Central Michigan University Athletics
Holt Wins Individual Title at University Nationals
4/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
AKRON, Ohio Central Michigan University redshirt freshman Nathaniel Holt (Provo, Utah/Provo HS) won the 145.5-pound championship at United States University Freestyle National Championships over the weekend.
By winning the individual title at University Nationals, Holt earns a spot at both the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the University World Team Trials. The Olympic trials are June 13-15 in Las Vegas, while the world team trials are May 23-24 in Colorado Springs. The University World Championships will be in Greece in July.
The University division is for athletes who are between 18-24 years old and their class has graduated from high school. Holt is the first Chippewa to win a title at the event since Jason Mester won the 145.5-pound title in 2003.
Holt, competing for Chippewa Wrestling Club, defeated Ryan Lang in the final, 5-1, 3-1. Lang, wrestling for Wildcat Wrestling Club, was a two-time NCAA All-American and 2007 national runner-up (141 pounds) at Northwestern.
Each match at the tournament was a best-of-three format, requiring an individual to out-score his opponent in two of the match’s three period. Holt won seven consecutive matches to earn the title, and in all seven he clinched a victory by winning both of the first two periods. Four of his victories came via tech fall.
Holt was 16-8 overall with six falls for CMU during the 2007-08 season. He placed fifth at the Reno Tournament of Champions last season.
CMU finished tied for seventh at the NCAA Championships in March. Four Chippewas earned All-America honors, including 197-pound national runner-up Wynn Michalak.
CMU won its 10th straight Mid-American Conference title and seventh straight conference tournament championship in 2008.
By winning the individual title at University Nationals, Holt earns a spot at both the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the University World Team Trials. The Olympic trials are June 13-15 in Las Vegas, while the world team trials are May 23-24 in Colorado Springs. The University World Championships will be in Greece in July.
The University division is for athletes who are between 18-24 years old and their class has graduated from high school. Holt is the first Chippewa to win a title at the event since Jason Mester won the 145.5-pound title in 2003.
Holt, competing for Chippewa Wrestling Club, defeated Ryan Lang in the final, 5-1, 3-1. Lang, wrestling for Wildcat Wrestling Club, was a two-time NCAA All-American and 2007 national runner-up (141 pounds) at Northwestern.
Each match at the tournament was a best-of-three format, requiring an individual to out-score his opponent in two of the match’s three period. Holt won seven consecutive matches to earn the title, and in all seven he clinched a victory by winning both of the first two periods. Four of his victories came via tech fall.
Holt was 16-8 overall with six falls for CMU during the 2007-08 season. He placed fifth at the Reno Tournament of Champions last season.
CMU finished tied for seventh at the NCAA Championships in March. Four Chippewas earned All-America honors, including 197-pound national runner-up Wynn Michalak.
CMU won its 10th straight Mid-American Conference title and seventh straight conference tournament championship in 2008.
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