Metcalf ready to peak in return to Worlds

MADISON, Wis. - If you ask Brent Metcalf, his best is yet to come.

Even he admits to being on the doorstep with some important opportunities on the horizon, preparing him to peak at the World Championships.

'I feel good,” said Metcalf, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time national finalist for the University of Iowa. 'My offense is really stroking right now. My finishes are right there. Just little things like handfighting, positioning and turns on top.”

Metcalf was impressive, clinching his spot at the World Championships and winning his third straight title at the USA Wrestling World Team Trials last night at the Alliant Energy Center. He swept Jordan Oliver, 9-4 and 7-0, for the 143-pound spot.

The Hawkeye Wrestling Club member made his third straight World team and fourth overall. He has yet to medal at the World Championships. Talking about goals is not as important as achieving them at this point.

'You guys know what I want (and) you know what I expect,” said Metcalf, ranked fifth by United World Wrestling, the sport's governing body. 'I dropped a pretty big opportunity last year where I was in great position to do good things and it didn't work out. Correct the wrong.”

Wins have come against some of the world's top wrestlers. His belief he will be a World champion might be the key factor at the tournament Sept. 7-12 in Las Vegas.

'It's one thing to be one of the best, but to prove that you are the best is another thing,” HWC Coach and Iowa associate head coach Terry Brands said. 'You really have to understand that as an intense competitor and I think he does.”

Metcalf controlled the best-of-3 series against Oliver. He was stingy, denying Oliver while placed on a shot clock twice for a 2-0 lead.

When the roles were reversed, Metcalf capitalized. As time ticked down during his 30-second shot clock, Metcalf shot a single-leg attack and finished for a takedown. He added a turn for exposure and, after a failed challenge by Oliver, led 7-0.

Oliver added four late, but Metcalf closed the dual with a takedown at the end.

Metcalf dominated the second bout, scoring two takedowns and a pushout to pull away. He more than doubled his winning margins against Oliver in a rematch from a year ago.

'You take that silly four-point throw I gave him at the end of the first match and you have a larger separation that what it's been in the past,” Metcalf said. ”You feel good about that.”

Oliver routinely tried to keep Metcalf from engaging in offensive attacks. Metcalf said he thought it was an attempt to slow the match down with a chance to hit one decisive move. He is unfazed the tactic that once frustrated him.

'It's made him a better wrestler because he has to work hard to get to them,” said Brands, who was named Terry McCann National Freestyle Coach of the Year. 'This is by far the best shape he's ever been in cardiovascular-wise.”

Former Iowa State NCAA champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner faced 19-year-old Kyle Snyder in the 213-pound championship series. Snyder beat Varner for the U.S. Open title earlier this season and matched the feat for the U.S. World Team spot with a 4-1 and 3-0 sweep over Varner.

The pair trained together at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Snyder has reversed the results of those old clashes.

'I learned a lot from him,” said Snyder, a 2013 Junior World Champion. 'We went a couple matches together. A couple years ago he was whooping me, but I made a couple adjustments, got a little more mature, a little stronger and got the win (Sunday).”

Snyder was never really threatened by Varner, using a first-period pushout and second-period takedown on the edge in the opener. Snyder was an NCAA runner-up in March as a freshman for Ohio State.

Varner rolled to the finals of the mini-tournament with two technical falls. He advanced to last night's finals with a 2-2 win on criteria over J.D. Bergman.

Former Iowa NCAA runner-up and HWC member Daniel Dennis made the national team, getting second to Reece Humphrey at 134 pounds.

Dennis opened the scoring in the first but the rest was all Humphrey, posting a 12-1 technical fall in the second period. He lost a 2-1 decision in the second bout.

Dennis conquered the challenge tournament field. He opened with a technical fall over former University of Northern Iowa All-American Joey Lazor. Big moves helped him down Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott, 8-6.

He continued with another come-from-behind win, scoring a takedown as time expired for a 6-4 win over top-seeded Kendric Maple to reach the championship series.

Two-time World Champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs maintained his spot atop the vaunted 163-pound class. Burroughs will have the chance to improve the bronze form last year's World Championships, sweeping Kyle Dake, 6-3 and 14-4, in the final series.

Burroughs said his father doesn't have a passport and has never seen him compete for a world title in person. With the U.S. hosting the championships, he was determined to make it happen.

'When I got the opportunity to have my dad be in the stands this year at the Las Vegas World Championships, I wasn't going to squander that chance,” Burroughs said during a post-match television interview. 'We'll be in Vegas, but not to gamble.”

Burroughs, ranked second in the world, referred to getting a shot at top-ranked Russian Denis Tsargush when he added, 'Tsargush, I want you, baby.”

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