Making rapid progress this year is 2011 U.S. Open champion Jordan Holm, who captured his first national title in Cleveland. He returned to Greco-Roman last season and continues to improve, event by event. Holm beat the reigning World champion from Bulgaria in the Curby Cup and won a silver medal in Europe this winter. Holm does not have the match experience that many others in this weight have, but has shown both strength and skill at a high level

Holm defeated 2010 U.S. Open champion Cheney Haight in the national finals this year in a close battle. Haight, who was second in the 2008 Olympic Trials, won the Sunkist International and New York AC International this year. He has been a consistent performer on the international scene. Haight trained with Holm prior to the U.S. Open, so he is familiar with his abilities.

Two recent World Team members should be in the field, Jake Clark and Chas Betts. Neither were at the U.S. Open. Clark was on the 2006 and 2010 U.S. World Teams, and Betts made the 2009 U.S. World Team. Betts has had a strong season, winning three medals overseas this winter. Clark has not competed this season, so there will be huge questions about his preparation coming in.

Another past World Team member, Keith Sieracki, might also join the field, after entering the Northern Plains Regional this year after a few years of retirement. Even if he is rusty, Sieracki has so much experience, skill and confidence that he could be a serious threat.

Placing third at the U.S. Open was Peter Hicks, who has shown progress in the last few seasons since joining the U.S. Army program. The rest of the qualifiers coming from the U.S. Open are young and improving. Mark Stenberg was fourth, Courtney Meyers fifth, Cameron Duckworth sixth and Ethan Dondlinger seventh. Stenberg, a product of the USOEC program, also won the University Nationals. It may be a reach to expect these national placewinners to challenge for the World Team, but each of them are looking to challenge for a spot on the national team.

Travis Rutt, a star collegian at Wisconsin, qualified as a University Nationals runner-up. Qualifying at University Nationals at 79 kg, a non-Olympic weight, were Chad Hemerson and Josh Castellano. Winning Regional titles to qualify were military wrestlers Don Simmons and Timothy Bleau. 

This weight class could be one of the most interesting in Oklahoma City. Holm will be dealing with the new pressure of being the national champion. There is enough experience among the top challengers in the division that a number of different finals pairings are possible. It would not be surprising to see the final series go the full three matches at this division.

2011 U.S. Open results at 84 kg/185 lbs. in Greco-Roman
1st - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Cheney Haight, Boise Idaho (New York Athletic Club), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
3rd - Peter Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army) dec. Mark Stenberg, Lockport, Ill. (USOEC), 7-0, 1-0
5th - Courtney Myers, Coloma, Mich. (U.S. Marine Corps) dec. Cameron Duckworth, Portland, Ore. (OTC), 0-1,3-1,5-0
7th - Ethan Dondlinger, Slinger, Wis. (USOEC) dec. Jeremy Pederson, Becker, Minn. (U.S. Marine Corps), 1-0, 3-0

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 84 kg/185 pounds in Greco-Roman
U.S. Open Champion – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Open, second place – Cheney Haight, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)
U.S. Open, third place – Peter Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Mark Stenberg, Lockport, Ill. (USOEC)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Courtney Myers, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Cameron Duckworth, Portland, Ore. (OTC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Ethan Dondlinger, Slinger, Wis. (USOEC)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion – Don Simmons, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Timothy Bleau, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Past U.S. World Team member – Jake Clark, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Past U.S. World Team member – Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Past U.S. World Team member – Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo.(Minnesota Storm)
University Nationals Runner-up 84 kg– Travis Rutt, New Prague, Minn. (Badger WC)
University Nationals Champion 79 kg– Chad Hemerson, Monterey, Calif. (New York AC)
University Nationals Runner-up 79 kg– Josh Castellano, Wood Dale, Ill. (USOEC)