Waynesburg grad Scott comes up short in quest for NCAA wrestling title
Oklahoma State’s Coleman Scott came up just short in his quest for a gold medal in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Saturday night. Second-seeded Matt Valenti of Penn won a 4-2 decision over Scott, a junior who is a Waynesburg Central graduate, in the 133-pound final.
Scott got the only takedown of the match to go up 2-0 in the first period. Valenti evened the score with a reversal later in the period, however, and then rode Scott out the entire second period.
Scott was on top to start the third period and let Valenti up to fall behind 3-2, but could not get a takedown to turn the tide. Riding time gave Valenti the extra point in the two-point victory.
“I felt good the whole time I was out there,” Scott said on Oklahoma State’s internet site. “My mind set was good and then I gave up the reversal and got ridden out. It was that whole second period that cost me.”
Valenti was warned for stalling once in the final period, but didn’t draw a second violation which would’ve awarded a point to Scott.
“He did not get hit for stalling, but what are you going to do? It is my fault,” Scott said. “I lost it for myself.”
Scott won four consecutive matches to reach the final.
On Thursday, he won an 11-1 major decision over Omar Gaitan of UC-Davis, and a 6-0 decision over Mario Galanakis of Iowa. On Friday Scott edged fifth-seeded Matt Keller of Chattanooga, 6-4, with a takedown in overtime, and held off top-seeded Nick Simmons of Michigan State, 4-3, in the semifinals.
Scott helped the Cowboys finish fifth in the team standings.