Over the weekend, Missouri wrestling affiliate coach Kendric Maple took dwelling a U.S. Open title within the 65kg division and was named “Excellent Wrestler” on the U.S. Senior Freestyle Open in Las Vegas.
Earlier than coming to Missouri, Maple competed at Oklahoma the place he was a three-time All-American choice and took dwelling an NCAA title within the 2012-13 season.
Maple had not wrestled competitively for the reason that 2018 World Cup however determined to compete within the U.S. Open after shedding a guess to Missouri freshman and nationwide champion Keegan O’Toole final summer season. The guess entailed that if O’Toole had been to win the junior world title, Maple would make a comeback on the senior degree on the U.S. Open. As everyone knows, O’Toole backed up his finish of the discount.
Maple entered because the No. 6 seed and knocked off No. 3 Luke Pletcher and No. 2 Paul Lugo on his method to the finals. Maple then capped off this Hollywood story with a cradle-pin end in 54 seconds.
Missouri volunteer assistant coach Dom Bradley and MU wrestler Brock Mauller additionally competed on the open. Bradley completed second within the 125kg division, shedding to Hayden Zillmer within the finals and Mauller misplaced within the spherical of 32 to Michael Blockhus.