Adam Wheeler named Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling
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by Gary Abbott
Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) was named 2008 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that Wheeler has won this award.
Wheeler captured a bronze medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. It was the top performance among U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers at the Beijing Games.
Wheeler defeated Han Tae-Young of Korea in the bronze medal match, 3-1, 4-1. Wheeler won his first two matches, defeating past World medalist Lajos Virag of Hungary, 1-1, 1-1, 1-1, then stopping hometown favorite Jiang Huachen of China 0-7, 3-2, 1-1 in the quarterfinals. His only loss came in the semifinals to Mirko Englich of Germany.
Wheeler won a gold medal at 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in June, defeating 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz in the championship series.
Other competition results in 2008 included a bronze medal at the U.S. National Championships in April and a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in February.
Wheeler was a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. Prior to that, he was a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center program at the Univ. of Northern Michigan. He served in the Coast Guard for five years, and competed on the U.S. Navy wrestling team prior to going to college. He is a native of Lancaster, Calif.
After the Olympic Games, Wheeler attended the police academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and recently assumed his new job as a Colorado Springs police officer.
PAST GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2008 - Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2007 - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2006 - Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2005 - Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2004 - Rulon Gardner, Wellsville, Utah (Sunkist Kids)
2003 - Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids
2002 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
2001 - Rulon Gardner, Cascade, Colo., Sunkist Kids
2000 - Rulon Gardner, Afton, Wyo., Sunkist Kids
1999 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
1998 - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb., Sunkist Kids
1997 - Rulon Gardner, Gilbert, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1996 - Dennis Hall, Stevens, Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids
1995 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids
1994 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids
1993 - James Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
Wheeler captured a bronze medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. It was the top performance among U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers at the Beijing Games.
Wheeler defeated Han Tae-Young of Korea in the bronze medal match, 3-1, 4-1. Wheeler won his first two matches, defeating past World medalist Lajos Virag of Hungary, 1-1, 1-1, 1-1, then stopping hometown favorite Jiang Huachen of China 0-7, 3-2, 1-1 in the quarterfinals. His only loss came in the semifinals to Mirko Englich of Germany.
Wheeler won a gold medal at 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in June, defeating 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz in the championship series.
Other competition results in 2008 included a bronze medal at the U.S. National Championships in April and a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in February.
Wheeler was a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. Prior to that, he was a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center program at the Univ. of Northern Michigan. He served in the Coast Guard for five years, and competed on the U.S. Navy wrestling team prior to going to college. He is a native of Lancaster, Calif.
After the Olympic Games, Wheeler attended the police academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and recently assumed his new job as a Colorado Springs police officer.
PAST GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2008 - Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2007 - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2006 - Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2005 - Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2004 - Rulon Gardner, Wellsville, Utah (Sunkist Kids)
2003 - Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids
2002 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
2001 - Rulon Gardner, Cascade, Colo., Sunkist Kids
2000 - Rulon Gardner, Afton, Wyo., Sunkist Kids
1999 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
1998 - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb., Sunkist Kids
1997 - Rulon Gardner, Gilbert, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1996 - Dennis Hall, Stevens, Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids
1995 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids
1994 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids
1993 - James Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
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