U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in men's freestyle at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
Tommy Rowlands broke through to make his first World Team in 2007. Rowlands placed fifth at the World Championships. Rowlands is off to a strong start this year. He knocked off past World champion Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba en route to winning the 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Rowlands won a hard-fought battle with Steve Mocco to win U.S. Nationals. That puts Rowlands into the best-of-3 finals at the Olympic Trials. Rowlands is wrestling with a ton of confidence right now as he continues to improve.
Mocco, second in the World Team Trials the past three years, is looking to finally make his first World-level team this year. The two-time NCAA champion has looked strong this season. Mocco already has won four tournaments this season. Mocco is in top condition and that may be a key for him at the Trials.
2005 World bronze medalist Tolly Thompson, a World Team member in 2005 and 2006, also could be a factor here. Thompson was slowed by injuries in 2007, but is back healthy now. Thompson placed fourth at U.S. Nationals.
Two-time NCAA Division II champion Tervel Dlagnev looked impressive at U.S. Nationals. He came back from a loss to Les Sigman to place third. He knocked off Thompson in the third-place match. Dlagnev is a bit undersized, but has great mobility and quickness for a heavyweight.
Sigman, fourth in the 2007 World Team Trials, continues to gain international experience and make improvement. Sigman was second at the Sunkist Kids and New York AC events this season. Sigman placed fifth at U.S. Nationals after suffering losses to Mocco and Thompson.
Pat Cummins could be in the mix as well. He was third at the 2007 Trials. Cummins finished sixth at U.S. Nationals. College wrestlers Scott Steele of Navy and Zachery Rey of Lehigh are the other two qualifiers, with Steele placing seventh at U.S. Nationals and Rey winning the Northeast Regional Trials.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 3-0, 0-2, 1-0
3rd - Tervel Dlagnev, Kearney, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tolly Thompson, Waterloo, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 0-1, 3-0
5th - Les Sigman, Omaha, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Patrick Cummins, State College Pa. (New York AC), 2-0,2-0
7th - Scott Steele, Baltimore, Md. (Navy Mat Club) dec. Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-0, 1-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for Best-of-3 finals: Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Challenge Tournament Seeds
1. Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2. Tervel Dlagnev, Kearney, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
3. Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
4. Les Sigman, Omaha, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Pat Cummins, Blacksburg, Va. (New York AC)
6. Scott Steele, Baltimore, Md. (Navy Mat Club)
7. Zachery Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (LVAC)
Rowlands won a hard-fought battle with Steve Mocco to win U.S. Nationals. That puts Rowlands into the best-of-3 finals at the Olympic Trials. Rowlands is wrestling with a ton of confidence right now as he continues to improve.
Mocco, second in the World Team Trials the past three years, is looking to finally make his first World-level team this year. The two-time NCAA champion has looked strong this season. Mocco already has won four tournaments this season. Mocco is in top condition and that may be a key for him at the Trials.
2005 World bronze medalist Tolly Thompson, a World Team member in 2005 and 2006, also could be a factor here. Thompson was slowed by injuries in 2007, but is back healthy now. Thompson placed fourth at U.S. Nationals.
Two-time NCAA Division II champion Tervel Dlagnev looked impressive at U.S. Nationals. He came back from a loss to Les Sigman to place third. He knocked off Thompson in the third-place match. Dlagnev is a bit undersized, but has great mobility and quickness for a heavyweight.
Sigman, fourth in the 2007 World Team Trials, continues to gain international experience and make improvement. Sigman was second at the Sunkist Kids and New York AC events this season. Sigman placed fifth at U.S. Nationals after suffering losses to Mocco and Thompson.
Pat Cummins could be in the mix as well. He was third at the 2007 Trials. Cummins finished sixth at U.S. Nationals. College wrestlers Scott Steele of Navy and Zachery Rey of Lehigh are the other two qualifiers, with Steele placing seventh at U.S. Nationals and Rey winning the Northeast Regional Trials.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 3-0, 0-2, 1-0
3rd - Tervel Dlagnev, Kearney, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tolly Thompson, Waterloo, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 0-1, 3-0
5th - Les Sigman, Omaha, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Patrick Cummins, State College Pa. (New York AC), 2-0,2-0
7th - Scott Steele, Baltimore, Md. (Navy Mat Club) dec. Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-0, 1-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for Best-of-3 finals: Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Challenge Tournament Seeds
1. Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2. Tervel Dlagnev, Kearney, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
3. Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
4. Les Sigman, Omaha, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Pat Cummins, Blacksburg, Va. (New York AC)
6. Scott Steele, Baltimore, Md. (Navy Mat Club)
7. Zachery Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (LVAC)
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