Oklahoma State University Athletics
Coleman Scott Takes First at U.S. Olympic Trials
April 21, 2012 | Cowboy Wrestling
April 21, 2012
IOWA CITY – Former Oklahoma State wrestler Coleman Scott moved one step closer to earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team as he won the 60 kg title Saturday at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials.
The top-two ranked wrestlers in the class, Reece Humphrey and Shawn Bunch, did not wrestle at the event because they will try to qualify the United States for the class at the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in China from April 27-29. Scott will enter a tournament with both wrestlers at a later date should they qualify the class.
Scott, an NCAA Champion and four-time All-American at OSU, went 4-0 on the day with several impressive wins. He knocked off his first opponent, Martin Berberyan, with a 4-0, 2-1 decision and never looked back.
His next opponent, Matt Valenti, was a familiar foe. Valenti defeated Scott in the finals of the 2007 NCAA Championships, but Scott made the most of his chance at revenge as he defeated Valenti, 1-0, 0-1, 7-0, in the semifinal round of the trials.
Logan Steiber of Ohio State was Scott's opponent in the best-two-of-three final round. Steiber was named the 133-pound NCAA Champion last month, but Scott made quick work of the Buckeye as he won 3-0, 1-0 in the first match and 2-0, 0-1, 2-0 in the second to secure his title.
One other former Cowboy wrestled at the event Saturday, as Chris Pendleton finished second in the 96 kg challenge bracket. Pendleton handled his first opponent, JD Bergman, 2-1, 3-1 and his second, Dustin Kilgore, 1-0, 4-3, but fell one bout shy of a championship appearance with a 3-1, 4-0 loss to Tommy Rowlands.
With one of two days complete at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials, OSU still has four wrestlers with school ties left to compete.
Current Cowboy Jordan Oliver was originally scheduled to wrestle Saturday at 60 kg, but did not make weight at Friday's weigh in. The OSU senior-to-be will now wrestle in the 66 kg class Sunday.
Former Oklahoma State wrestlers Obe Blanc (55 kg) and Steve Mocco (120 kg) will also compete Sunday, as well as OSU assistant coach Bryce Hasseman (84 kg).
2012 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials - Men's Freestyle
60 KG (132 LBS)
Coleman Scott (Gator WC) dec. Martin Berberyan (SK Golden Boys) 4-0,2-1
Coleman Scott (Gator WC) dec. Matt Valenti (Lehigh Valley AC) 1-0,0-1,7-0
Coleman Scott (Gator WC) dec. Logan Stieber (NYAC) 3-0,1-0
Coleman Scott (Gator WC) dec. Logan Stieber (NYAC) 2-0,0-1,2-0
96 KG (211.5 LBS)
Chris Pendleton (Gator WC) dec. JD Bergman (NYAC) 2-1,3-1
Chris Pendleton (Gator WC) dec. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) 1-0,4-3
Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist Kids) dec. Chris Pendleton (Gator WC) 3-1,4-0
Sunday
55 KG (121.25 LBS)
Obe Blanc, Gator WC
66 KG (145.5 LBS)
Jordan Oliver, Gator WC
84 KG (185 LBS)
Bryce Hasseman, Gator WC
120 KG (264.5 LBS)
Steve Mocco, New York AC
Players Mentioned
