U.S. Open at a glance
What: Marine Corps U.S. Open wrestling championships
When, where: Thursday-Saturday, Las Vegas.
At stake: Depending on weight class and division, berths in the World Team Trials in Rochester, Minn., in May or a spot in the Final X wrestle-offs for the U.S. World Championship team in June.
Notable Minnesotans: In men's senior freestyle, incoming Gopher Gable Steveson (No. 5 seed at 125 kilograms) of Apple Valley is a headliner. Also, Gophers volunteer assistant Zach Sanders (No. 4 at 57 kg), former Gophers Jayson Ness (No. 10 at 65 kg), Dylan Ness (No. 7 at 70 kg) and Tony Nelson (No. 6 at 125 kg) of the Minnesota Storm are entered, as is Apple Valley's Seth Gross, an NCAA champion at South Dakota State who is No. 7 at 61 kg. In men's senior Greco-Roman, former Gophers Pat Smith (72 kg) is a reigning Open and World Team Trials champion, and Alec Ortiz (77 kg) took seventh in the Open last year.
