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Scott fulfills Olympic dream

By Jonathan Guth, For The Greene County Messenger 4 min read

Since watching Kendall Cross winning the gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Olympics, Coleman Scott has dreamed of making it to the summer games.

That dream became a reality on May 7 at Times Square in New York City when the Waynesburg Central graduate won an Olympic Wrestle-Off over Reece Humphrey in the preliminary match and Shawn Bunch in the best-of-three championship series to clinch a spot for Team USA at 60 kilograms.

“It has been my goal to make the team since watching Kendall Cross win in 1996,” the 2008 NCAA national champion at Oklahoma State said. “My grandfather was a great wrestler and my inspiration to take up the sport, and I have loved it ever since.”

Scott secured his spot on the team with a three-point throw, which is something he has adjusted to in freestyle as opposed to attacking the legs.

“The international guys are more patient and wait for the right time to take their shots,” Scott said. “We have to learn to adapt to that style. Sometimes we take shot after shot and don’t wait for the right opportunity. It’s like a chess match out there.”

The three-time Pennsylvania state champion has been a member of Team USA the past four years and was fourth in the trials for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Only the top wrestler makes the team.

“Finishing fourth in 2008 definitely motivated me,” Scott said. “It also gave me an idea of what it is like to wrestle at this level and I have been preparing every since.”

Scott, who works with the Cowboy Wrestling Club for youths, has plenty of great teachers in John Smith, his college coach, and Kenny Monday.

Smith won Olympic gold in 1988 and ’92 along with topping the medal stand at the World Championships in ’87, ’89, ’90 and ’91. Monday earned a gold medal in the 1988.

“Coach Smith is the reason I came to Oklahoma State to wrestle,” Scott said. “Kenny Monday and Kendall Cross also wrestled here. We have a great tradition.”

Scott will have a busy month ahead as he returns to his hometown on June 29-30 to be sent off to London.

“It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to come back home,” Scott said. “I am so happy to be able to come back. Last week was a whirlwind for me.

“My wife has done a great job planning everything and we have about 70 people coming to London.”

On June 29, there will be a T-shirt signing at Rices Landing in Giant Eagle from 9 a.m. to noon and a public reception on the court house steps in Waynesburg from 12 to 1. A Night at The Races at the Waynesburg Armory will be held from 6 to 10.

Scott will hold a clinic from 9 a.m. to noon at Waynesburg University on June 30.

From 1 to 3, he will have a T-shirt signing at the Waynesburg Giant Eagle. From 3 to 5 will be a meet and greet at Tommy Boys Tavern in Waynesburg.

After going back to Stillwater to train, Scott will travel to Colorado on July 21 to workout and leaves for London on the 25th. The wrestling doesn’t take place until the last week of the Games, so Scott and his teammates will train in Belarus.

“I will be very busy with training and all, but I do want to take some of it in,” Scott said. “I never really got into basketball, but I have been following the Oklahoma City Thunder lately since they are in the NBA Finals. I can’t wait to go over there.”

The four-time WPIAL champion knows he has a challenge ahead, but is eager to represent his country in London.

“It is just an honor to represent the greatest country in the world,” Scott said. “I am going there to win it all.”

In addition to three state titles in high school, Scott was a Beast of the East Champion.

He won the Powerade Tournament three times and was 156-12.

He was the No. 1 high school recruit in the United States his senior year.

As a member of the Cowboys wrestling team, Scott was a four-time Division I All-American.

The son of James and Mary, Scott has two sisters, Amelia and Kaitlin.

He is married to Jessica and has a daughter, Leighton. They reside in Stillwater.

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