Jordan Burroughs gains control in his finals win over David Taylor. Larry Slater photo.

LAS VEGAS – Jordan Burroughs came out firing, but David Taylor made the Olympic champion work for his 52nd straight victory.

Burroughs stormed out quickly to win the first period 3-1 before holding off Taylor 1-0 in the second period to capture a U.S. Open freestyle title on Saturday night at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Burroughs came out aggressively to improve to 52-0 on the Senior level in winning his second U.S. Open title. Burroughs won an Olympic gold medal in 2012 and a World title in 2011.

Taylor, the 2012 Hodge Trophy winner, battled gamely but was unable to take down the powerful Burroughs.

“Obviously, I don’t want to lose,” Burroughs said. “You can learn just as much from a win as a loss. For me, it’s all about perfecting my technique, working at as fast a pace as I can and continually trying to improve.”

The top seven finishers in each weight class qualify for June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Stillwater, Okla.

2011 World Team member Reece Humphrey swept Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott 1-0, 1-0 in the freestyle finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. Humphrey finished in the leg clinch in the first period before scoring a takedown on a leg attack late in the second period.

Humphrey executed a backflip after winning his second U.S. Open title in the last three years. He was named Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle.

World silver medalist Helen Maroulis shot in on an early takedown to quickly gain control en route to downing Katherine Fulp-Allen 3-0, 5-0 in the women’s freestyle finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Maroulis won her fourth U.S. Open title.

“I’m a lot more confident with the experience I’ve gained the last couple of years,” Maroulis said. “But I was struggling today. I had to change my style because I couldn’t get in my regular stance. I don’t know what happened to my back yesterday, but I couldn’t even walk.”

Olympian Ellis Coleman scored on two gut wrenches in the second period and one in the third to rally past Kendrick Sanders 0-3, 4-0, 2-1 in the Greco-Roman finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Coleman won his first U.S. Open crown.

Coleman was named Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman.

“I was pretty confident I could turn him and I did,” Coleman said. “I feel a lot stronger being back at 66. I feel blessed to be back on the mat after being injured.”

Past World Team member Joe Betterman earned his fourth U.S. Open title by sweeping Marco Lara 2-1, 1-0 in the Greco-Roman finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. Betterman is looking to make his third World Team this season.

Past World Team member Obe Blanc stormed out quickly en route to sweeping Frank Perrelli 6-0, 4-0 in the freestyle finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Blanc captured his second U.S. Open title.

Past World Team member J.D. Bergman swept Chris Pendleton 1-0, 2-1 to win the freestyle title at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Bergman won his second U.S. Open title.

Brittney Roberts earned her first U.S. Open title by downing Jackie Cataline 5-1, 1-0 in the women’s freestyle finals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

David Arendt recorded a third-period pin over Erik Nye to win his first U.S. Open title in Greco-Roman at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The New York AC won the team titles in men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle title while the U.S. Army won the Greco-Roman team title. The New York AC won the overall team title which combined point totals in all three styles.

Alyssa Lampe was named Outstanding Wrestler in women’s freestyle. She won her title on Friday.

The three-day U.S. Open concluded on Saturday.

FINALS RESULTS

Freestyle

55 kg/121 lbs.
Obe Blanc (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Frank Perrelli (New York AC), 6-0, 4-0

60 kg/132 lbs.
Reece Humphrey (New York AC) dec. Coleman Scott (Titan Mercury WC), 1-0, 1-0

74 kg/163 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) dec. David Taylor (Nittany Lion WC), 3-1, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
J.D. Bergman (New York AC) dec. Chris Pendleton (Titan Mercury WC), 1-0, 2-1

Women’s freestyle

55 kg/121 lbs.
Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids) dec. Katherine Fulp-Allen (New York AC), 3-0, 5-0

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Brittney Roberts (OKCU Gator Women’s RTC) dec. Jackie Cataline (Sunnyvale Scorpion WC), 5-1, 1-0

Greco-Roman

60 kg/132 lbs.
Joe Betterman (U.S. Army) dec. Marco Lara (U.S. Army), 2-1, 1-0

66 kg/145 lbs.
Ellis Coleman (New York AC) dec. Kendrick Sanders (New York AC), 0-3, 4-0, 2-1

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
David Arendt (U.S. Marines) pinned Erik Nye (U.S. Army), 1-0, 0-1, 0:52