Junior National Memories: Adam Coon, Sean Hage, Brent Metcalf among top Junior boys newsmakers
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Photos of Adam Coon of Michigan after claiming his second Junior Triple Crown in the 2013 Junior Nationals freestyle finals. Photos by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
The Junior Nationals has always been a showcase of the best high school athletes in the nation. For many athletes, Junior Nationals gave them an opportunity to show the world (and college coaches) their skills and potential, truly opening the door for opportunities in the future.
For a select few, Junior Nationals truly allowed some talented wrestlers to take a step above their peers and become history-makers. On the final day of our series (as Fargo was scheduled to end today had it not been cancelled) we remember three newsmakers on the boys side who used their abilities in both freestyle and Greco-Roman to make big news: Adam Coon of Michigan, Sean Hage of Georgia and Brent Metcalf of Michigan.
Adam Coon of Michigan, first two-time Junior Triple Crown winner
USA Wrestling started its Triple Crown award program in 1997 in the Kids division, to honor wrestlers who win USA Wrestling national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle the same year. In 2003, USA Wrestling expanded the program to the Cadet level, and in 2008, the Junior division was also added.
Winning the Junior Triple Crown proved to be very difficult. There were no Triple Crown winners the first two years, before Jade Rauser of Montana won it for the first time in 2009. When Michigan star Adam Coon won the Triple Crown after his junior senior at Fowlerville High, he was only the fourth Junior Triple Crown champion ever. And this talented heavyweight, a Cadet World champion in freestyle already, had another year of high school left. He decided he wanted to become the first two-time Triple Crown winner after his senior year.
The first step was to win the 2013 Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he powered through the bracket, pinning Dean Broghammer of Iowa in the finals in 2:42. He returned to Fargo in the summer of 2013, just weeks before heading to the University of Michigan. He won the second leg of the Triple Crown by taking Greco-Roman gold, winning his pool with five pins and a technical fall. In the finals, he scored a technical fall over tough Greco wrestler Sam Stoll of Minnesota, 7-0. (Both Coon and Stoll would become Junior World Greco-Roman medalists later in their career).
The final challenge was the Junior freestyle division, where Coon continued his onslaught pinning four and getting two technical falls in his pool. In the finals, he dispatched Nathan Butler of Kansas with a 10-0 technical fall in just 26 seconds, with a takedown and four ankle laces.
"It's a huge honor to be able to accomplish something like this,” Coon said. "I want to thank USA Wrestling for providing wrestlers like me with the opportunity to wrestle for a Triple Crown. This is a great tournament with a lot of amazing athletes competing. It's been a great experience for me to wrestle here."
It was not until 2018 until another wrestler won a second Triple Crown, another heavyweight star named Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois turned the trick. Since then, Coon had a great college career at Michigan, and most recently was a Senior World silver medalist in Greco-Roman in 2018. Coon will be pursuing his Olympic dream in 2021 as the No. 1 ranked American in the style. (He is still great in freestyle, having made Final X on the Senior level in both styles in 2018).
Adam Coon of Michigan (Finals opponents on way to two Triple Crowns)
2012 – Folkstyle (in Cedar Falls, IA) – 285 – Cole Johnson (WI)
2012 – Greco-Roman – 285 lbs. – Josh Marchok (IL)
2012 – Freestyle – 285 lbs. – Donte Winfield (IN)
2013 – Folkstyle (in Cedar Falls, IA) – 285 – Dean Broghammer (IA) pin 2:42
2013 – Greco-Roman – 285 lbs. – Sam Stoll (MN)
2013 – Freestyle – 285 lbs. – Nathan Butler (KS)
Sean Hage of Georgia, first six-time Junior champion
Sean Hage of Georgia was a fantastic wrestler in USA Wrestling’s national youth programs, not only making a name for himself on the national scene, but also putting the state of Georgia in the spotlight. At the time that Hage became one of the nation’s best in the mid-1990’s, Georgia was not respected as a hotbed for wrestling. He helped put Georgia on the map, as well.
