2012 Olympian Ben Provisor headlines a weight class with considerable amount of talent and depth, which should be very entertaining at the World Team Trials. Provisor comes in with great momentum after missing much of the season recovering from injury, but peaking with a victory at the U.S. Open, his second career national title. Although he is young at just 22 years old, Provisor has extensive Senior level experience and is continuing to improve.

Placing second behind Provisor at the Open was 2010 World Team member Jake Fisher, who also earned a spot on the 2011 World Team but could not compete due to injury. Fisher brings experience and talent to the table, and has changed his training situation, moving up to Minnesota where he trains with U.S. Open 84 kg champion Jordan Holm and others under Hall of Fame coach Dan Chandler. Fisher is fully capable of winning this division and getting another shot at the World level.

A rising star in the division is Jon Anderson of the Army, who was third at the U.S. Open and also at the 2012 Olympic Trials. Anderson wrestled at West Point in college then entered military service, but came into Greco a few seasons ago where he has rapidly blossomed. Aggressive and fearless, Anderson is always a tough match, and his technical skills are becoming better with experience.

What is unclear in this weight is 2012 Olympian and two-time World bronze medalist Justin Lester, who has gone back and forth between 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and 74 kg/163 lbs. in recent years. Lester won the 2012 U.S. Open at this weight, and also made the 2009 World Team at this weight. All of his World medals and his Olympic berth is at the lower weight. Lester entered the U.S. Open up at 74 kg, and lost a tough battle to former USOEC teammate Jake Fisher then forfeited down to sixth place. Everybody knows Lester can win this weight class, but will this be where he makes his run for another World Team berth?

Andy Bisek, a 2011 World Team member who has done very well at this weight for many years, did not compete at the U.S. Open, but would be a top contender if he is ready to wrestle at Trials.

Two of the young talents who have become solid Senior-level contenders are teammates at the USOEC, Tanner Andrews, who was fourth at the U.S. Open and Josh Castellano, who was fifth at the U.S. Open. Both have placed well at many major events, but have yet to crack into the top tier at the division. They will need to step up their game to get through a very tough Challenge Tournament.

Showing the ability to climb in the standings is 2013 University Nationals champion and two-time Junior World Team member Geordan Speiller, a young Greco-Roman specialist from Florida who is both strong and talented. Speiller has been testing the waters on the Senior level and been very competitive, and looks to be a force in Stillwater. One of his Florida Jet teammates, Santiago Martinez, was seventh at the U.S. Open, also earning a spot in the field.

The field could include a few young athletes who were finalists at the University Nationals, Kory DeBerry, Hayden Zillmer and Patrick Martinez. Others who qualified include Regional champions Sean Lees and  Joe Uccellini.

This weight class will have some great matches as early as the quarterfinals, with enough talent for some upsets to occur. Since nobody is sitting out until the finals series, top stars like Ben Provisor and Jake Fisher might have to pass some serious tests just to earn a spot in the finals. Expect a true dog fight at 74 kg/163 lbs.

2013 U.S. Open Greco-Roman  results  at 74 kg/163 lbs.
 
1st – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Jake Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 1-0, 2-0
3rd – Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) dec. Tanner Andrews, North Aurora, Colo. (New York AC/USOEC), 2-1, 7-0
5th - Josh Castellano, Wood Dale, Ill. (USOEC) won by injury default over Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
7th - Santiago Martinez, Orlando, Fla. (Florida Jets) inj. dft. over Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida Jets)

2013 U.S. World Team Trials qualifiers at 74 kg/163 pounds in Greco-Roman

’12 Olympic Team Trials Champion – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’12 Olympic Team Trials second place – Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army)
’12 Olympic Team Trials, true third place – Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army)
’13 GR U.S. Open Champion – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
’13 GR U.S. Open second place – Jake Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
’13 GR U.S. Open third place – Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’13 GR U.S. Open fourth place – Tanner Andrews, North Aurora, Colo. (New York AC/USOEC)
’13 GR U.S. Open fifth place – Josh Castellano, Wood Dale, Ill. (USOEC)
’13 GR U.S. Open sixth place – Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’13 GR U.S. Open seventh place – Santiago Martinez, Orlando, Fla. (Florida Jets)
’13 GR University National Champion – Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida Jets)
’13 GR University National second place – Kory DeBerry, Tucson, Ariz. (Tucson Badger WC)
’13 GR University National Champion at 79 kg – Hayden Zillmer, Crosby, Minn. (Bison WC)
’13 GR University National second place at 79 kg – Patrick Martinez, Hemet, Calif. (unattached)
’13 Northeast Regional Champion – Sean Lees, Stevens, Pa. (Steel Mat Club)
’13 Northeast Regional Champion at 79 kg – Joe Uccellini, Troy, N.Y. (New York)
’13 Northern Plains Regional Champion – Bo Beckman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
’12 Haparanda Cup Champion – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
’12 Haparanda Cup third place – Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army)
’12 Haavisto Cup third place – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
’13 Granma Cup third place – Jake Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Wildcard Selection – Corey Hope, Carol Stream, Ill.
Past Olympic Team member – 
Past World Team member –