Adam Coon continues to excel after repeating as FILA Junior Nationals Greco champ

Adam Coon defeated Sam Stoll to win a FILA Junior Nationals Greco-Roman title on Thursday night. John Sachs photo.

LAS VEGAS – Adam Coon said one of his goals following his first college season is to become bigger and stronger. 

He’s headed in the right direction.

Coon countered a first-period throw attempt by Sam Stoll to record a fall in the FILA Junior Nationals Greco-Roman finals on Thursday night at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

Coon recorded the fall in 1 minute, 31 seconds in the finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. He repeated as FILA Junior Nationals champion in Greco.

“We were hand fighting. I knew exactly what he wanted to do – he wanted to get that toss,” Coon said. “That’s how he’s been beating people here and that’s how he beat me before. I wanted to keep my feet moving and stay out of that lock. He did a great job digging in and getting to his lock. He threw it and I circled out just in time and ended up catching him on his back for the fall.” 

Coon lost to Stoll in the finals of the 2013 Junior World Team Trials, but rebounded to beat Stoll in the Junior Nationals finals in Fargo.

“It was a big redemption for me,” Coon said. “I proved to myself I could still do it. It was pretty heartbreaking – losing to him and getting pinned with that same throw both times. That hurt. There was a pride factor to come back and win in Fargo, and it was a great feeling to do it again tonight.” 

Stoll went on to win a bronze medal for the U.S. at the Junior World Championships. Coon is a past Cadet World champion who won a USA Wrestling Junior Triple Crown last year.

Coon, who plans to wrestle in the FILA Junior Nationals freestyle event Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas, started for Michigan as a true freshman this past season. 

Coon was ranked No. 1 nationally at one point during the college season before coming up one win short of All-American honors at the NCAA tournament.

“Looking back, it was definitely a great year,” Coon said. “It was kind of a letdown at the end of the year and it hurt, especially when I saw guys on the podium that I had beaten. That stung. I have to remind myself that I am a true freshman and I still had a great season. I have a few more seasons ahead of me.” 

Becoming more physical is an issue Coon already has been addressing since the college season ended. Coon said he is weighing around 270 pounds now.

“One big goal is to get big,” Coon said. “I want to put on muscle where I can feel like I am not being outmuscled by these college guys.” 

Coon now has the inside track for the Junior World Team Trials, set for May 31-June 1 in Madison, Wis.

“I want to try and make the Junior World Team,” Coon said. “I will probably see Stoll again and I will have to make sure I’m ready.”