Back in those days, USA Wrestling did not run a national folkstyle tournament, so the big deal for talented high school wrestlers was to win a double title. Hage got into the habit of winning double titles after he won two Cadet National titles in 1992 at 209 pounds, claiming both styles. He was already a huge name on the international level, winning Cadet World freestyle bronze medals in 1991 and 1992.
In 1993, he jumped up to the Junior level and competed all three years at that level at 191.5 pounds. After his sophomore year, he claimed his first Junior double title. The next year, he repeated that performance, sweeping the Greco-Roman and freestyle tournament. In the freestyle finals in 1994, he beat Iowa’s Lee Fullhart, who went on to a great college and freestyle career later in life. Later in the summer, Hage won a Junior World gold medal for the United States at 88 kg (193.5 lbs.)
His 1995 season gave Hage a chance to make history. After finishing his prep career with Georgia high school titles, Hage travelled to Fargo, N.D. in July for the 25th Junior Nationals, looking for a fourth-straight summer of double titles. He got it started well in Greco-Roman, reaching the finals and scoring a 12-0 technical fall over Shawn Ange of Wisconsin. His freestyle tournament also went very well. He stopped Craig Fenstermaker of Pennsylvania in the finals, 7-2. He was named Outstanding Wrestler in both styles that year.
His six career Junior National titles broke the record of five set by the legendary Andre Metzger of Michigan and Oscar Wood of Oregon. His eight Fargo national titles is also the most ever, title with Iowa legend David Kjeldgaard on the record charts.
“I was a little nervous, it was the final and it was the sixth. I’m glad it is over. I tried to get my points early and played tactical after that. That is all I wanted to do – win the match,” said Hage after breaking the record.
Hage went on to compete in college at West Virginia, and did not achieve the lofty goals he has set for himself. He was not an NCAA All-American, reaching the blood round at heavyweight in 1999 NCAAs at Penn State. This summer, Trackwrestling’s Kyle Klingman interviewed Hage, where he said he ‘felt like a fraud’ in high school even though he was breaking records. He is using his experience to help others now as a coach. Looking back, his achievements as a high school wrestler makes him one of the greatest in our nation’s history at that level.
Click for Sean Hage Trackwrestling interview in 2020
Sean Hage of Georgia (Junior Nationals finals opponents)
1993 - Greco-Roman – 191.5 – Jevon Herman (IL)
1993 - Freestyle – 191.5 lbs. – Mark Bodo (PA)
1994 – Greco-Roman – 191.5 – Joe Watson (FL)
1994 – Freestyle – 191.5 lbs. – Lee Fullhart (IA)
1995 – Greco-Roman – 191.5 – Shawn Ange (WI)
1995 – Freestyle – 191.5 lbs. - Craig Fenstermaker (PA)
Brent Metcalf of Michigan, second six-time Junior champion
By the time Brent Metcalf of Michigan began to compete on the Junior level, he had already made a name for himself in USA Wrestling’s age-group programs. In fact, in 2000, he won a USA Wrestling Triple Crown at the Schoolboy level, winning national titles in all three styles. He also became a star for Davison High School, a powerhouse program that was putting out tough wrestlers who went on to the Div. I level.
In 2002, Metcalf won a Cadet National title in Greco-Roman and was second in freestyle. Making the finals became a habit for him at the highest levels. Jumping to the Junior Nationals after his sophomore year, Metcalf reached the finals in both styles once again, this time taking two golds, with wins over Jason Johnstone of Ohio in the Greco-Roman finals and Carter Downing of Wyoming in the freestyle finals. By his junior year in 2004, everybody knew about Metcalf, and he won another double title in Fargo. His finals opponents were a pair of Indiana wrestlers, Wesley English in Greco-Roman and Alex Tsirtsis in freestyle. (Ironically, Metcalf and Tsirtsis would become college teammates a few years later at Iowa).
