Oklahoma State University Athletics
Former OSU Wrestler Jordan Oliver Claims Olympic Team Trial Championship
April 03, 2021 | Cowboy Wrestling
FORT WORTH, Texas – Former Oklahoma State wrestler Jordan Oliver claimed the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials championship at 65kg in the men's freestyle division Saturday night.
He defeated No. 5 seed Joey McKenna in two matches of the best-of-three series to determine the 65 kg champion. He forced a step out and got a takedown while on the 30 second shot clock to claim a 3-0 decision in the first bout. Oliver followed with a 5-2 decision in the second match to capture the title.
While many winners punched their ticket to Tokyo's Olympic Games on Saturday, Oliver just took a step closer to his ultimate goal. The 65kg men's freestyle weight has not qualified for the Olympics yet, which means Oliver will have to place in the top two at the World Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 6-9 in order to compete in Tokyo.
"It starts right now," Oliver said. "Going home and jumping right back on the horse. There's not too much time to celebrate. This is something that needs to be done and something that we've been focusing on. We understand the process of being an Olympian and achieving a gold medal. This is another step toward the ultimate goal. We need to go win this qualifier, qualify the weight and then go take on the world and bring home an Olympic gold medal."
The former OSU star advanced to the championship series after winning two matches on Friday, including a win by criteria over No. 2 seed, Yianni Diakomihalis. The Cowboy alumnus defeated reigning NCAA Champion Nick Lee of Penn State with an 8-3 decision in the quarterfinals to begin his tournament before the showdown in the semis. Down late in his match to Diakomihalis, Oliver rallied and forced a step out to tie the match at 4 at the end of regulation. With the last point being in favor of Oliver, he took the match by criteria sending him to the finals.
"A little bit of a fun fact, I was 0-4 at the Olympic Trials, in 2012 and 2016," Oliver said after his semifinal win. "From never winning a match to coming and punching my ticket to the finals feels great. It's just climbing the mountain with the vision of an Olympic gold medal and this is on the journey to do so."
Current Cowboy Daton Fix nearly joined Oliver in the championship series at 57 kg, but fell in the semifinals to Vitali Arujau, 6-5. Arujau took an early 6-0 lead, but Fix came storming back racking up five quick points and nearly getting another takedown before time expired in the match. Fix's corner challenged the takedown, trying to get the call overturned and claim the win, but the call was confirmed and Arujau took the bout.
National champion AJ Ferrari went 0-2 at the tournament, but battled hard in both of his matches in the 97 kg bracket. He dropped a 3-1 decision in his opening match against No. 3 seed Michael Macchiavello and then an 11-10 decision in an exciting, back-and-forth match with Ben Honis.
Quarterfinals
57 kg - No. 2 Daton Fix TF No. 7 Sean Russell, 11-0
65 kg - No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 6 Nick Lee, 8-3
97 kg – No. 3 Michael Macchiavello dec. No. 6 AJ Ferrari, 3-1
Semifinals
57 kg – No. 3 Vitali Arujau dec. No. 2 Daton Fix, 6-5
65 kg – No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 2 Yianni Diakomihalis, 4-4 criteria
Consolations
97 kg – No. 7 Ben Honis dec. No. 6 AJ Ferrari, 11-10
Finals
65 kg (1) – No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 5 Joey McKenna, 3-0
65 kg (2) – No. No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 5 Joey McKenna, 5-2
He defeated No. 5 seed Joey McKenna in two matches of the best-of-three series to determine the 65 kg champion. He forced a step out and got a takedown while on the 30 second shot clock to claim a 3-0 decision in the first bout. Oliver followed with a 5-2 decision in the second match to capture the title.
While many winners punched their ticket to Tokyo's Olympic Games on Saturday, Oliver just took a step closer to his ultimate goal. The 65kg men's freestyle weight has not qualified for the Olympics yet, which means Oliver will have to place in the top two at the World Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 6-9 in order to compete in Tokyo.
"It starts right now," Oliver said. "Going home and jumping right back on the horse. There's not too much time to celebrate. This is something that needs to be done and something that we've been focusing on. We understand the process of being an Olympian and achieving a gold medal. This is another step toward the ultimate goal. We need to go win this qualifier, qualify the weight and then go take on the world and bring home an Olympic gold medal."
The former OSU star advanced to the championship series after winning two matches on Friday, including a win by criteria over No. 2 seed, Yianni Diakomihalis. The Cowboy alumnus defeated reigning NCAA Champion Nick Lee of Penn State with an 8-3 decision in the quarterfinals to begin his tournament before the showdown in the semis. Down late in his match to Diakomihalis, Oliver rallied and forced a step out to tie the match at 4 at the end of regulation. With the last point being in favor of Oliver, he took the match by criteria sending him to the finals.
"A little bit of a fun fact, I was 0-4 at the Olympic Trials, in 2012 and 2016," Oliver said after his semifinal win. "From never winning a match to coming and punching my ticket to the finals feels great. It's just climbing the mountain with the vision of an Olympic gold medal and this is on the journey to do so."
Current Cowboy Daton Fix nearly joined Oliver in the championship series at 57 kg, but fell in the semifinals to Vitali Arujau, 6-5. Arujau took an early 6-0 lead, but Fix came storming back racking up five quick points and nearly getting another takedown before time expired in the match. Fix's corner challenged the takedown, trying to get the call overturned and claim the win, but the call was confirmed and Arujau took the bout.
National champion AJ Ferrari went 0-2 at the tournament, but battled hard in both of his matches in the 97 kg bracket. He dropped a 3-1 decision in his opening match against No. 3 seed Michael Macchiavello and then an 11-10 decision in an exciting, back-and-forth match with Ben Honis.
Quarterfinals
57 kg - No. 2 Daton Fix TF No. 7 Sean Russell, 11-0
65 kg - No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 6 Nick Lee, 8-3
97 kg – No. 3 Michael Macchiavello dec. No. 6 AJ Ferrari, 3-1
Semifinals
57 kg – No. 3 Vitali Arujau dec. No. 2 Daton Fix, 6-5
65 kg – No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 2 Yianni Diakomihalis, 4-4 criteria
Consolations
97 kg – No. 7 Ben Honis dec. No. 6 AJ Ferrari, 11-10
Finals
65 kg (1) – No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 5 Joey McKenna, 3-0
65 kg (2) – No. No. 3 Jordan Oliver dec. No. 5 Joey McKenna, 5-2
Players Mentioned
/ Cowboy Wrestling
/ Cowboy Wrestling
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