NEW YORK, April 29, 2014 – Team USA wrestlers Nahshon Garrett (57 kg/125.5 lbs.), Jimmy Kennedy (61 kg/134 lbs.), Jordan Oliver (65 kg/143 lbs.), Brent Metcalf (65 kg/143 lbs.), Logan Stieber (65 kg/143 lbs.), David Taylor (74 kg/163 lbs.), Ed Ruth (86 kg/189 lbs.), Kyle Snyder (97 kg/213 lbs.) and Randi Miller (women’s: 69 kg/152 lbs.) were added today to the roster of American stars who will take on top international standouts in the Team USA vs. The World All-Stars international wrestling competition in support of “Beat the Streets,” set for May 7 at New York’s Times Square.
The nine star wrestlers join Olympic and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (74 kg/163 lbs.) and World silver medalist Helen Maroulis (55 kg/121 lbs.), who were announced by Beat the Streets and USA Wrestling as the first two U.S. competitors last week.
The purpose of this event is to elevate the profile of wrestling and to raise funds to support the operation of over 140 youth development wrestling programs in New York City, serving nearly 3,000 student-athletes.
The U.S. lineup features many of the most popular and successful athletes competing today. In total, the entire U.S. team accounts for 14 NCAA titles, four Hodge Trophy awards, 12 U.S. Open titles, six World Team berths, six Junior World medals plus an Olympic gold medal, an Olympic bronze medal, two Senior World titles and a Junior World gold medal.
Randi Miller was a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, joining Olympic champion Burroughs as an Olympic medalist on the team.
The team will feature five athletes who won the recent 2014 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Burroughs, Maroulis, Kennedy, Metcalf and Miller. Multiple U.S. Open champions on the team include Maroulis (five times), Burroughs (three times) and Miller (two times).
Past NCAA champions on the squad include three-time champions Ruth of Penn State and Stieber of Ohio State plus two-time champions Taylor of Penn State, Oliver of Oklahoma State, Metcalf of Iowa and Burroughs of Nebraska. Taylor won the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s best college wrestler two times, while Metcalf and Burroughs were also past Hodge Trophy winners.
The team will feature two talented young athletes who are making their mark. Nahshon Garrett, who is a two-time All-American and 2014 NCAA finalist from Cornell, is 20 years old. High School senior Kyle Snyder, a 2013 Junior World champion, is just 18 years old.
The World All-Stars roster is still being finalized, and will feature Olympic, World and Continental medalists from around the world. Additionally, exhibitions involving the young Beat the Streets athletes prior to the international competition will be announced as they are set. The Beat the Streets children will take to the mat at 4 p.m., followed by Team USA vs. the World at 5:30 (match order TBD). The evening concludes with the Beat the Streets Award Gala at 7:30 p.m. at Best Buy Theater (1515 Broadway).
The USA vs. the World dual requires a ticket for reserved seating in Times Square, but is an outdoor event. Pedestrians and non-ticket holders are encouraged to watch. Admission tickets may be bought in advance at www.btsny.org or 212.245.6570. A ticket is required for the Gala. More details are available at btsny.org/gala. Fans can join the conversation about the event on Twitter by utilizing #BTSGalaTSQ.
The world-class competition has twice before been held in Times Square. Last year the event moved to historic Grand Central Terminal, where it was also a huge success. Dubbed “The Rumble on the Rails,” it featured dual meets between Team USA, Russia and Iran and was an important part of the international Keep Olympic Wrestling effort, which resulted in wrestling retaining its status on the Olympic Games program.
This will be the fifth straight year in which a major international-style wrestling competition will be hosted as part of the Beat the Streets Gala activities. In 2010, an all-star challenge featuring top U.S. wrestlers was held on the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west side of Manhattan. In 2011, the United States defeated World champion Russia, 5-2, the first sports event ever held in historic Times Square. In 2012, another U.S. vs. Russia dual meet was held in Times Square, along with the U.S. Olympic Team Wrestle-off for the 60 kg/132 lbs. position on the U.S. Olympic Team in men’s freestyle. All of these events have been great showcases for international wrestling and have received major media coverage.
