Final X Preview: Joe Colon vs. Nahshon Garrett, 61 kg men’s freestyle

Who: Joe Colon vs. Nahshon Garrett
What: Final X
Where: Bethlehem, Pa.
When: June 23
Why: Men’s freestyle World Team spot at 61 kg
Tickets: FinalX.tv

Joe Colon
How he got to Final X:
Without a returning medalist at this weight, Colon advanced to Final X by winning the 2018 U.S. Open at the weight, defeating Nahshon Garrett in the finals.

Background:
After being on the Senior level for a few years, Joe Colon has turned in one of his best seasons yet.

A past All-American for Northern Iowa, Colon started his success on the international scene in 2014, when he won a gold medal at the Bill Farrell International.

Only a year later, he found himself in the World Team Trials finals at 57 kg but fell to two-time World Team member Tony Ramos.

Since then he has been on the rise, finding a new weight class and becoming lethal at 61 kg.

Colon brought his wrestling to new heights during the 2018 season, winning three international medals, including gold medals at the 2018 Pan American Championships and the 20th Annual Dave Schultz Memorial International and a bronze medal from the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial.

Nationally, Colon finally reached the top of the podium at the U.S. Open after four-straight top-eight finishes. In the finals, Colon defeated Nahshon Garrett in an exciting bout, where 33 points were scored collectively. Colon emerged with a 20-13 decision.

A best-of-three series between Colon and Garrett promises to be a high-scoring, entertaining battle. Let’s hope it keeps that promise. ­­

Colon’s World Championship experience:
None

Nahshon Garrett
How he got to Final X:
Garrett defeated Nico Megaludis in the finals of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Rochester, Minn., in May to advance to Final X.

Background:
Wrestling fans all over the country know the name Nahshon Garrett as he was a star on the college scene with four All-America honors, four conference championships and a 2016 national title, wrestling for Cornell.

In freestyle, Garrett has continued to be a strong competitor, placing second at the U.S. Open in 2017 at 57 kg and in 2018 at 61 kg. He has also collected international medals at the 2017 Guelph International, winning gold, and the 20th Annual Dave Schultz Memorial International, finishing with silver. Beating him in the match to take gold at the DSMI was Colon.

Garrett made the move up to 61 kg after the new UWW weight classes and weigh-in procedures changed for the 2018 season.

Since the weight change, Garrett took fifth at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial, falling short in the bronze-medal match. He went on to win the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in May, running through the bracket, grabbing two technical fall wins over Nico Megaludis in the best-of-three finals.

Garrett’s World Championship experience:
None

Notes:

• Colon and Garrett met recently in freestyle twice, with Colon holding a 2-0 advantage in the series. Both matches were in the gold-medal bout. Colon took a 14-3 tech fall win over Garrett at the 20th Annual Dave Schultz Memorial before taking the U.S. Open crown with a 20-13 win over Garrett.
• Colon trains at the Valley RTC in Fresno, Calif., while Garrett trains with the Sunkist Kids Club in Tempe, Ariz.
• Follow Nahshon Garrett on Twitter @nahshongarrett and Instagram @nahshongarrett_
• Joe Colon does not have a Twitter or Instagram account

61 kg/134 lbs. MEN


Joe Colon, Fresno, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC/Valley RTC)
College: Northern Iowa, Iowa Central High School: Clear Lake, Iowa Born: Jan. 22, 1991
• 2018 U.S. Open champion
• 2018 Pan American champion
• Second in 2015 U.S. World Team Trials
• Fourth in 2015 U.S. Open
• Fifth in 2014 U.S. Open
• Sixth in 2016 and 2017 U.S. Open
• 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Third in 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International
• Third in 2018 Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial International
• 2014 Bill Farrell International champion
• Third in 2014 NCAA Championships for Northern Iowa
• 2010 NJCAA champion for Iowa Central
Nahshon Garrett, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
College: Cornell High School: Chico, Calif. Born: Aug. 21, 1993
• 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open
• Second in 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial International
• 2017 Guelph International champion
• 2014 University Nationals champion
• Fifth in 2018 Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial
• 2016 NCAA champion for Cornell
• Four-time NCAA All-American
• Four-time EIWA champion