This weight class is very competitive and should have some interesting action in Oklahoma City. The 2011 U.S. Open champion is Joe Betterman, who was a 2007 World Team member and won the 2008 Olympic Trials (but could not wrestle in the Olympics because the weight was not qualified). Betterman was injured last year and returned for World Team Trials, but was not at his top form. This season, he won all three international events held on U.S. soil, the Sunkist Kids International, the New York AC International and the Dave Schultz Memorial. 

Placing second to Betterman at the U.S. Open was Jeremiah Davis, who competed at the last two World Championships. Their finals bout went three periods and was hotly contested. Davis was not as successful as Betterman on the international circuit this year, but has shown the ability to win against talented opponents. If he faces Betterman again in Oklahoma City, it should be an intense battle.

The true unknown at this division is 2006 World champion Joe Warren, who left wrestling for a number of seasons to pursue a successful Mixed Martial Arts career. Warren competed at the Kiki Cup and the Dave Schultz Memorial this winter, without winning a match, but displaying the fire and abilities that made him a top international star at his peak. Warren is training regularly in Greco-Roman wrestling, and still has the dream of making an Olympic team.

Marco Lara, who has been competitive at this division in recent seasons, placed a solid third at the U.S. Open. He has had some success overseas and continues to improve his performances. Chad Vandiver, a 2010 U.S. Open runner-up, placed fourth in the Open this year. Vandiver had a good effort in winning a silver at the 2011 Dave Schultz Memorial.

Taking fifth at the U.S. Open after dropping down from 66 kg was Matt Holt, who has improved each year since joining the program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Holt continues to expand his international experience, competing for the U.S. at the Pan American Championships this year. Another veteran contender is Donovan Depatto, who was seventh at the U.S. Open and also has been expanding his international resume.

The intriguing young talent is three-time U.S. Junior World Team member Jesse Thielke, who has completed his career as a Wisconsin high school phenom. Thielke qualified for Oklahoma City by capturing the Northern Plains Regionals. He just missed getting in at the U.S. Open, finishing eighth. Thielke will be training Greco-Roman for a year at the USOTC, before going on to the Univ. of Wisconsin after pursuing the Olympics next season.

Healthy again after missing substantial time is 2011 University Nationals champion Jimmy Chase, who is concentrating full-time on his Greco-Roman career. Chase had a strong 2008 Olympic Trials performance, giving Spenser Mango a scare at 55 kg, and competed in the Junior World Championships a number of times. The true second placewinner at the University Nationals was Eric Chandler, who has groomed his Greco-Roman skills under Jason Loukides at UNC-Greensboro.

This weight class will be a battle, with past World Team members Joe Betterman, Jeremiah Davis and Joe Warren locking horns. Others with title hopes, such as Marco Lara and Chad Vandiver, will make the challenge tournament very interesting. Young stars Jimmy Chase and Jesse Thielke will look to knock down some of the veterans as they continue their improvement.

2011 U.S. Open Greco-Roman results at 60 kg/132 lbs.
1st - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 0-1,1-0,1-0
3rd - Marco Lara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army) dec. Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5-0, 1-0
5th - Matt Holt, Colorado Springs, Colo. dec. Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 1-0, 1-0
7th - Donavan Depatto, Monticello, Minn. (U.S. Marine Corps) dec. Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0, 2-0

2011 U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifiers at 60 kg/132 pounds
U.S. Open Champion – Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, second place – Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, third place – Marco Lara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Matt Holt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Donavan Depatto, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Joe Warren, Denver, Colo. (New York AC)
University Nationals Champion – Jimmy Chase, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
University Nationals True Second – Eric Chandler, Miami, Fla. (YES Wrestling)