Team USA Biographies
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Nahshon Garrett, Chico, Calif. (Finger Lakes RTC)
Second in 2014 NCAA Championships for Cornell… Third in 2013 NCAA Championships… Two-time EIWA champion (2013, 2014)… 2014 EIWA Wrestler of the Year… 2014 Ivy League Wrestler of the Year… 2013 EIWA and Ivy League Freshman of the Year… Sixth in 2012 FILA Junior Nationals… Seventh in 2011 Junior Nationals in freestyle… Fourth in 2010 Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman and eighth in freestyle… Two-time California state high school champion for Chico High School… Born: August 21, 1993… Age: 20
61 kg/134 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC)
2014 U.S. Open champion… Second in 2013 World Team Trials… 2013 Yasar Dogu International champion (Turkey)… Third in 2013 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Second in 2013 Ramzan Kadyrov Cup (Russia)… 2013 Intercontinental Cup champion (Russia)… Second in 2013 Medved International (Belarus)… 2012 New York AC International Open champion… 2012 and 2013 Guelph Open champion (Canada)… Seventh in 2012 University World Championships… Second in 2013 Alexander Medved International (Belarus)… Third in 2011 Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier… 2012 Guelph Open champion (Canada)… Fourth in 2011 Sunkist Kids International… Second in 2010 University World Team Trials… Seventh in 2005 Junior Nationals… 2004 Cadet Nationals champion… Three-time NCAA All-American for Illinois… Two-time Illinois state high school champion… College: Illinois… High School: Fox Lake, Ill. (Grant Community)… Born: July 3, 1988… Age: 25
65 kg/143 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Hawkeye WC)
2014 U.S. Open champion… Member of 2010 and 2013 U.S. World Team… Second in 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials… Second in 2013 World Cup… 2012 Stepan Sargsyan International champion (Armenia)… Second in 2013 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia)… 2011 Olympic Test Event champion (England)… Second in 2012 Pan American Olympic Qualifier, qualifying USA for Olympics… 2011 Takhti Cup runner-up (Iran)… Second in 2011 U.S. World Team Trials… Third in 2011 and 2013 U.S. Open… Second in 2009 U.S. Open… Fifth in 2008 U.S. Open… Third in 2010 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Third in 2009 Pan American Championships… 2008 and 2010 NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa… 2009 NCAA runner-up… 2008 Dan Hodge Trophy winner as nation’s top college wrestler… 2006 Clansman International champion… Competed in 2006 FILA Junior World Championships… 2006 FILA Junior World Team Trials champion… Four-time Michigan state champion… Six-time Junior Nationals champion, tying national record with Sean Hage of Georgia… College: Univ of Iowa, Virginia Tech… High School: Davison, Mich…. Born: July 14, 1986… Age: 27
65 kg/143 lbs. – Jordan Oliver, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
Second in 2013 World Team Trials… Second in 2013 U.S. Open… Sixth in 2014 U.S. Open… Wildcard selection for Olympic Trials… Third in 2009 Junior World Championships… Third in 2010 FILA Junior World Team Trials… 2009 FILA Junior World Team Trials champion… 2009 University Nationals champion… 2009 FILA Junior Nationals champion… 2007 Junior Nationals champion… 2011 and 2013 NCAA champion for Oklahoma State… 2012 NCAA runner-up… Three-time Pennsylvania high school champion… College: Oklahoma State… High School: Easton, Pa…. Born: May 8, 1990… Age: 23
65 kg/143 lbs. – Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
Third in 2014 U.S. Open… Third in 2013 World Team Trials… Fourth in 2013 U.S. Open… 2012 Ziolkowski International champion (Poland)… Second in 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Trials… Second in 2011 Junior World Championships… 2011 Northeast Regional champion… Third at 2009 U.S. Open… Fourth at 2009 and 2011 World Team Trials… Sixth in 2010 U.S. Open… Second at 2009 FILA Junior World Team Trials… 2008 FILA Junior Nationals champion… 2008 Junior Nationals champion in both styles… 2008 FILA Junior Nationals champion… 2007 Cadet Nationals champion… 2007 FILA Cadet Nationals champion… Three-time NCAA champion for Ohio State (2012, 2013, 2014)… Four-time high school state champion in Ohio… 2010 Dave Schultz High School Excellence award national winner… Younger brother Hunter is an NCAA All-American for Ohio State… College: Ohio State… High School: Monroeville, Ohio… Born: January 24, 1991… Age: 23
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
2012 Olympic champion… 2011 and 2013 World champion… 2011 Pan American Games champion… 2012 and 2013 World Cup champion… 2011, 2013 and 2014 U.S. Open champion… Third in 2014 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… 2013 Stepan Sargsyan International champion (Ukraine)… 2013 Medved International champion (Belarus)… 2011 Ukrainian Memorial International champion… 2012 Dave Schultz Memorial champion… 2012 Cerro Pelado International champion (Cuba)… Tenth in 2008 Junior World Championships… Second in 2007 University Nationals… 2009 and 2011 NCAA champion for Nebraska… Third in 2008 NCAA Championships… 2006 New Jersey state high school champion for Winslow Twp High in New Jersey… His 69-match win streak, broken in 2014, is the longest in USA Wrestling history… His current Senior record is 81-1… Born: July 8, 1988… Age: 25…
74 kg/163 lbs. – David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Second in 2013 and 2014 U.S. Open… Third in 2013 World University Games… Third in 2013 U.S. World Team Trials… 2010 and 2013 University Nationals champion…Wildcard selection for 2012 Olympic Trials… Second in 2008 and 2010 FILA Junior World Team Trials… Third in 2010 FILA Junior Nationals… 2010 University Nationals champion… Eighth in 2007 FILA Junior World Championships… 2007 Junior Nationals champion in both styles… 2006 Cadet Nationals champion in both styles… 2005 Cadet Nationals champion in freestyle and second in Greco-Roman… 2005 FILA Cadet Nationals champion in both styles… 2012 and 2014 NCAA Champion for Penn State… 2012 and 2014 Dan Hodge Trophy winner as nation’s top college wrestler… Second in 2011 and 2013 NCAA Championships… Four-time Ohio state