Wrestling Notes: Kristie Davis triumphs

Already the most decorated women's wrestler in United States history, Kristie Davis had little reason to return to the sport.

But days like Friday make her decision to come back seem like a no-brainer.

The 31-year-old Davis emphatically made her return to the biggest stage, clinching a spot in her 10th World Championships with a pair of wins over automatic finals qualifier Erin Clodgo in the women's 67-kilogram (147.5 pounds) championship series.

Davis, who missed nearly two years and had a baby while away from the sport, will be looking for her 10th medal at a World Championships.

“I just want to go out when I feel like I need to go out,” she said.

She took no offense at the notion that her experience and age were in her favor Friday. Clodgo, the U.S. Open champion, is 19 years old.

“It could definitely play a role,” Davis said with a laugh. “I'm trying different things for once in my wrestling career.”

The opportunity to add to her two golds, five silvers and two bronze medals comes in September in Moscow.

Jackson confident about Clones' future

Kevin Jackson hears about it every day. He reads and watches it, too.

The head wrestling coach at Iowa State is well aware of all the conference expansion talk and that most rumors have the Cyclones out in the cold.

“The difficulty of it all is that it has you not feeling normal,” Jackson said. “You're constantly wondering what's going to happen.”

And worrying. The Big 12 lost one of its five wrestling programs Friday when Nebraska announced a move to the Big Ten. Iowa State, the 2009 conference champion and a perennial national contender, could take a hit to its prestige by moving to another conference.

Jackson said however it shakes out, he's confident in the Cyclone program.

“The bottom line,” he said, “is we're going to end up in a strong conference.”

Two coaches who will have Nebraska on their schedules starting in 2011-12 — Iowa's Tom Brands and Penn State's Cael Sanderson — were both coaching members of club teams Friday.

That's all, folks

With a kiss of his yellow shoes at the middle of the mat, decorated wrestler T.C. Dantzler called it a career Friday after falling short of a spot on his sixth World Team. The Greco-Roman competitor at 84 kilograms (185 pounds) finished fourth, losing to eventual runner-up Chas Betts.

Dantzler — a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and a four-time U.S. Open champion — made the decision Tuesday.

He said a conversation with his young son, Thomas, was the overriding factor.

“I said, ‘You know what, son, I'm definitely being a little bit selfish.' ” Dantzler said. “So I said, ‘Dad's going to be around a lot more.' ”

Before Friday, Dantzler, 39, hadn't competed for a year. He had surgery last November to deal with an assortment of upper-body injuries.

“I had a great run,” Dantzler said. “I've been to so many countries and made so many friendships. I feel like I had at least a respectable career.”

What's in a name?

J.D. Bergman left little doubt Friday that he was worthy of being a World Team member.

The 25-year-old bested Iowa State graduate Jake Varner in consecutive matches at 211.5 pounds (96 kg) one year after making little noise during the 2009 Trials because of a knee injury.

A year of rest made all the difference.

“Varner is just a younger stud for his age group,” Bergman said. “I would never expect to lose to Varner, ever. I always expect to be the No. 1 guy in the country in freestyle and Greco.”

Win-win situation

Watching his former wrestlers at Council Bluffs Lewis Central go at it, coach Keith Massey wasn't part of the awkward cheers when Trent and Travis Paulson squared off Friday afternoon.

After all, Massey said, he came into the Trials knowing the twins could square off. If nothing else, he viewed the matchup as a guarantee that someone he was rooting for would make the final round.

“They both deserve to go to the world tournament,” Massey said. “The amount of hard work they put in and the drilling and the traveling… they both deserve to be on the team. But that's the way it is: Someone's got to lose.

“I took a positive spin on it. Granted, I'm saddened for Trent — he worked his tail off … But it was just fun.”

Not poking fun

Mike Zadick didn't allow himself to take a break for even a second during his run to return to the World Team.

After losing at the Trials last year to Shawn Bunch, Zadick repaid the favor with a two-match victory Friday.

The 31-year-old former Hawkeye, wrestling at 132 pounds (60 kg), was part of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and also made Worlds in 2006.

Backing up his never-let-up philosophy, Zadick claimed the second match with a championship-winning 1-0 decision in overtime against an opponent he has a long history with.

“It doesn't help that he's a dirty, cheating S.O.B.,” Zadick said. “It's just a lot of finger poking. He did it in the Open last year, and he did it this year. … He holds my singlet every time. But you've got to find a way to beat it.”

Takedowns

Former Missouri standout and 2008 Olympian Ben Askren saw his run through the 74-kilogram challenger tournament stopped by Travis Paulson in the semifinals and withdrew before his consolation match. Askren is slated to fight Thursday night in the finals of the Bellator Fighting Championships' season-two welterweight tournament in Kansas City. The former Mizzou national champion will fight Dan Hornbuckle for the 170-pound title. ... USA Wrestling honored a group of 30 former Olympic and World Team wrestlers before Friday's championship series, a group that included some of the biggest names in the sport for the last 50 years.

— Nick Rubek and Evan Bland

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