An emotional Nick Simmons wins the U.S. World Team Trials earlier this month in Oklahoma City. Larry Slater photo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Nick Simmons has had a wrestling career filled with high expectations.

And near-misses in big events.

The 28-year-old Simmons placed in the top four in the NCAA tournament on three occasions during his standout career at Michigan State.

He had made four U.S. National Teams in freestyle wrestling.

But he always fell just short of being the No. 1 guy.

That changed earlier this month when the fifth-seeded Simmons navigated his way through a tough bracket at 55 kg/121 lbs. to win the U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City.

“It was kind of a relief, more than anything,” Simmons said following Monday afternoon’s practice at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. “It’s obviously not just about being on the World Team, it’s about getting it done at the World Championships. It was great to finally break through. I came up short at NCAAs and I came up short a few times at the World Team Trials. It was great to finally get it done.”

Simmons had to wrestle six matches in one day at the Trials to earn a spot on his first U.S. World Team.

He won three matches in the Challenge Tournament during the day before outlasting hometown favorite Sam Hazewinkel that evening in a wild, entertaining final-round series that went the full three matches.

Simmons now advances to compete in his first World Championships in September in Istanbul, Turkey.

“The main thing Nick did on the wrestling mat was balance his ability to be dangerous with the need to stay fundamental,” U.S. National Coach Zeke Jones said. “He added a run inside single leg to balance his choke front headlock series. He’s also lowered his stance considerably and doesn’t reach as much, which has helped him a lot.  

“The other thing he did was changed the way he made weight. His coach, Troy Steiner, did a nice job of helping him adjust his weight control plan and it showed at the Trials. His success at the World Championships is directly connected to his ability to make weight well. If he makes weight well, he’ll feel good, and if he feels good those foreigners are in trouble.”

The lanky, 5-foot-10 Simmons features an unorthodox style where he thrives with a lethal front headlock, and he is adept at lighting up the scoreboard in a hurry.

Simmons is a first-time World Team member, but he has enjoyed success against some of the top wrestlers on the planet.

Simmons placed third in the Alexander Medved International in 2009. He also was second in the Hargobind International and fifth in the Dimintri Korkin International in 2008.

He beat 2009 World bronze medalist Rizvan Gadziev of Belarus in the Medved tournament earlier that season.

“I’ve been around and I do have some international experience,” Simmons said. “I have faced a lot of these top guys and I have had some success. I’m excited to face them at the World Championships and I’m looking forward to try and get the job done against them.”

The persistence of Simmons has finally paid off. He has now made the last four U.S. National Teams. Simmons, a member of the Sunkist Kids, trains in Corvallis, Oregon.

Simmons placed third at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials before falling to Danny Felix in the final-round series of the 2009 U.S. World Team Trials. He was third in the 2010 World Team Trials.

Simmons started this season with a third-place finish in the New York AC International before placing fourth in the Dave Schultz Memorial International.

He struggled to a sixth-place finish at April’s U.S. Open. He was pinned in his last match and was not considered one of the top contenders coming into the World Team Trials.

At the Trials, Simmons opened with a first-period pin over No. 4 seed Frank Perrelli, a wrestler who had pinned him in the fifth-place match at the U.S. Open.

Simmons then swept No. 1 seed Daniel Mitcheff 6-0, 1-0 in the Challenge Tournament semifinals. He lost the first period to 2010 World Team member Obe Blanc 1-0 in the Challenge finals, but came right back to pin the second-seeded Blanc in the second period.

Simmons advanced to face Hazewinkel in the final-round series. Hazewinkel, who earned the right to bypass the Challenge Tournament after winning the U.S. Open, won the first match over Simmons 0-1, 3-1, 1-0.

But Simmons stormed right back to win the second match 0-4, 3-3, 5-3 before taking the decisive third match 2-6, 8-1, 6-1.

It was an emotional win for Simmons, who broke down in tears while hugging his coaches following his breakthrough win at the World Team Trials.

Simmons is a wrestler who developed and progressed while coming up through the USA Wrestling ranks. He won three Junior Nationals titles and two University Nationals titles. He placed fifth in the 2005 World University Games.

Simmons has spent the past week taking part in a National Team Camp in Colorado Springs. He plans to compete in a tournament next month in Poland while continuing preparations for the Worlds.

“It’s obviously different coming out to camp this summer as the World Team guy,” Simmons said. “The focus is now directed toward the guys on the World Team and helping prepare us for the World Championships. The coaches are looking at what we need to work on and how we can improve.

“Camp is going good. I am just getting back into training again. I feel real good and I’m excited to see what I can do.”

Simmons put together an amazing high-school career where he won four state titles in Michigan. He compiled a 211-0 record with a whopping 187 pins. 

He grew up wrestling with his brother, Andy, who also was an All-American for Michigan State.

Nick Simmons wrestles a wide-open, funky style where he has an ability to keep opponents guessing about what he might do next.

“I think my style is going to be tough for them to match up against. I’m hoping it is anyway,” he said, flashing a smile. “They are not used to my unorthodox style. As long as I keep improving and wrestle the way I’m capable, I think I can come out on top. I know I can.”

Simmons is a part of a strong American freestyle squad that is led by 2004 Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson, who came back to make the World Team after nearly seven years away from competition. Simmons is one of three first-time World Team members in freestyle for the U.S.

Past two-time NCAA champions Teyon Ware and Jordan Burroughs are the other first-time World Team members for the U.S.

“I think our team can do really well and I hope we show that in September,” Simmons said. “I know we have the capability to do well and it will be interesting to see what happens.”

Jones said Simmons has the ability to make a big splash at his first World Championships.

“I’ve been watching Nick try so hard for a lot of years and he’s finally made a World Team,” said Jones, a past World champion. “I bet if you ask Nick, he will say it was just a step to becoming a World champion. Nick’s a great guy and wants it badly. He’s beaten many medalists over the last few years and now he needs to put five matches in a row together at the World Championships.  

“I’d hate to draw Nick at the Worlds.  He’s so dangerous.”