EAP athletes O’Blia takes third, Khun gets fourth at Younis Hospitality Open

A pair of USA Wrestling’s Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) earned placements in a respected college Open on Saturday, the Younis Hospitality Open held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney in Kearney, Nebraska.

Competing in the elite division, Dale O’Blia (Denver, Colo./EAP Program) placed third at 125 pounds and Rylan Khun (Parkville, Mo./EAP Program) placed fourth at 285 pounds.

O’Blia went an impressive 5-1 in the tournament, including a 10-4 victory over freshman Sloan Johannsen of Northern State in the bronze-medal match. His only loss came in the second round to eventual runner-up Caleb Coyle of Nebraska-Kearney, 8-6. Coyle is a graduate student and transfer from Oregon State. O’Blia ran off four straight matches in the consolation rounds to earn the bronze.

O’Blia was a four-time Colorado state high school champion for Mullen High School.

Khun finished with a 5-2 record in his weight class. He scored two straight wins, before a 7-1 loss to junior Cody Pinkerton of Chadron State. Khun ran off three straight wins in the consolation rounds to reach the third-place match, which was a no-contest.

Kuhn was a two-time Missouri state champion for St. Pius X High School and a three-time Fargo All-American, including finishing as a runner-up in the 2022 16U Nationals in Greco-Roman. He was fifth in freesytle at the 2024 Junior Nationals.

“These guys performed great, especially for their first time in a college tournament. This is the first real test of many to come and they passed with flying colors. There is still a lot to work on, as always, but the ceiling is high for these guys. I am excited to see what they will become as we continue to excel with the EAP program,” said USA Wrestling National Freestyle Developmental Coach J’den Cox.

The Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) was designed to develop young athletes with Olympic potential at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (USOPTC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This has included wrestlers who are still in high school, or are high school graduates who choose to train in the international styles prior to going to college.

Among the athletes who have trained at the USOPTC while either in high school or prior to college include Olympic champions Henry Cejudo and Kyle Snyder, Olympic bronze medalist and NCAA champion Aaron Brooks, U.S. Open champion Tiare Ikei and many others.

YOUNIS HOSPITALITY OPEN

At Kearney, Neb., November 23

EAP performances in Elite Division

125 pounds

Dale O’Blia, Denver, Colo. (EAP Program), third place

WIN Dayson Torgerson (Colorado Mesa), 12-10

LOSS Caleb Coyle (Nebraska-Kearney), 8-6

WIN Naythan Galbiso (New Mexico Highlands), pin 1:59

WIN Christian Olsen (Augustana-SD), 19-3

WIN Christian Lopez (Colorado School of Mines), 6-5

WIN Sloan Johannsen (Northern State), 10-4

285 pounds

Rylan Khun, Parkville, Mo. (EAP Program), fourth place

WIN Jaxson Thomas (Unattached-Fort Hays), pin 2:22

WIN Cody Pinkerton (Chadron State), 7-1

LOSS Crew Howard (Nebraska-Kearney), 8-2

WIN Soren Herzog (Air Force), tech fall 20-3

WIN Cody Donnelly (South Dakota State), 7-0

WIN Ben Tonnessen (unattached-Adams State), 10-3

LOSS Laith Ibrahim (Colorado School of Mines) , no contest

Final results in their weight class

Elite 125 pounds

1st Place Match - Zachary Ourada (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Caleb Coyle (Nebraska-Kearney) (Dec 7-0)

3rd Place Match - Dale O’Blia (EAP Program) won by decision over Sloan Johannsen (Northern State) (Dec 10-4)

5th Place Match - Bishop Murray (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Christian Lopez (Colorado School Of Mines) (Dec 11-9)

Elite -285 pounds

1st Place Match - Crew Howard (Nebraska-Kearney) won by major decision over Sam Mitchell (Wyoming) (Maj 10-1)

3rd Place Match - Laith Ibrahim (Colorado School Of Mines) won by no contest over Rylan Khun (EAP Program) (NC)

5th Place Match - Tyler Doyle (Colorado Mesa University) won by major decision over Ben Tonnessen (Adams State) (Maj 12-3)