Olympic hopefuls Trotman, Winn
wrestle with life after the mat
By Adam Rossow
Northwestern University, Medill
TeamUSA.org
Wrestlers Austin Trotman and Deron Winn had been here before. But this time was different.
Friday’s 86 kg title match at the 18th annual Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament in Colorado Springs was the first and likely the last time the two veteran wrestlers would tangle.
Trotman is 27 years old and Winn is seven months his junior. Neither is “old” by wrestling standards, but the Olympics and the dream of representing the United States is a once-in-four-years opportunity. The Rio Games this summer might be their last shot. Both wrestlers will be north of 30 when the chance to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics comes around.
The winner of the Dave Schultz qualifies for the 2016 Olympic Trials. The loser has to keep wrestling and win the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier in April.
Trotman used a takedown and a four-point throw to take a 6-2 lead early in the second period before holding off Winn’s late flurry for a 9-8 decision. With the victory, Trotman goes to Iowa City and wrestles in the trials on April 10.
“It felt good to put it all together and finally go over the hump,” Trotman said.
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Northwestern University, Medill
TeamUSA.org
Wrestlers Austin Trotman and Deron Winn had been here before. But this time was different.
Friday’s 86 kg title match at the 18th annual Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament in Colorado Springs was the first and likely the last time the two veteran wrestlers would tangle.
Trotman is 27 years old and Winn is seven months his junior. Neither is “old” by wrestling standards, but the Olympics and the dream of representing the United States is a once-in-four-years opportunity. The Rio Games this summer might be their last shot. Both wrestlers will be north of 30 when the chance to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics comes around.
The winner of the Dave Schultz qualifies for the 2016 Olympic Trials. The loser has to keep wrestling and win the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier in April.
Trotman used a takedown and a four-point throw to take a 6-2 lead early in the second period before holding off Winn’s late flurry for a 9-8 decision. With the victory, Trotman goes to Iowa City and wrestles in the trials on April 10.
“It felt good to put it all together and finally go over the hump,” Trotman said.
Read Full Story
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