Going into his final year at Fargo, Metcalf had signed to wrestle under coach Tom Brands at Virginia Tech. Metcalf knew about the record and was motivated to test himself at that level again. He won the Greco-Roman title at 145 pounds, scoring an 11-0 technical fall over Brandon Sitch of Washington in 2:17.
When Metcalf made the Junior freestyle finals (his fourth straight year in the national finals in both styles), his opponent was Pennsylvania’s Matt Dragon, who had placed second in Greco-Roman up at 152 pounds and dropped in weight to face Metcalf. In what started as a close battle, Metcalf opened up his offense and ultimately pinned Dragon at 4:59. This tied him with Sean Hage with a record six Junior National titles. Like Hage, he was named Outstanding Wrestler in both styles as a senior.
“I don’t know if you can say I am the best. I am out here to be the best. That’s why I do the sport. Personally, this is what I expect from myself,” said Metcalf.
Metcalf redshirted his first year at Virginia Tech, and when Coach Brands took the job at Iowa, Metcalf followed him there. Virginia Tech did not release him, costing him a year of eligibility. In any case, Metcalf became one of Iowa’s greatest champions, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist who also won a Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s best college wrestler. He also became a top international freestyle wrestler for Team USA< competing in Senior Worlds four times. He was a National Coach for USA Wrestling for a short time before heading to the college ranks, where he is an assistant coach at Iowa State. No history of the Junior Nationals is complete with the mention of Brent Metcalf.
Brent Metcalf of Michigan (Junior Nationals finals opponents)
2003 – Greco-Roman – 140 lbs. – Jason Johnstone (OH)
2003 – Freestyle – 140 lbs. – Carter Downing (WY)
2004 – Greco-Roman – 145.5 lbs. – Wesley English (IN)
2004 – Freestyle – 145 lbs. – Alex Tsirtsis (IN)
2005 – Greco-Roman – 145 lbs. – Brandon Sitch (WA)
2005 – Freestyle – 145.5 lbs. – Matt Dragon (PA)
The Junior Nationals has always been a showcase of the best high school athletes in the nation. For many athletes, Junior Nationals gave them an opportunity to show the world (and college coaches) their skills and potential, truly opening the door for opportunities in the future.
For a select few, Junior Nationals truly allowed some talented wrestlers to take a step above their peers and become history-makers. On the final day of our series (as Fargo was scheduled to end today had it not been cancelled) we remember three newsmakers on the boys side who used their abilities in both freestyle and Greco-Roman to make big news: Adam Coon of Michigan, Sean Hage of Georgia and Brent Metcalf of Michigan.
Adam Coon of Michigan, first two-time Junior Triple Crown winner
USA Wrestling started its Triple Crown award program in 1997 in the Kids division, to honor wrestlers who win USA Wrestling national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle the same year. In 2003, USA Wrestling expanded the program to the Cadet level, and in 2008, the Junior division was also added.
Winning the Junior Triple Crown proved to be very difficult. There were no Triple Crown winners the first two years, before Jade Rauser of Montana won it for the first time in 2009. When Michigan star Adam Coon won the Triple Crown after his junior senior at Fowlerville High, he was only the fourth Junior Triple Crown champion ever. And this talented heavyweight, a Cadet World champion in freestyle already, had another year of high school left. He decided he wanted to become the first two-time Triple Crown winner after his senior year.
The first step was to win the 2013 Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he powered through the bracket, pinning Dean Broghammer of Iowa in the finals in 2:42. He returned to Fargo in the summer of 2013, just weeks before heading to the University of Michigan. He won the second leg of the Triple Crown by taking Greco-Roman gold, winning his pool with five pins and a technical fall. In the finals, he scored a technical fall over tough Greco wrestler Sam Stoll of Minnesota, 7-0. (Both Coon and Stoll would become Junior World Greco-Roman medalists later in their career).
