The king of American Greco-Roman in recent years has been talented Spenser Mango of the U.S. Army, who made his first Senior team at the 2008 Olympic Trials and has held the No. 1 spot ever since. A two-time Olympian and three-time World Team member, Mango seeks his first World-level medal. He boasts five U.S. Open titles, including a victory in Las Vegas earlier this year. When competing well, Mango can often hit big throws for big points.

Pushing Mango the hardest lately has been 2012 University World champion Max Nowry, who placed second behind Mango at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and also at the 2013 U.S. Open. He was also University Nationals champion, earning a chance for another World title at that level. A successful age-group athlete who made numerous U.S. teams, Nowry is coming into his own as a Senior. He was once considered undersized at 55 kg, but his size has not been a factor as he continues to improve.

Placing third at the U.S. Open is Mango’s Army teammate Nate Engel, who had put together a strong season to date. Engel has beaten many of the other U.S. athletes at this weight, and won a gold at the Haparanda Cup in Sweden in December. Placing fourth in Vegas was Nikko Triggas, who was an All-American at Ohio State, but has graduated and is now going Greco full-time. Triggas won the University Nationals at 60 kg, but is expected to be down for the World Team Trials. 

Two other veteran athletes at 55 kg are expected to make an impact here. Dmitry Ryabchinsky, who has some big wins such as the New York AC International, finished fifth at the U.S. Open. Another talent is Paul Tellgren, who was third at the 2012 Olympic Trials and has a considerable amount of international experience. 

This weight will see some new young stars hoping to climb the ladder of success. Included are U.S. Open placewinners Christian Nielsen and Josh Sandoval, along with University Nationals runner-up Trey Andrews and Northern Plains Regional champion Arthur Carmona. There are only two wildcards for all seven Greco-Roman weight classes, but there are some young talents in this division who might be considered if they put in an application.

The quest for the field is to beat Spenser Mango, who has owned this division for five straight years. Mango’s goal is to make another U.S. World Team and put together a medal-winning effort in Budapest in September. Stillwater will be another opportunity to see if the field is catching up to Mango, or if he is creating more space from his challengers.

2013 U.S. Open Greco-Roman results at 55 kg

1st – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) dec. Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC), 3-0, 1-0
3rd – Nate Engel, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) dec. Nikko Triggas, Moraga, Calif. (New York AC), 0-2, 2-0, 2-0
5th – Dmitry Ryabchinsky, Brooklyn, N.Y. (New York AC/USOEC) tech. fall Christian Nielsen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), 6-0, 6-0
7th – Josh Sandoval, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Scottsdale) dec. Jeffrey Wara, Hill AFB, Utah (Air Force WC), 9-1, 1-5, 7-5

2013 U.S. World Team Trials qualifiers at 55 kg in Greco-Roman

’12 Olympic Team Trials Champion – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
’12 Olympic Team Trials second place – Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill. (NYAC)
’12 Olympic Team Trials, true third place – Paul Tellgren, Anoka, Minn. (MN Storm/USOEC)
’13 GR U.S. Open Champion – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’13 GR U.S. Open second place – Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
’13 GR U.S. Open third place – Nate Engel, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’13 GR U.S. Open fourth place – Nikko Triggas, Moraga, Calif. (New York AC)
’13 GR U.S. Open fifth place – Dmitry Ryabchinsky, Brooklyn, N.Y. (New York AC/USOEC)
’13 GR U.S. Open sixth place – Christian Nielsen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’13 GR U.S. Open seventh place – Josh Sandoval, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Scottsdale)
’13 GR University National Champion – Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
’13 GR University National second place – Trey Andrews, Safford, Calif.  (Bear Cave)
’13 Northern Plains Regional Champion – Arthur Carmona, Brawley, Calif. (USOEC)
’13 Pan American Championships Champion – Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
’12 Haparanda Cup Champion – Nate Engel, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)