Three wrestlers stay in mix to win Triple Crown as Junior Nationals freestyle tournament kicks off

Michigan's Adam Coon went unbeaten on the first day of the Junior Nationals freestyle event. John Sachs photo.


FARGO, N.D. -- Just three wrestlers have captured USA Wrestling Triple Crowns in the Junior division.


That number could jump considerably this week.


Thrre wrestlers - Illinois' Nkosi Moody (106 pounds), Texas' Oliver Pierce (152) and Michigan's Adam Coon (285) - remain in the hunt to earn a Triple Crown after each went unbeaten as the Junior Nationals freestyle tournament kicked off on Thursday at the Fargo Dome.


Moody is looking to become the first two-time Junior Triple Crown winner after he pulled off the rare feat last year. He went 3-0 on Thursday, including two wins by fall.


Those wrestlers completed the first two legs of the Triple Crown by winning Junior Nationals Folkstyle and Greco-Roman titles this year.


Juniors have been eligible for the Triple Crown since 2007, when the Junior division was added to the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.


Iowa's Alex Meyer (170), also bidding for a Triple Crown, won his first three matches before dropping a three-period decision to Micah Barnes of Minnesota on Thursday.


There are 1,048 wrestlers from 45 states entered in the Junior division in freestyle, a slight increase from last year.


Juniors resume wrestling at 9 a.m. Friday. The Junior finals are set for 10 a.m. Saturday in Fargo.