Princeton University Athletics
Leonard Merkin and Nate Jackson competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials April 2-3 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Merkin, Jackson Compete at Olympic Trials
March 27, 2021 | Wrestling
A pair with Tiger ties competed for a bid to the Olympic Games as Princeton senior Leonard Merkin and assistant coach Nate Jackson battled in their respective disciplines and weight classes at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which wrapped April 3.
Merkin competed in the 67kg Greco-Roman draw, falling to Benjamin Peak 9-0 in the first round before Calvin Germinaro won a consolation match over Merkin 12-4.
In the 86kg freestyle draw, Aaron Brooks defeated Jackson 3-0 in the first round before Jackson won a pair of consolation matches, 9-2 over Brett Pfarr and 2-1 over Myles Martin. Zahid Valencia ended Jackson's run with a 10-0 win.
Merkin and Jackson both won their way into the trials with their finishes at the Last Chance Qualifier, also held in Fort Worth at Texas Wesleyan March 26-27. Merkin won the 67kg Greco-Roman event after being unseeded in the draw and knocking off top-seeded Hayden Tuma 8-0 in the quarters. Two matches later, Merkin beat the second seed, Peak, in the final on an injury default with Merkin up 6-2.
Jackson finished second in the 86kg freestyle event at the Last Chance Qualifier, earning him a bid to the trials. Seeded second, Jackson won four times to make the final, getting the bid-clinching win 3-1 over third-seeded Mark Hall before falling 7-2 to Gabe Dean in the final and defeating Drew Foster 10-0 for second place.
Brackets for the U.S Olympic Trials are available at TrackWrestling.com.
Merkin competed in the 67kg Greco-Roman draw, falling to Benjamin Peak 9-0 in the first round before Calvin Germinaro won a consolation match over Merkin 12-4.
In the 86kg freestyle draw, Aaron Brooks defeated Jackson 3-0 in the first round before Jackson won a pair of consolation matches, 9-2 over Brett Pfarr and 2-1 over Myles Martin. Zahid Valencia ended Jackson's run with a 10-0 win.
Merkin and Jackson both won their way into the trials with their finishes at the Last Chance Qualifier, also held in Fort Worth at Texas Wesleyan March 26-27. Merkin won the 67kg Greco-Roman event after being unseeded in the draw and knocking off top-seeded Hayden Tuma 8-0 in the quarters. Two matches later, Merkin beat the second seed, Peak, in the final on an injury default with Merkin up 6-2.
Jackson finished second in the 86kg freestyle event at the Last Chance Qualifier, earning him a bid to the trials. Seeded second, Jackson won four times to make the final, getting the bid-clinching win 3-1 over third-seeded Mark Hall before falling 7-2 to Gabe Dean in the final and defeating Drew Foster 10-0 for second place.
Brackets for the U.S Olympic Trials are available at TrackWrestling.com.
We have two Princeton guys representing the @njrtc at the Olympic Team Trials next week! Let's get some Tigers to Tokyo. #PrincetonToTokyo pic.twitter.com/N17qEVJM01
— Princeton Wrestling (@tigerwrestling) March 28, 2021
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