2012 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS
Record-setting crowds witness historic Trials
By Roger Moore IOWA CITY – The U.S. Olympic Team
Trials wrapped up with Clarissa Chun becoming the first two-time Olympian in women’s freestyle history for the United States, Sam Hazewinkel joining his father as an Olympian, Jared Frayer knocking off a hometown favorite, and young Ellis Coleman winning a title in front of 13,712 fans.
That finished off a two-day total of 54,766 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, without question a Trials record. Nine champions were crowned on the final day of the two-day event – three in Greco-Roman, four in freestyle, and two in women’s freestyle – with eight of them punching their ticket to London. Chun topped Alyssa Lampe in three matches to win the title at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
“I almost gave myself and my coaches a heart attack. My coach said, ‘do you want me in your corner or what, because you’re not hearing me, you’re not listen- ing to anything I’m saying'," said the 30- year-old Chun.
Chun is the first woman wrestler in U.S. history to make two Olympic Teams. Hazewinkel beat friend and foe Nick Simmons in a 55 kg/121 lbs. series that went the distance with the former Greco- Roman star rebounding after dropping the first match. Along with his father Dave, an Olympian in Greco in 1972, the 29-year-old is the only wrestler whose father also competed at the Olympics in wrestling.
"I am so happy my dad could be here to see it," said Hazewinkel. "Having my family here, my wife. It is awesome. (My dad) tries to make it when he can. This one worked out great because, with the ’72 team, he didn’t even have to worry about coming up with the money to make it here. Everything worked out, unbeliev- able." It’s hard to call a United States Olympian a villain, but Frayer certainly sent Hawkeye fans home disappointed. Frayer, a 33-year-old originally from
6 USA Wrestler Clarissa Chun (in red) battles Alyssa Lampe in the finals. Larry Slater photo.
Clearwater, Fla., knocked off Brent Metcalf in two straight bouts to claim top honors at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in freestyle "It was bittersweet I guess," said Frayer giving up the last point in the match which sent the pro-Metcalf crowd into a frenzy. "I knew it was over and I thought maybe I screwed up and gave up some- thing somewhere. It would be silly cele- brating without winning, but I knew I had won."
2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert stormed back after dropping the first match in the best-of-three against Travis Paulson at 84 kg/185 lbs. Tervel Dlagnev, a 2009 World bronze medalist, took care of old rival Les Sigman for top honors at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
In 2010, Sigman earned a World Team spot by beating Dlagnev, who came back to take fifth at the 2011 World Championships.
In Greco-Roman, Coleman punched his ticket to London with two straight wins over two-time Trials champion Joe Betterman at 60 kg/132 lbs.
The two are both resident athletes at the Olympic Training Center and both are from the Chicago area.
“I knew him from the beginning," said Coleman. "When I was a kid I was in his clinics and he used to coach me a bit. But I love Joe to death, he’s really tough. It was kind of odd. Joe used to do clinics and he used to coach me, remember Coach Powell? He was like yeah, I remember that. I never thought I’d be here, me and him in the finals.” Ben Provisor, 21, second at the 2011
World Team Trials, ended 37-year-old Aaron Sieracki’s bid for an Olympic spot with a tough three-period win at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Sieracki won the opening bout in three periods, but Provisor forced a third by winning round number two, setting up a third bout which needed all three two- minute sessions. A power struggle at the edge of the mat saw a video review with officials ruling in Provisor’s favor. Sieracki was also second at the 2008 Olympic Trials and fourth in 2004. His
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