The final challenge was the Junior freestyle division, where Coon continued his onslaught pinning four and getting two technical falls in his pool. In the finals, he dispatched Nathan Butler of Kansas with a 10-0 technical fall in just 26 seconds, with a takedown and four ankle laces.
"It's a huge honor to be able to accomplish something like this,” Coon said. "I want to thank USA Wrestling for providing wrestlers like me with the opportunity to wrestle for a Triple Crown. This is a great tournament with a lot of amazing athletes competing. It's been a great experience for me to wrestle here."
It was not until 2018 until another wrestler won a second Triple Crown, another heavyweight star named Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois turned the trick. Since then, Coon had a great college career at Michigan, and most recently was a Senior World silver medalist in Greco-Roman in 2018. Coon will be pursuing his Olympic dream in 2021 as the No. 1 ranked American in the style. (He is still great in freestyle, having made Final X on the Senior level in both styles in 2018).
Adam Coon of Michigan (Finals opponents on way to two Triple Crowns)
2012 – Folkstyle (in Cedar Falls, IA) – 285 – Cole Johnson (WI)
2012 – Greco-Roman – 285 lbs. – Josh Marchok (IL)
2012 – Freestyle – 285 lbs. – Donte Winfield (IN)
2013 – Folkstyle (in Cedar Falls, IA) – 285 – Dean Broghammer (IA) pin 2:42
2013 – Greco-Roman – 285 lbs. – Sam Stoll (MN)
2013 – Freestyle – 285 lbs. – Nathan Butler (KS)
Sean Hage of Georgia, first six-time Junior champion
Sean Hage of Georgia was a fantastic wrestler in USA Wrestling’s national youth programs, not only making a name for himself on the national scene, but also putting the state of Georgia in the spotlight. At the time that Hage became one of the nation’s best in the mid-1990’s, Georgia was not respected as a hotbed for wrestling. He helped put Georgia on the map, as well.
Back in those days, USA Wrestling did not run a national folkstyle tournament, so the big deal for talented high school wrestlers was to win a double title. Hage got into the habit of winning double titles after he won two Cadet National titles in 1992 at 209 pounds, claiming both styles. He was already a huge name on the international level, winning Cadet World freestyle bronze medals in 1991 and 1992.
In 1993, he jumped up to the Junior level and competed all three years at that level at 191.5 pounds. After his sophomore year, he claimed his first Junior double title. The next year, he repeated that performance, sweeping the Greco-Roman and freestyle tournament. In the freestyle finals in 1994, he beat Iowa’s Lee Fullhart, who went on to a great college and freestyle career later in life. Later in the summer, Hage won a Junior World gold medal for the United States at 88 kg (193.5 lbs.)
His 1995 season gave Hage a chance to make history. After finishing his prep career with Georgia high school titles, Hage travelled to Fargo, N.D. in July for the 25th Junior Nationals, looking for a fourth-straight summer of double titles. He got it started well in Greco-Roman, reaching the finals and scoring a 12-0 technical fall over Shawn Ange of Wisconsin. His freestyle tournament also went very well. He stopped Craig Fenstermaker of Pennsylvania in the finals, 7-2. He was named Outstanding Wrestler in both styles that year.
His six career Junior National titles broke the record of five set by the legendary Andre Metzger of Michigan and Oscar Wood of Oregon. His eight Fargo national titles is also the most ever, title with Iowa legend David Kjeldgaard on the record charts.
“I was a little nervous, it was the final and it was the sixth. I’m glad it is over. I tried to get my points early and played tactical after that. That is all I wanted to do – win the match,” said Hage after breaking the record.
Hage went on to compete in college at West Virginia, and did not achieve the lofty goals he has set for himself. He was not an NCAA All-American, reaching the blood round at heavyweight in 1999 NCAAs at Penn State. This summer, Trackwrestling’s Kyle Klingman interviewed Hage, where he said he ‘felt like a fraud’ in high school even though he was breaking records. He is using his experience to help others now as a coach. Looking back, his achievements as a high school wrestler makes him one of the greatest in our nation’s history at that level.
