Thompson returns to the top at nationals
By KEVIN EVANS, Executive Sports Editor
WATERLOO – Tolly Thompson is back on top of the wrestling world.
Ten years after winning his NCAA championship and seven years after winning his first United States Open, Thompson won his second national title last weekend in Las Vegas.
Thompson, a native of Janesville, pinned two-time NCAA champion Steve Mocco of Oklahoma State in the finals. Thompson threw Mocco to his back for the fall at the three-minute, 56-second mark of the 120-kilogram match.
“It feels good, but it was tough, “said Thompson.
The national title means Thompson will go into the World Team trials seeded No. 1 and will not have to wrestle until the finals. If he wins the trials, he will qualify for the World Championships. He has never competed in that event. He was eligible for it in 1998, but missed it because of a knee injury.
Just that event and the Olympics are missing from his list of titles.
His win over Mocco keeps him on top of the USA Team ladder and probably turned some heads. Thompson isn’t so sure he really got the fall, but he did win the match.
“I don’t believe I got him, but I beat him, “said Thompson. “I think time was out.”
Thompson won the first period, 1-0, but was trailing in the separately scored second period, 1-0.
“I thought with 40 seconds left I was going to lose the period, but I wanted to make him wrestle hard, “said Thompson.
“Then I got in a situation I thought I could score. I knew I could score with 15 seconds left. I jumped for his head and got him.
“I was trying to score three points. I just wanted him on his back so I would win the period and win the national title.”
Thompson realizes some people doubted he could beat Mocco.
“I keep hearing that. I would rather be doubted, “he said. “I have been doubted my whole life.
“He is good. He is going to be there for a long time to come. He’ll be there long after I retire. But I am at the top of my game.”
Thompson, 31, is taking a couple of days off the mat to let his body heal. He’s spending time with his father, Leonard, planting trees on his farm between Janesville and Shell Rock.
They are planting about 500 trees this year, hoping it will be a good place to hunt deer in years to come. But he’ll be back on the mat soon, with an eye toward the World Team Trials at Ames in June.
One other UNI wrestler fared well.
Redshirt freshman Andrew Anderson finished fifth in the under-20 division at 211 pounds and qualified for the Trials in that division.
Iowa State assistant coach Chris Bono defeated top-seeded Jared Lawrence of the Minnesota Storm, 1-0, 1-1, 1-0 Saturday in the men’s freestyle finals at 66 kilograms.
It was Bono’s second career U.S. Nationals title, to go along with a 2003 title. Bono has competed on two U.S. World teams. Lawrence was second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Bono used a clinch move to win the title.
Lee Fullhart, a former Iowa national champion from Decorah, was second at 84 kilograms and former Hawkeye national champ Joe Williams won the 74-kilogram title.
Iowa State two-time All-American Nate Gallick placed second at 132 pounds. Former Cyclone Matt Azevedo was second at 55 kilograms to former UNI assistant coach Sam Henson.
Finals
55 Kgs: Sam Henson (Sunkist Kids) dec Matt Azevedo (Sunkist Kids), 2-0, 5-0
60Kg – Michael Lightner (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nate Gallck (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 0-3, 1-0
66 Kgs: Chris Bono (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jared Lawrence (MN Storm), 1-0,1-1,1-0
74Kg – Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kirk White (Bronco WC), 4-1, 1-1, 2-1
84 Kgs: Mo Lawal (Gator WC) dec. Lee Fullhart (Gator), 1-0, 1-1
96Kg – Daniel Cormier (Gator WC) dec. Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0
120 Kgs: Tolly Thompson (Sunkist Kids) threw Steve Mocco (NYAC), 3:56
Semifinals
55 Kgs:
Sam Henson (Sunkist) dec. TJ Hill( MO), 7-0,6-0
Matt Azevedo (Sunkist) dec. Jason Powell (Gator) 1-1,2-0
60KG
Michael Lightner (Sunkist) dec. Tony DeAnda (NYAC), 1-0, 3-1
Nate Gallick (Sunkist) dec. Josh Moore (Sunkist), 6-3, 4-2
66 Kgs:
Jared Lawrence (MN Storm) dec.Jared Frayer (MA), 2-3: 1-0: 3-1
303: Chris Bono (Sunkist) dec. Doug Schwab (Gator), 0-1: 2-1: 3-0
74KG
Joe Williams (Sunkist ) dec. Donny Pritzlaff (NYAC), 1-0, 2-0
Kirk White (NYAC) dec. Joe Heskett (Sunkist), 1-4,1-1,1-0
84 Kgs:
Lee Fullhart ( Gator) dec. Andy Hrovat (NYAC), 1-1,1-0
Mo Lawal (Gator) dec. Tyler Nixt (Hawkeye Training Club), 2-0,3-0
96KG
Daniel Cormier (Gator WC) dec. Nick Preston (Sunkist) , 0-1,3-0,6-1
Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist) dec. Nick Fekete (NYAC), 2-0, 3-1
120 Kgs:
Tolly Thompson (Sunkist)dec. Patrick Cummins (NYAC), 4-1: 4-0
Steve Mocco (NYAC) dec. Mike Faust (Sunkist), 2-0: 5-0
Wrestling Gear
