Oklahoma State University Athletics
Perry Finishes Second at US Open, Three Others Qualify for Olympic Team Trials
December 19, 2015 | Cowboy Wrestling
LAS VEGAS – Former Oklahoma State wrestling standout and two-time NCAA champion Chris Perry qualified for the Olympic Team Trials, advancing to the US Open finals at 74 kilograms, where he was edged out by NCAA champion Andrew Howe, 3-2.
Perry had a solid showing, picking up three quality wins to earn himself a spot in the finals, where he renewed a rivalry with former OU wrestler Howe. Perry struck first with a takedown in the first period, but takedown attempts by Howe saw him earn a push-out point and a takedown to lead the former Cowboy, 3-2. Perry responded with several attacks but was not successful, falling by one point.
Perry is joined by three other former Cowboys, who produced top-seven finishes and qualified for the Olympic Team Trials in April.
2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Coleman Scott, who previously wrestled at 60 kg and 66 kg on the freestyle circuit, made the cut to 57 kg (125 pounds) for the first time since 2008. The Olympian opened his tournament with two technical falls before getting knocked off by eventual US Open champion Dan Dennis, 3-2. Scott fought his way back, taking out 2015 NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello, 10-0, to advance to the third-place bout. There, he met up with Erkin Tadzhimetov, who he defeated 7-3 to finish third at his first freestyle competition at 57 kilograms.
Both Pokes who competed at 86 kilos qualified for the trials in April in Clayton Foster and Tyler Caldwell.
Cowboy All-American Foster made it to the quarterfinals before getting edged, 4-3, by Richard Perry. On the backside of the bracket, Foster earned quality wins over Zahid Valencia and Ed Ruth, respectively. Foster dropped a 5-0 match to Jon Reader and was sent to the fifth-place bout, where he suffered another loss to Perry, 5-0, to take sixth.
Caldwell moved up to 86 kilograms, where he saw some success. The two-time NCAA finalist fell in the round of 16, but battled back, winning three matches in the consolation to finish seventh.
Four other former Cowboys competed at the event.
Jon Morrison, an All-American for OSU, and Obe Blanc each went 2-2 at the tournament, competing at 57 kilos. OSU club coach and former Cornell All-American Frank Perrelli also competed at 57 kg.
Representing the Cowboys at 65 kilos was 2014 NCAA finalist Josh Kindig. He drew a tough opening bout, taking on former World team member Jimmy Kennedy. Kindig fell to Kennedy by a tech fall and later suffered a 2-2 loss on criteria to Brandon Wright.
At 97 kg, Cayle Byers, who finished third at NCAAs in 2012, was the No. 2 seed. Byers won his first match over Braden Atwood, 7-4, but lost a 6-1 match to 2015 NCAA champ Kyven Gadson. In the consolation bracket, Byers was stuck by Dustin Kilgore in 56 seconds.
Oklahoma State Results
57 kg: Coleman Scott (3rd), Jon Morrison (dnp), Obe Blanc (dnp), Frank Perrelli (dnp)
65 kg: Josh Kindig (dnp)
74 kg: Chris Perry (2nd)
86 kg: Clayton Foster (6th), Tyler Caldwell (7th)
97 kg: Cayle Byers (dnp)
Perry had a solid showing, picking up three quality wins to earn himself a spot in the finals, where he renewed a rivalry with former OU wrestler Howe. Perry struck first with a takedown in the first period, but takedown attempts by Howe saw him earn a push-out point and a takedown to lead the former Cowboy, 3-2. Perry responded with several attacks but was not successful, falling by one point.
Perry is joined by three other former Cowboys, who produced top-seven finishes and qualified for the Olympic Team Trials in April.
2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Coleman Scott, who previously wrestled at 60 kg and 66 kg on the freestyle circuit, made the cut to 57 kg (125 pounds) for the first time since 2008. The Olympian opened his tournament with two technical falls before getting knocked off by eventual US Open champion Dan Dennis, 3-2. Scott fought his way back, taking out 2015 NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello, 10-0, to advance to the third-place bout. There, he met up with Erkin Tadzhimetov, who he defeated 7-3 to finish third at his first freestyle competition at 57 kilograms.
Both Pokes who competed at 86 kilos qualified for the trials in April in Clayton Foster and Tyler Caldwell.
Cowboy All-American Foster made it to the quarterfinals before getting edged, 4-3, by Richard Perry. On the backside of the bracket, Foster earned quality wins over Zahid Valencia and Ed Ruth, respectively. Foster dropped a 5-0 match to Jon Reader and was sent to the fifth-place bout, where he suffered another loss to Perry, 5-0, to take sixth.
Caldwell moved up to 86 kilograms, where he saw some success. The two-time NCAA finalist fell in the round of 16, but battled back, winning three matches in the consolation to finish seventh.
Four other former Cowboys competed at the event.
Jon Morrison, an All-American for OSU, and Obe Blanc each went 2-2 at the tournament, competing at 57 kilos. OSU club coach and former Cornell All-American Frank Perrelli also competed at 57 kg.
Representing the Cowboys at 65 kilos was 2014 NCAA finalist Josh Kindig. He drew a tough opening bout, taking on former World team member Jimmy Kennedy. Kindig fell to Kennedy by a tech fall and later suffered a 2-2 loss on criteria to Brandon Wright.
At 97 kg, Cayle Byers, who finished third at NCAAs in 2012, was the No. 2 seed. Byers won his first match over Braden Atwood, 7-4, but lost a 6-1 match to 2015 NCAA champ Kyven Gadson. In the consolation bracket, Byers was stuck by Dustin Kilgore in 56 seconds.
Oklahoma State Results
57 kg: Coleman Scott (3rd), Jon Morrison (dnp), Obe Blanc (dnp), Frank Perrelli (dnp)
65 kg: Josh Kindig (dnp)
74 kg: Chris Perry (2nd)
86 kg: Clayton Foster (6th), Tyler Caldwell (7th)
97 kg: Cayle Byers (dnp)
Players Mentioned
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