Click for Sean Hage Trackwrestling interview in 2020
Sean Hage of Georgia (Junior Nationals finals opponents)
1993 - Greco-Roman – 191.5 – Jevon Herman (IL)
1993 - Freestyle – 191.5 lbs. – Mark Bodo (PA)
1994 – Greco-Roman – 191.5 – Joe Watson (FL)
1994 – Freestyle – 191.5 lbs. – Lee Fullhart (IA)
1995 – Greco-Roman – 191.5 – Shawn Ange (WI)
1995 – Freestyle – 191.5 lbs. - Craig Fenstermaker (PA)
Brent Metcalf of Michigan, second six-time Junior champion
By the time Brent Metcalf of Michigan began to compete on the Junior level, he had already made a name for himself in USA Wrestling’s age-group programs. In fact, in 2000, he won a USA Wrestling Triple Crown at the Schoolboy level, winning national titles in all three styles. He also became a star for Davison High School, a powerhouse program that was putting out tough wrestlers who went on to the Div. I level.
In 2002, Metcalf won a Cadet National title in Greco-Roman and was second in freestyle. Making the finals became a habit for him at the highest levels. Jumping to the Junior Nationals after his sophomore year, Metcalf reached the finals in both styles once again, this time taking two golds, with wins over Jason Johnstone of Ohio in the Greco-Roman finals and Carter Downing of Wyoming in the freestyle finals. By his junior year in 2004, everybody knew about Metcalf, and he won another double title in Fargo. His finals opponents were a pair of Indiana wrestlers, Wesley English in Greco-Roman and Alex Tsirtsis in freestyle. (Ironically, Metcalf and Tsirtsis would become college teammates a few years later at Iowa).
Going into his final year at Fargo, Metcalf had signed to wrestle under coach Tom Brands at Virginia Tech. Metcalf knew about the record and was motivated to test himself at that level again. He won the Greco-Roman title at 145 pounds, scoring an 11-0 technical fall over Brandon Sitch of Washington in 2:17.
When Metcalf made the Junior freestyle finals (his fourth straight year in the national finals in both styles), his opponent was Pennsylvania’s Matt Dragon, who had placed second in Greco-Roman up at 152 pounds and dropped in weight to face Metcalf. In what started as a close battle, Metcalf opened up his offense and ultimately pinned Dragon at 4:59. This tied him with Sean Hage with a record six Junior National titles. Like Hage, he was named Outstanding Wrestler in both styles as a senior.
“I don’t know if you can say I am the best. I am out here to be the best. That’s why I do the sport. Personally, this is what I expect from myself,” said Metcalf.
Metcalf redshirted his first year at Virginia Tech, and when Coach Brands took the job at Iowa, Metcalf followed him there. Virginia Tech did not release him, costing him a year of eligibility. In any case, Metcalf became one of Iowa’s greatest champions, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist who also won a Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s best college wrestler. He also became a top international freestyle wrestler for Team USA< competing in Senior Worlds four times. He was a National Coach for USA Wrestling for a short time before heading to the college ranks, where he is an assistant coach at Iowa State. No history of the Junior Nationals is complete with the mention of Brent Metcalf.
Brent Metcalf of Michigan (Junior Nationals finals opponents)
2003 – Greco-Roman – 140 lbs. – Jason Johnstone (OH)
2003 – Freestyle – 140 lbs. – Carter Downing (WY)
2004 – Greco-Roman – 145.5 lbs. – Wesley English (IN)
2004 – Freestyle – 145 lbs. – Alex Tsirtsis (IN)
2005 – Greco-Roman – 145 lbs. – Brandon Sitch (WA)
2005 – Freestyle – 145.5 lbs. – Matt Dragon (PA)
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