Oklahoma State University Athletics
Aiming for England
June 04, 2012 | Cowboy Wrestling
June 4, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. – Former Oklahoma State wrestler and NCAA Champion Coleman Scott hopes to achieve his dream of becoming a U.S. Olympian Thursday, when he will compete for the 60 kg spot on the USA Olympic squad at New York's Times Square.
A Waynesburg, Pa., native, Scott began wrestling at a young age after seeing the success of his grandfather. In 1996, during the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, a dream was born.
“There was a little more coverage here,” Scott said. “I saw some wrestling in that and that's when my aspirations started to become an Olympic champ.”
He saw his dream come to life as he wrestled his way through high school, where he became a Cadet Greco Champion, a two-time USA Junior Freestyle National Champion and a three-time Pennsylvania state champion.
After winning the Junior Nationals in Fargo in 2004, Scott was approached by Cowboy wrestling coach and legend John Smith, who asked him to visit OSU.
“Once I came out here to visit, I knew I wanted to come here,” Scott said. “I knew before that. With the history and tradition here, I wanted to come.”
He saw varsity action and received his first All-America honor after placing eighth in the NCAA Championships and being crowned the 125-pound conference champ as a true freshman.
By the end of his collegiate career, Scott became the 12th wrestler in OSU history to be a four-time All-American. He also finished with two Big 12 titles as well as a 133-pound NCAA title, which he won his senior year.
Surrounded by Olympians John Smith, Kenny Monday and Eric Guerrero, Scott said he has found the inspiration he needs to achieve his Olympic-sized dream.
After graduating, Scott dedicated the next four years of his life to making himself a major contender in pursuit of the gold. He was named the Hargobind International champion in 2009, and in 2010 and 2011, he placed third at the U.S. Open. Most recently, he won the Freestyle World Cup Championship, as well as, taking first in the U.S. Olympic trials earlier this year.
As the No. 3 wrestler in the 60 kg bracket, Scott will face No. 2 Reece Humphrey Thursday at the Beat the Streets event in NYC. The winner will take on top-ranked Shawn Bunch later that day in a best two out of three series for a spot on Team USA. The wrestle-off was forced as a result of the weight class not being qualified prior to the U.S. Olympic trials.
“Of course, my goal is to win the Olympic gold, but I have to win [Thursday] to get myself to do that,” Scott said. “So, my expectations going in are to wrestle like I have been, get a couple of wins and wrestle in London this August. I have a chance to make some history. ”
