Coon, Graff, Ramos, Collica among big winners in University Nationals freestyle event
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by Craig Sesker, USA Wrestling
Heavyweight Adam Coon repeated as University Nationals freestyle champion on Sunday. Tony Rotundo file photos.
AKRON, Ohio – Adam Coon’s biggest problem wasn’t the opponents he battled on the wrestling mat.
It was another issue.
“Finding enough time to study,” Coon said.
Coon, an aerospace engineering major at the University of Michigan, aced his test on the mat with a dominant performance at the University Nationals on Sunday at the University of Akron Field House
The powerful Coon rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over NCAA Division III champion Chad Johnson in the freestyle finals at 125 kg/275.5 lbs.
“The key in that match was to stay in good position and wrestle my match,” Coon said. “I was trying to hit some more leg attacks and get some explosive movement going. This was another steppingstone for me and it gave me a chance to work on some things. And I got a few more matches in before the Trials.”
Coon tried to squeeze in some study time during the two-day freestyle competition.
“I brought my computer with me to do schoolwork – I wish things could’ve run a little quicker so I could've got more homework done last night," Coon said with a smile. "It was a great tournament and USA Wrestling did a great job putting it on.”
Coon continues to excel in freestyle and Greco-Roman while also having success in folkstyle in college.
“I’m still trying to figure out what route I want to go with freestyle and Greco,” he said. “Some people said since I didn’t wrestle Greco here, I must be wrestling just freestyle now. That’s not the case. I just didn’t want to miss class on Friday.”
Coon, a 2014 Junior World bronze medalist in freestyle and Greco-Roman, was one of nine University Nationals champions crowned on Sunday.
Coon will compete at the U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Madison in two weeks. He was an NCAA runner-up in March and placed third at the U.S. Open in Greco-Roman to make his first National Team on the Senior level.
Past University Nationals champion Tyler Graff returned to the top spot in Akron after powering to a 10-0 finals win over Darian Cruz at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Graff was named Outstanding Wrestler.
North Carolina’s Ethan Ramos earned a second-period fall over returning champion Ian Miller in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. The wrestlers were locked in a high-scoring battle before Ramos secured the fall.
Ramos' North Carolina teammate, Evan Henderson, also claimed a title on Sunday.
Miller was Outstanding Wrestler at this event last year.
Oklahoma State’s Anthony Collica capped a strong tournament with a 6-1 win over 2014 NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern in the finals at 70 kg/154 lbs.
Collica edged NCAA All-American Brandon Sorensen of Iowa 5-3 in the semifinals.
“I just tried to stick to my attacks and get to my offense,” Collica said. “It’s big to get a win over an NCAA champion and it gives me a lot of confidence. It was a good match for me.”
Past Junior World Team member Earl Hall claimed the title at 61 kg/134 lbs. North Dakota State’s Hayden Zillmer won a tough bracket at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Two-time All-American Nathan Burak of Iowa was dominant en route to winning the title at 97 kg/213 lbs. Zac Brunson of Illinois rolled to the title at 80 kg/176 lbs.
Past champions in this event had qualified for the University World Championships, but there will not be a University Worlds this year. The University Worlds will return to the schedule in 2016.
UNIVERSITY NATIONALS
Freestyle
May 31, 2015 Akron, Ohio
Finals results
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tyler Graff (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Darian Cruz (Lehigh Valley AC), 10-0
61 kg/134 lbs.
Earl Hall (Iowa State) dec. Rossi Bruno (Michigan RTC), 7-0
65 kg/143 lbs.
Evan Henderson (Carolina WC) won by tech. fall over Anthony Abidin (NWTC), 10-0
70 kg/154 lbs.
Anthony Collica (Cowboy WC) dec. Jason Tsirtsis (Chicago RTC), 6-1
74 kg/163 lbs.
Ethan Ramos (Carolina WC) pinned Ian Miller (Golden Pride WC), 4:11
80 kg/176 lbs.
Zac Brunson (Illinois) won by tech. fall over Jim Wilson (Stanford), 11-1
86 kg/189 lbs.
Hayden Zillmer (Bison WC) dec. Ethen Lofthouse (Wolverine WC), 12-5
97 kg/213 lbs.
Nathan Burak (University of Iowa) won by tech. fall over Austin Schafer (Cowboy WC), 12-1
125 kg/275.5 lbs.
