Wrestling
OSU Freshman Nikko Triggas Prepares for Olympic Trials
By Kevin SchlosserNikko Triggas made an immediate impact at Ohio State last season as a college wrestler. Competing as a true freshman he started every varsity match and was a national qualifier for the Buckeyes. When the college season came to a close; Triggas never stopped wrestling and turned his focus to freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling where he has done quite well.
At the University Nationals in April, Triggas won a Greco-Roman national title. A University title includes an invitation to 2008 Olympic Trials. Without a professional league to matriculate to after graduation; most wrestlers dreams involve the Olympics, coaching, or administration. For Triggas earning an invitation to the Olympic Trials this early in his career means a lot.
Nikko Triggas
Photo by Kevin Schlosser“It has always been one of my goals to wrestle in the Olympics so just to earn an invitation to the Trials is incredible,” said Nikko Triggas. “It is definitely going to be a challenge, but you wrestle to win every time you step on the mat.”
At the Olympic Trials, Nikko Triggas will be one of twelve wrestlers in his weight class to compete in the challenge tournament on Friday. The winner of the tournament advances to the finals on Saturday to face the 2008 US national champion in a best of three series of matches. The champion will represent the United States in August at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China
“Nikko is great at Greco-Roman; he loves Greco but he really just loves to wrestle,” said OSU head coach Tom Ryan. “He is turning potential into performance.”
As a wrestler Triggas is no stranger to international competition. Last summer he was a double medalist at the 2007 Junior Pan Am Games in Maracaibo, Venezuela winning gold in Greco-Roman and silver in Freestyle. This summer he will be making a return trip to the Junior Pan American Championships. The tournament will be held in Cuenca, Ecuador on June 20-22, 2008.
“Obviously Nikko has a tremendous opportunity in Las Vegas,” stated Ryan. “He might be one of the youngest guys in the field but he has one of the biggest hearts. We wish both him and Tommy Rowlands nothing but the best and hope each brings another championship back to Ohio State.”
A native Californian, Nikko Triggas will be a true sophomore at Ohio State in the fall and is expected to be the OSU starter at 125 pounds. Despite being over 2000 miles away, Triggas recently took time for a short interview to discuss his preparation for the Olympic Trials, off season wrestling and his future plans at Ohio State.
What is it about Greco-Roman wrestling that appeals to you?
“I absolutely love Greco; it is definitely my style. Greco fits my style of wrestling the best; I love throwing upper body and I like the mat wrestling. I love having thirty seconds on top of somebody to try to turn him.”
You recently were out in Colorado Springs for the Junior World and University Team Trials. What can you say about the experience and how has it helped prepare you for the Olympic Trials in Las Vegas?
“I really didn’t think I was as prepared as I should have been. I didn’t have enough Greco under my belt; but I competed decent the second day of competition. I think I will be much better prepared for the Olympic Trials considering that I am going to be getting double days in with my Greco coach and really getting some good technique down.”
Nikko Triggas
Photo by Kevin SchlosserDid you get a chance to work out at the Olympic Training Center or was this trip all about competition?
“I got to stick around to train a little bit; but more so the experience turned me on to a few things that I need to fix before the Olympic Trials begin.”
With the first day of competition at the Olympic Trials less than a week away; what are your travel plans for the weekend and when are you wrestling?
“My summer plans are really pretty busy. After school got out last week and we were released, I went home for the week. I will leave California on the June 12 and fly down to Vegas. I make weight on June 13, and hopefully will be wrestling on both June 13 and June 14. I am staying to watch Tommy Rowlands in the finals on Sunday night. I will be flying out of Vegas at 11:00 p.m. and am getting on a flight to Ecuador at 6:00 a.m. the next morning for the Junior Pan Am.”
Back to Las Vegas, you were pre-seeded ninth for the trials; do you have any idea who you are going to wrestle or have you looked at the field?
“I have no clue who I am wrestling; I haven’t even seen the brackets at this point. I know I have wrestled a number of kids in the field, but I haven’t wrestled a lot of them recently. I hope that I get to see some guys I saw at the University Trials in Colorado Springs. That was a very good competition.”
At nineteen you are one of the youngest wrestlers in the competition. Does that change your approach or outlook at all?
“It really does not. I have been wrestling Greco-Roman seriously for quite a few years now. Sure there are some people that have some more experience than I do, but I have a little bit more time left then they do on the clock. You still go out there to win it either way.”
Who is going to be coaching you at the Olympic Trials?
“Lou Rosselli will be in my corner and I think my Greco coach from California is looking to fly out as well.”
Since you mentioned Rosselli how has he helped you develop as a wrestler?
“Lou has changed my shot completely. He has really prepared me next year for freestyle and in college. He is helping a little bit with my Greco technique but I am doing a lot of that on my own.”
Excluding the Olympics and Junior Pan Am what other wrestling will you do this summer?
“Not a whole lot more besides just working out. I will be running the camps in the summer at OSU before coming back to "Cali". I’ll have plenty of time to have some fun and work my butt off before school starts in the fall.”
Win or lose what do you hope to take from the experience in Las Vegas?
“Exactly that, experience. The more times you go to a tournament the better you are prepared for it. As many times as I can go to the Olympic Trials I will be there without a doubt.”
Wrestling as a true freshman you have four years to complete your last three seasons of eligibility. That sets you up for another Olympic run in 2012; what are your post-graduation wrestling plans?
“I am definitely hoping for many Olympic runs. I figure that I have three shots; three really good shots to go there and make something happen. It has been my goal and dream for a long time to get on the podium at the Olympics have a gold medal put around my neck. I would really love to make that happen.”
What does it mean to chase an Olympic dream at the same time you are a student?
“It means a lot; I am training for my future every day: school, wrestling and life. Once I get done with school; it will be easier to train. As much wrestling as I can get in; more is better. It doesn’t matter what style it is; if you are on the mat you going to be getting better.”
What does this opportunity mean to you as an individual wrestler and what does it mean to you as Ohio State wrestler?
“As an individual it is a blessing to be able to start this early; it is a step in the right direction. As a Buckeye it is good to get the Ohio State name out there. It shows people that we don’t just do college or freestyle; we are a well rounded program.”
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