Princeton University Athletics
Nate Jackson was runner-up in the 86 kg competition at the Senior Nationals.
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Jackson Finishes Runner-Up as Kolodzik, Merkin Place at Senior Nationals
October 11, 2020 | Wrestling
Princeton assistant coach Nate Jackson finished runner-up at the Senior Nationals in Iowa this weekend, the top finish of three wrestlers at the event who are current Tiger coaches, wrestlers or wrestling alums.
Jackson held the top seed in the 86 kg (190 lb) freestyle draw and defended that seed all the way to the final, winning each of his first three bouts by 10-0 scores. Drew Foster, the 2019 NCAA champion at 184 pounds, was the first to score a point against Jackson at the event in a 7-4 Jackson win in the semis, and Gabe Dean, the 2015 and 2016 NCAA champion at 184, battled Jackson to a 1-1 draw in the final before Dean took the title on criteria.
Tiger senior Leonard Merkin matched his placement with his third seed in the 67 kg (148 lb) Greco-Roman draw. He turned in a pair of shutouts, winning his round-of-16 and quarterfinal bouts 8-0 before running into second-seeded Calvin Germinaro in the semis. Germinaro took the match 16-8 before finishing runner-up to fourth-seeded Benjamin Peak.
Four-time Tiger All-American Matthew Kolodzik outdid his seventh seed by a spot, finishing sixth in the 65 kg (143 lb) competition. Kolodzik won three times to reach the quarterfinals, meeting second-seeded Jaydin Eierman there in a bout Eierman took 6-5. Kolodzik then split two consolation matches, setting up a rematch with Eierman in the fifth-place match that Eierman won 2-1.
The event was USA Wrestling's first major senior-level event following COVID-19 postponements. The event was held at the Xtream Arena & GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville, Iowa, near Iowa City.
Complete results can be found here.
Jackson held the top seed in the 86 kg (190 lb) freestyle draw and defended that seed all the way to the final, winning each of his first three bouts by 10-0 scores. Drew Foster, the 2019 NCAA champion at 184 pounds, was the first to score a point against Jackson at the event in a 7-4 Jackson win in the semis, and Gabe Dean, the 2015 and 2016 NCAA champion at 184, battled Jackson to a 1-1 draw in the final before Dean took the title on criteria.
Tiger senior Leonard Merkin matched his placement with his third seed in the 67 kg (148 lb) Greco-Roman draw. He turned in a pair of shutouts, winning his round-of-16 and quarterfinal bouts 8-0 before running into second-seeded Calvin Germinaro in the semis. Germinaro took the match 16-8 before finishing runner-up to fourth-seeded Benjamin Peak.
Four-time Tiger All-American Matthew Kolodzik outdid his seventh seed by a spot, finishing sixth in the 65 kg (143 lb) competition. Kolodzik won three times to reach the quarterfinals, meeting second-seeded Jaydin Eierman there in a bout Eierman took 6-5. Kolodzik then split two consolation matches, setting up a rematch with Eierman in the fifth-place match that Eierman won 2-1.
The event was USA Wrestling's first major senior-level event following COVID-19 postponements. The event was held at the Xtream Arena & GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville, Iowa, near Iowa City.
Complete results can be found here.
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