Adam Coon (Michigan RTC) won by tech. fall over Chad Johnson (Minnesota Storm), 10-0
AKRON, Ohio – Adam Coon’s biggest problem wasn’t the opponents he battled on the wrestling mat.
It was another issue.
“Finding enough time to study,” Coon said.
Coon, an aerospace engineering major at the University of Michigan, aced his test on the mat with a dominant performance at the University Nationals on Sunday at the University of Akron Field House
The powerful Coon rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over NCAA Division III champion Chad Johnson in the freestyle finals at 125 kg/275.5 lbs.
“The key in that match was to stay in good position and wrestle my match,” Coon said. “I was trying to hit some more leg attacks and get some explosive movement going. This was another steppingstone for me and it gave me a chance to work on some things. And I got a few more matches in before the Trials.”
Coon tried to squeeze in some study time during the two-day freestyle competition.
“I brought my computer with me to do schoolwork – I wish things could’ve run a little quicker so I could've got more homework done last night," Coon said with a smile. "It was a great tournament and USA Wrestling did a great job putting it on.”
Coon continues to excel in freestyle and Greco-Roman while also having success in folkstyle in college.
“I’m still trying to figure out what route I want to go with freestyle and Greco,” he said. “Some people said since I didn’t wrestle Greco here, I must be wrestling just freestyle now. That’s not the case. I just didn’t want to miss class on Friday.”
Coon, a 2014 Junior World bronze medalist in freestyle and Greco-Roman, was one of nine University Nationals champions crowned on Sunday.
Coon will compete at the U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Madison in two weeks. He was an NCAA runner-up in March and placed third at the U.S. Open in Greco-Roman to make his first National Team on the Senior level.
Past University Nationals champion Tyler Graff returned to the top spot in Akron after powering to a 10-0 finals win over Darian Cruz at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Graff was named Outstanding Wrestler.
North Carolina’s Ethan Ramos earned a second-period fall over returning champion Ian Miller in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. The wrestlers were locked in a high-scoring battle before Ramos secured the fall.
Ramos' North Carolina teammate, Evan Henderson, also claimed a title on Sunday.
Miller was Outstanding Wrestler at this event last year.
Oklahoma State’s Anthony Collica capped a strong tournament with a 6-1 win over 2014 NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern in the finals at 70 kg/154 lbs.
Collica edged NCAA All-American Brandon Sorensen of Iowa 5-3 in the semifinals.
“I just tried to stick to my attacks and get to my offense,” Collica said. “It’s big to get a win over an NCAA champion and it gives me a lot of confidence. It was a good match for me.”
Past Junior World Team member Earl Hall claimed the title at 61 kg/134 lbs. North Dakota State’s Hayden Zillmer won a tough bracket at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Two-time All-American Nathan Burak of Iowa was dominant en route to winning the title at 97 kg/213 lbs. Zac Brunson of Illinois rolled to the title at 80 kg/176 lbs.
Past champions in this event had qualified for the University World Championships, but there will not be a University Worlds this year. The University Worlds will return to the schedule in 2016.
UNIVERSITY NATIONALS
Freestyle
May 31, 2015 Akron, Ohio
Finals results
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Tyler Graff (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Darian Cruz (Lehigh Valley AC), 10-0
61 kg/134 lbs.
Earl Hall (Iowa State) dec. Rossi Bruno (Michigan RTC), 7-0
65 kg/143 lbs.
Evan Henderson (Carolina WC) won by tech. fall over Anthony Abidin (NWTC), 10-0
70 kg/154 lbs.
Anthony Collica (Cowboy WC) dec. Jason Tsirtsis (Chicago RTC), 6-1
74 kg/163 lbs.
Ethan Ramos (Carolina WC) pinned Ian Miller (Golden Pride WC), 4:11
80 kg/176 lbs.
Zac Brunson (Illinois) won by tech. fall over Jim Wilson (Stanford), 11-1
86 kg/189 lbs.
Hayden Zillmer (Bison WC) dec. Ethen Lofthouse (Wolverine WC), 12-5
97 kg/213 lbs.
Nathan Burak (University of Iowa) won by tech. fall over Austin Schafer (Cowboy WC), 12-1
125 kg/275.5 lbs.
Adam Coon (Michigan RTC) won by tech. fall over Chad Johnson (Minnesota Storm), 10-0
