freestyle.

Olympian Spenser Mango put on a show with an array of spectacular moves in a 6-0, 6-0 win over Paul Tellgren in the Greco-Roman finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Mango won this event for the third time.

Mango was named Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman.

Joe Betterman won his second U.S. Open title after outlasting Jeremiah Davis in three periods in the Greco-Roman finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. Davis has made the last two U.S. World Teams in this weight class.

Ben Provisor knocked off 2010 World Team member Jake Fisher 1-0, 2-0 to win the Greco-Roman title at 74 kg/163 lbs. Provisor won his first title in this event after placing seventh last year.

Helen Maroulis won this event for the second time after sweeping Kelsey Campbell in the women’s finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Campbell moved down a weight class after placing fifth in the World last year at 59 kg/130 lbs.

Jordan Holm won his first U.S. Open title by topping Cheney Haight in the Greco-Roman finals at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Adeline Gray, fifth in the World in 2009, looked impressive in sweeping Erin Clodgo in the women’s finals at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Gray won this event for the second time.

Past Junior World champion Whitney Conder beat two-time World Team member Jessica Medina in the women’s finals at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.

Olympian Ali Bernard recorded a second-period pin over past World champion Iris Smith to win the women’s title at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Bernard won this event for the third time.

Deanna Rix, fifth in the World in 2008 and 2009, won her first U.S. Open title at 59 kg/130 lbs. Rix beat Amanda Hendey 1-0, 3-0 in the finals.

The New York AC won the team title in freestyle. The U.S. Army won the Greco-Roman title. The Sunkist Kids captured the women’s team crown.

FREESTYLE FINALS

55 kg/121 lbs.
Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids) dec. Troy Nickerson (New York AC), 6-0, 4-3

60 kg/132 lbs.
Reece Humphrey (New York AC) dec. Shawn Bunch (Gator WC), 0-4, 1-0, 2-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Cary Kolat (North Carolina RTC), 0-1, 5-0, 1-1

74 kg/163 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids), 0-3, 1-0, 3-0

84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert (New York AC) dec. Keith Gavin (Lehigh Valley AC), 2-2, 3-2

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Dan Erekson (Bronco WC), 7-0, 5-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) dec. Steve Mocco (Lehigh Valley AC), 3-0, 1-0

GRECO-ROMAN FINALS

55 kg/121 lbs.
Spenser Mango (U.S. Army) dec. Paul Tellgren (Minnesota Storm), 6-0, 6-0

60 kg/132 lbs.
Joe Betterman (U.S. Army) dec. Jeremiah Davis (U.S. Army), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Harry Lester (U.S. Army) dec. Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army), 2-2, 1-0

74 kg/163 lbs.
Ben Provisor (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jake Fisher (New York AC), 1-0, 2-0

84 kg/185 lbs.
Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm) dec. Cheney Haight (New York AC), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Justin Ruiz (New York AC) dec. Robbie Smith (New York AC), 1-0, 0-1, 4-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army) dec. Tim Taylor (U.S. Army), 2-0, 1-0

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE FINALS

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Clarissa Chun (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nicole Woody (OCU/Gator WC), 6-0, 6-0

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Whitney Conder (Gator WC) dec. Jessica Medina (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 1-1

55 kg/121 lbs.
Helen Maroulis (New York AC) dec. Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids), 1-1, 2-0

59 kg/130 lbs.
Deanna Rix (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amanda Hendey (San Diego Hot Beaches), 1-0, 3-0

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Elena Pirozhkova (Gator WC) dec. Kristie Davis (OCU/Gator WC), 1-0, 1-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Adeline Gray (New York AC) dec. Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids), 3-0, 2-0

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Ali Bernard (Gator WC) pinned Iris Smith (U.S. Army), 2-1, 1:12