JD Bergman falls in semifinals at Olympic Trials

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The semifinal round proved to be a tough spot for two area graduates over the weekend at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.On Sunday, JD Bergman, a 2003 Oak Harbor graduate, lost a tough semifinal match at 97kg (213 pounds) to fall short in his quest to represent the U.S. at the Summer Games to be held in August at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Bergman was the No. 2 seed in the challenge bracket. The winner of each of the six weight classes represents the U.S. at the Olympics, with those placing second and third serving as potential injury alternates.As the No. 2 seed in the bracket, Bergman opened with a bye to the quarterfinals, where he took on Cayle Byers. He won that match 7-2 to earn a matchup with a longtime freestyle opponent in Dustin Kilgore, a former NCAA champion from Kent State, in the semifinals.Bergman controlled the first of two periods, taking a 2-0 lead into the second. He gave up a takedown to Kilgore early in the second, but was able to fight off a leg lace attempt by Kilgore to avoid further damage.However, when Bergman went back in for a shot he couldn't finish, Kilgore spun it around for a takedown and a 1-point lead (4-3). But the former two-time state champion for Oak Harbor couldn't get any more offense in, and Kilgore added another takedown for a 6-3 win.With a chance to still place third and earn a spot on the U.S. National roster, Bergman bounced back in the consolation semifinals with a 9-6 win over former Minnesota standout Scott Schiller. Needing one win to advance to the true third match, Bergman then fell 3-1 to Micah Burak, ending his attempt and possibly his wrestling career.Bergman was third at the World Team Trials and U.S. Open in 2015. A seven-year veteran at the international level, he represented the U.S. at the 2013 World Championships.At Oak Harbor, he won back-to-back state titles in 2002 and 2003 while racking up a perfect 85-0 record in that span.From there, Bergman went to Ohio State and finished as a three-time All-American, which included 2008 when he lost in overtime in the NCAA title match at heavyweight. He won 129 matches for the Buckeyes.On Saturday, former Monroeville and Ohio State phenom Logan Stieber also lost a heartbreaker in the semifinals at 65kg (143 pounds). Stieber lost on a criteria tie-breaker, and the four-time NCAA and state champion also missed out on placing third in his weight class.Dustin Kilgore, left, controls JD Bergman, a 2003 Oak Harbor graduate, during their 97-kilogram freestyle match at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Sunday in Iowa City, Iowa.