Adam Coon (130 kg, NYAC/Cliff Keen, world no. 2) has earned himself another crack at a World title.
Earlier tonight, Coon bested 2017 Cadet World Champion Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist) in two straight matches that provided a look at Coon’s indisputable talent– as well as a glimpse at the future of American heavyweight continuity. Wrestling in the evening session for Final X: Lincoln began at 6:00pm (CT) and was broadcast live on FLOWrestling.
Schultz wanted to take command in Match 1 and started to finagle tie-ups that ran in concert with a driving rhythm to which Coon was forced to react. The 18-year-old was setting the tempo and gaining confidence nearing the midway portion of the first period. Feeling as though there was a score to be had, Schultz attempted to lasso Coon in a headlock. But when he attempted to corkscrew his hips, Coon shrugged back and caught him, securing the takedown. The 2018 World silver then wrapped for a gutwrench and turned Schultz three times for a surprising 8-0 tech.
Match 2 unfolded similarly to the opener. Schultz pushed forward, trying to weave underhooks and keep Coon on his heels. He was taking ground inch by inch. Eventually, the youngster received his passive/par terre chance and a 1-0 lead, but Coon remained static on the mat. Schultz resumed prying in the ties, looking for two-on-ones — or anything else he could get a handle on — as Coon hand-fought back with reciprocal intensity.
In the second period, Coon had a shot at some big offense. He had wrapped around Schultz and was working his hips and legs into position, with Schultz responding by grasping a headlock and trying to turn in. Seconds later, the result was a breakaway 50/50 position near the edge, with Coon coming away with two points. Shortly after the reset, Schultz was dinged for passive. Now up 3-1, Coon was in total control and proceeded to create even more distance by gutting Schultz over for another pair.
There was less than a minute for Schultz to make something happen. He went back to work searching for ties that could bring some offense but Coon wasn’t about to yield position. When the buzzer finally sounded, Coon had his series sweep and the US program had its second seed-eligible wrestler secure a bracket spot in Kazakhstan this coming autumn.
Notes:
- As alluded to, the 2019 World Team has two athletes, Coon and G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg, Sunkist), holding top-four rankings as determined by United World Wrestling’s Ranking Series. Coon is currently ranked second, and Hancock, third.
- Unlike last week at Rutgers, all of the Greco-Roman series at Final X: Lincoln ended in two matches.
- Coon’s tech fall of Schultz was one of four for Greco on Saturday. Ildar Hafizov (60 kg, Army/WCAP), Ryan Mango (63 kg, Army/WCAP), and Hancock all collected one tech each in their respective series.
Final X: Lincoln
June 15th — Lincoln, Nebraska
SESSION II
Adam Coon (130 kg, NYAC/Cliff Keen, world no. 2) def. Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist) two matches to none
Match 1: Coon def. Schultz 8-0, TF
Match 2: Coon def. Schultz 5-1
SESSION I
60 kg
Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) def. Mike Fuenffinger (Army/WCAP) two matches to none
Match 1: Hafizov def. Fuenffinger 7-5
Match 2: Hafizov def. Fuenffinger 9-0, TF
63 kg
Ryan Mango (Army/WCAP) def. Xavier Johnson (Marines) two matches to none
Match 1: Mango def. Johnson 13-2, TF
Match 2: Mango def. Johnson 6-5
72 kg
Ray Bunker (Marines) def. Alex Mossing (Air Force OTC) two matches to none
Match 1: Bunker def. Mossing 3-1
Match 2: Bunker def. Mossing 7-0
97 kg
G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist, world no. 3) def. Lucas Sheridan (Army/WCAP) two matches to none
Match 1: Hancock def. Sheridan 8-0, TF
Match 2: Hancock def. Sheridan 5-2
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