Rowlands, Mocco set for rematch in the finals of U.S. Olympic Team Trials
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by Craig Sesker
LAS VEGAS - Tommy Rowlands and Steve Mocco staged one of the most physical, hard-fought matches of the U.S. Nationals finals.
Now they will meet with something even bigger at stake.
A berth in the Olympic Games.
Mocco breezed through the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament to earn a shot at Rowlands in Sunday night's best-of-3 freestyle finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
The winner earns a trip to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Rowlands sat out during the first session early Sunday by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals and placing fifth at the 2007 World Championships.
Another rematch of the U.S. Nationals will occur at 74 kg/163 lbs. in freestyle when champion Ben Askren meets runner-up Tyrone Lewis. They also waged a fierce, physical battle back in April's U.S. Nationals.
2006 World Team member Andy Hrovat won the Challenge Tournament at 84 kg/185 lbs. to earn another shot at Mo Lawal in the freestyle finals. Lawal sat out the first session by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals and placing in the top 10 in the World in 2005.
Hrovat upset Lawal by pin en route to making the World Team two years ago, but Lawal beat Hrovat in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals.
Damion Hahn won the Challenge Tournament at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. to earn a shot at 2007 World bronze medalist Daniel Cormier in the finals. Cormier sat out after winning U.S. Nationals and being a Top 10 finisher in the 2007 Worlds.
Past World champion Dremiel Byers will meet Challenge Tournament winner and U.S. Army teammate Tim Taylor in the Greco-Roman finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
2005 World Team member Justin Ruiz will face Challenge Tournament winner Adam Wheeler in the Greco-Roman finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
SUNDAY'S BEST-OF-3 FINALS MATCHUPS
Greco-Roman
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) vs. Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. Tim Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
Freestyle
74 kg/163 lbs.
Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) vs. Tyrone Lewis (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Mo Lawal (Temecula, Calif./Gator WC) vs. Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) vs. Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio) vs. Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
Now they will meet with something even bigger at stake.
A berth in the Olympic Games.
Mocco breezed through the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament to earn a shot at Rowlands in Sunday night's best-of-3 freestyle finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
The winner earns a trip to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Rowlands sat out during the first session early Sunday by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals and placing fifth at the 2007 World Championships.
Another rematch of the U.S. Nationals will occur at 74 kg/163 lbs. in freestyle when champion Ben Askren meets runner-up Tyrone Lewis. They also waged a fierce, physical battle back in April's U.S. Nationals.
2006 World Team member Andy Hrovat won the Challenge Tournament at 84 kg/185 lbs. to earn another shot at Mo Lawal in the freestyle finals. Lawal sat out the first session by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals and placing in the top 10 in the World in 2005.
Hrovat upset Lawal by pin en route to making the World Team two years ago, but Lawal beat Hrovat in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals.
Damion Hahn won the Challenge Tournament at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. to earn a shot at 2007 World bronze medalist Daniel Cormier in the finals. Cormier sat out after winning U.S. Nationals and being a Top 10 finisher in the 2007 Worlds.
Past World champion Dremiel Byers will meet Challenge Tournament winner and U.S. Army teammate Tim Taylor in the Greco-Roman finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
2005 World Team member Justin Ruiz will face Challenge Tournament winner Adam Wheeler in the Greco-Roman finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
SUNDAY'S BEST-OF-3 FINALS MATCHUPS
Greco-Roman
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) vs. Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. Tim Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
Freestyle
74 kg/163 lbs.
Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) vs. Tyrone Lewis (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Mo Lawal (Temecula, Calif./Gator WC) vs. Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) vs. Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio) vs. Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
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