This weekend was certainly a successful one for the Ohio State wrestling program as Logan Stieber and Kyle Snyder each earned a spot on the 2017 US World Team thanks to their efforts at the Senior World Team Trials. Both Stieber and Snyder were given a bye to the championship finals thanks to each winning a world medal in the past year.
Stieber was the first Buckeye to stake his claim to a seat at the table by defeating Challenge Tournament champion Kendric Maple 9-8 and 10-0 in their best-of-three series in the Championship Finals. Stieber scored a last-second takedown to win the first match, but left no doubt in the second match with a 10-0 victory to earn the World Team spot at 60 kg.
Congrats bro beans @_LogieBear_ Paris here we come!!! pic.twitter.com/9yKnY1GNen
— Hunter Stieber (@HunterStieber) June 11, 2017
Kyle Snyder wasted little time in avenging his last collegiate loss when he met Kyven Gadson in the Championship Finals. Snyder outscored Gadson 10-0 and 13-2 to earn his second straight World Team spot at 97 kg.
What can be said about Snyder that hasn't already been said? He's an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time NCAA champ, an Academic All-American, and he's not even old enough to rent a car in most states. I would not be surprised if he can bowl a 300 game after whipping up a batch of his world-famous chili or something ridiculous because that kid is a natural.
Congrats @Snyder_man45 pic.twitter.com/A2asraKtMc
— Bryan Hamper (@BryanHamper) June 11, 2017
Also competing at the World Team Trials were current Buckeye Nathan Tomasello and Ohio State alumnus Nick Heflin. Tomasello looked great in the Challenge Tournament in knocking off Frank Perelli and Alan Waters before losing a last-second decision to Thomas Gilman. In the second place match, Tomasello defeated the hard-nosed Tyler Graff 8-2 to earn a spot on the World Team as an alternate at 57 kg. After defeating Tomasello, Gilman upset fellow Iowa Hawkeye black hat/Bond villain Anthony Ramos in two matches to earn a spot on the World Team.
Heflin recently resurfaced on the wrestling mats at the US Open and opened some eyes with his electric performance. His showing at the World Team Trials demonstrated that he wasn't just lucky at the US Open as he took second place in a ridiculous 86 kg bracket. Heflin opened the tournament with a pin over Austin Trotman before shutting out Richard Perry 8-0. Heflin pushed David Taylor to the brink in the first place bout, but Taylor prevailed 13-9.
DEVELOPING:It appears that Kyle Snyder has erected a cell over the mat and intends to toss Gadson off of it and into Spanish announce table
— Coach Mike (@coachmjr) June 11, 2017
Snyder and Stieber will represent the United States at the UWW World Championships in Paris in August, while current Buckeye Kollin Moore and verbal commit Malik Heinselman will represent the US on the Junior World Team at the Junior World Championships in Finland.
