Wrestling
Nikko Triggas Take Three at the Olympic Trials
By Kevin Schlosser(Las Vegas, NV) Ohio State freshman Nikko Triggas competed today at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Las Vegas, Nevada. Triggas qualified for the tournament in April by winning the 55 kg (121 lb) weight class at the 2008 University Nationals in Akron, Ohio. Triggas went 3-2 but did not place despite several strong performances.
Triggas opened the tournament with a 6-0, 7-0 first-round victory over Roger Stewart (NYAC). Advancing to the championship quarterfinals, he lost a 7-1, 1-1 series to Lindsey Durlacher (NYAC) and dropped into the consolations. A three-time US World Team member; Durlacher was a two-time All-American for Illinois in 1996 and 1997 in college.
In his first consolation match, Triggas won a 1-1, 5-0 decision over Miguel Pena (USMC). Wrestling in the consolation quartfinals, he picked up his third win of the tournament with a 4-0, 2-3, and 1:19 victory over Anthony Booker (USAF). He lost his next match in the consolation semifinals 6-0, 4-2 to Jimmy Chase (Pinnacle) and was eliminated from the tournament.
“I think I wrestled really well, but obviously not as well as I would have liked to do,” said Triggas at the end of the day. “I still have quite a few more chances at this. I am still young and I am still hungry so 2012 and 2016 are down the road.”
“This is Nikko’s element; he wrestles so inspired when he is out on the mat wrestling Greco-Roman,” said OSU assistant coach Joe Heskett. “I was really impressed he won three matches at the Olympic Trials. He is going to be a lot of fun to watch in the future.”
Despite entering the tournament as an underdog, Triggas was a game opponent in each of his matches. Irregardless of the score; he continued to push the tempo and attack. While he did not end his day on the podium, Triggas leaves Las Vegas knowing that he can compete at this level.
“He has probably had as many matches this summer or more than he did during the NCAA year,” asserted Heskett. “Nikko Triggas is a mat rat; he loves this sport and it shows. He has a lot of upside and we are very pleased with his commitment to the sport.”
“Wrestling is wrestling; I get as many matches as I can no matter what the style,” stated Triggas. “I think the key to getting better is to just keep wrestling as much as you possibly can.”
Triggas will stay in Las Vegas through the conclusion of the Olympic Trials so he can watch the rest of the competition and be here on Sunday to support Tommy Rowlands. He leaves for California on Sunday night before leaving on Monday morning for Junior Pan American Championships in Cuenca, Ecuador on June 20-22, 2008.
“I believe that the Olympic Trials are going to be better competition than the Pan Ams but they are definitely another good training opportunity,” concluded Triggas. “Whether I want to be a NCAA champion or an Olympic champion, wrestling is wrestling and I want to be the best.”
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