US Olympic Wrestling Team 2012: Remaining Americans Who Will Claim a Medal
With only days remaining in the Olympics, wrestling has stepped into the limelight, and there are quite a few Americans remaining that could claim a medal.
The U.S. has been traditionally strong on the mat and it isn't any different in these games.
The Team USA women have already taken away a few medals in wrestling, and this weekend it will be the men's turn.
So, let’s take a look at America's best remaining chances at earning a medal on the mat.
Coleman Scott, 60kg
The U.S. Olympic trials champion in the 60kg weight class, Coleman Scott has an excellent chance to medal in London.
He is a former Oklahoma State Cowboy and was one of the top wrestlers in the country in 2012. At the trials, Scott dominated his competition en route to his spot on the team, and he could do much the same on his way to the medal stand.
Scott doesn’t have much international experience, but he's a powerful wrestler with great technical ability on the mat. And those skills translate well anywhere.
His quest for a medal kicks off on Saturday when he faces Lee Seungchul of South Korea in the Round of 16.
Jake Herbert, 84kg
Jake Herbert knows what it is to be a champion.
He's a three-time U.S. Open champion. He won gold in the 2011 at the Pan American Games. Plus, he's had success on the international stage, winning silver at the 2009 World Championships.
The 27-year-old Northwestern grad is confident about his chances too, as he told NJ.com.
"“You look at the guy across the mat, and you think, ‘He hasn't worked as hard as me,’” he explained, his face suddenly a mask of sincerity. “I know for a fact he wasn't up at 6 a.m. He wasn't hitting the bike until he puked. He wasn’t hitting the weights harder. He isn’t as dedicated as I am. He doesn’t want it as much as I do.”
"
Herbert was national wrestler of the year in 2009, and after these games are over he could be more than that. He might be a gold medalist.
Tervel Ivaylov Dlagnev, 120kg
Dlagnev is a powerhouse in the 120kg division.
He burst onto the international scene in 2008 and has been a fixture there since. He earned his first ever Olympic berth at the US trials in an utterly forceful performance. He went 4-0 in Iowa and didn’t drop a single set.
Dlagnev moved to the U.S. when he was four and eventually ended up at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, where he was a two-time Division II national champion.
His name may be hard to pronounce, but announcers may have to get used to it when his draw kicks off on Saturday.
