Tony the Tiger
He’s got the talent, the confidence and the swagger. Now Tony Ramos will have a chance to show he is the best wrestler on the planet after winning a title at the World Team Trials.
By Craig Sesker One goal at a time. That’s the mantra of dynamic young wrestler Tony Ramos. When asked why he didn’t wrestle freestyle during
the summers after finishing third and second at the NCAA Championships, his answer was simple and direct. “I am focusing on winning a national title,” he said matter-of-factly. That goal became a reality when Ramos capped
his college career at Iowa by winning the 133-pound title at the 2014 NCAA Championships this past March in Oklahoma City. The ultra-confident Ramos walked onto the mat on
May 31 in Madison, Wis., with a goal many wrestling observers didn’t think was attainable. He planned on winning the World Team Trials in freestyle wrestling at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. He did exactly that. And in impressive fashion The No. 4 seed in the Challenge Tournament,
Ramos knocked off Dan Mitcheff 9-5, World Team member Angel Escobedo 2-0 and University World Team member Nico Megaludis 1-0 to reach the best- of-3 finals. Then the 23-year-old Ramos, brash and outspo-
ken as ever, walked over to the interview area after winning the Challenge Tournament. “I'm done seeing these old guys wrestle — they've
had their chances," Ramos said. “You see interviews — I've watched (Nick) Simmons, I've watched (Sam) Hazewinkel, I've watched Escobedo, all they ever talk about is winning a medal. They're satisfied with winning a medal. If you think if I go overseas and just bring home a bronze or silver I'm going to be satisfied, you're wrong. It's about winning gold, it's not about just winning a medal. You've got to want it all."
Ramos then went out and swept 2012 Olympian
Sam Hazewinkel in two straight matches, 4-0 and 5- 4, to earn a trip to September’s World
Continued on page 9 8 USA Wrestler
NCAA champion Tony Ramos defeated Olympian Sam Hazewinkel in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials. Tony Rotundo photo.
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