Nick Simmons (in red) battles Henry Cejudo in the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Larry Slater photo.

IOWA CITY – A couple of old foes will wrestle for a chance at a trip to London tonight inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Nick Simmons, a four-time All-American for Michigan State and 2011 U.S. World Team member, will face off against a four-time All-American collegian from the University of Oklahoma and a four-time Trials runner-up, Sam Hazewinkel. The two met in the Trials finals a year ago at 55 kg/121 lbs. in freestyle and will do so again at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. 

“I don’t know how many times we’ve wrestled,” said Hazewinkel, who won a pair of matches in the first session. “It’s probably close to 20 or so and we’ve had some battles. (Simmons) is so long and lanky you really have to stay in position the entire time.

“The mental game is the big thing for me tonight.”

Simmons wrestled perhaps the match of the weekend, so far, at least, in the semifinals against 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo.

A takedown late in the first gave Simmons the opening period, but Cejudo rallied from behind to win a wild second frame, 9-5. The Spartan alum led quickly in the third but Cejudo charged back to cut it to 3-2. But with a trip to the finals on the line, and Cejudo in on his leg, Simmons used a spectacular counter for a 5-2 lead and victory.

“The next two matches are actually the matches of my life,” said Simmons. “(Cejudo) is a phenomenal wrestler, obviously because he is the Olympic champ. It’s great to get that win. I really don’t know how entertaining it was but I do like to put points on the board.

“Against Sam it is going to be a grind just like the rest of our matches.”

Cejudo, who beat 2010 World Team member Obe Blanc in the quarterfinals, removed his shoes after his loss to Simmons, tossing them into the stands to emphatically announce his retirement.

“This sport has given me everything,” said Cejudo. “You’re talking about this kid who grew up in poverty; a son of Mexican immigrants that came to the United States with a dream. And that dream was to have kids and raise them here in America.

“I came back to this sport because I want to inspire people. The person who has inspired me for 21 years when I won gold wasn’t able to attend the Olympics because of her citizenship status. I can only say I’m sad, but at the same time I gave it my all. I went out there; the weight cut wasn’t easy. I had many obstacles throughout my life; especially throughout this whole year, but I’m not going to say goodbye to the sport of wrestling.”

“Do I need wrestling? No. I think what I do need is people. People that need help; that’s what motivates me. Don’t get me wrong; to me wrestling’s the greatest sport alive. It’s made me who I am but now I’m ready to move on. I’ll still be involved though; don’t get me wrong. I’ll say it again; I’m going to help the 2012 Olympic Team so they can accomplish their dream. Just like Terry Brands did to me. Just like Kevin Jackson did to me. Just like Brian Davis did to me. I want to return that favor.”

Another new Olympic Trials record crowd of 13,784, which was a sellout, attended the first session on Sunday. It broke the record of 13,750 fans set during Saturday's finals.

With a massive home crowd following Brent Metcalf (Iowa City/New York AC) won three tough matches in the first session. The two-time NCAA champion and 2010 World Team member beat Jordan Oliver, Chase Pami and Josh Churella, all in three periods at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. He will face Jared Frayer (Norman, Okla./Gator WC), who knocked off 2011 Trials champion Teyon Ware in the semifinals a round after beating Dustin Schlatter, a member of the 2009 U.S. squad. Frayer spent one year on the coaching staff at Iowa when Metcalf was competing in black and gold.

“I stepped into senior competition in 2007 and (Frayer) was kind of the guy that would put me out of tournaments,” said Metcalf. “In 2010, we met in the finals of the World Team Trials and I won the best out of three, that was probably the first time I got over the hump of beating him. I look forward to doing the same thing. He’s a great wrestler in his positions, so I have to stay in my positions. I’ve got to finish very solid on this guy, cannot wait in foreign territory where he wants to be.”

“He spent a year or two here. That was valuable. We’ll see. It’ll be a good fight, he’s a scrapper, I’m a scrapper and the best man will come out.”

2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) advanced to the best-of-three finals tonight with a pair of victories. The 2011 Trials runner-up goes against former Iowa State star Travis Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids), who got by Keith Gavin in his 84 kg/185 lbs. semifinal.

At 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids), a 2009 World bronze medalist, had a pin and beat Jarod Trice in the semifinals to advance to tonight’s best-of-three where he will face Les Sigman (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC), who got by 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in the semifinals.

Rising Greco-Roman star Ellis Coleman, a 20-year-old from Illinois who won a bronze medal at last year’s Junior World Championships, moved into the 60 kg/132 lbs. finals with a solid first session. Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) got by Jesse Thielke and Jeremiah Davis, a 2009 and 2010 World Team member, on his charge to the finals where he will face two-time World Team member Joe Betterman, a 27-year-old also originally from Illinois.

“It was the best scenario possible for me,” said Coleman. “I’ve beaten Joe twice this year so I have a game plan. I was already small at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. so I wanted to make this move for 2012. I really felt like this was my year, my team to make and I’ve put myself in a position to do that.”

Also in Greco, veteran Aaron Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), a 36-year-old, advanced to the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. with victories over Aaron Briggs and Jake Fisher. Sieracki, a runner-up at the 2008 Trials, goes against 21-year-old Ben Provisor (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who also won two matches in the first session. Sieracki and Provisor are both Wisconsin natives.

At 96 kg/211.5 lbs. R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) goes against Pete Gounaridis (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) tonight.

Justin Ruiz (Meridian, Idaho/New York AC) is not in the bracket. The 2005 World bronze medalist will try and qualify the weight class in China next weekend. And, similar to freestyle’s 60 kg/132 lbs., if and who goes to London is yet-to-be determined.

A former World champion, Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who won a title in 2008 after finishing fifth in the Olympics, and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), who won a silver medal at the 2010 World Championships, advanced directly to the best-of-three series.

Chun will face Alyssa Lampe, a 2010 World Team member, in the 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Lampe (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) got by 2007 Junior World champion Whitney Conder in the semifinals, then scored on a beautiful throw with virtually no time on the clock in the final period to beat two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony in the Challenge Tournament title bout.

“It gives me a lot of momentum going into (tonight),” said Lampe. “There was about five seconds left and I knew it was now or never. I guess it was sheer will (at the end). I still really can’t believe it.

“I’m just going to do what I’ve done all day. Really try and push the pace, wrestle my match.”

Pirozhkova goes against Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who got by four opponents, including 19-year-old Jennifer Page in the Challenge finals.

Right out of the gate

Hometown favorite Matt McDonough, a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa who will be a senior next season, faced off against former Northwestern All-American Brandon Precin in a 55 kg/121 lbs. first round bout in freestyle. McDonough showed considerable skills in beating Precin in two decisive periods and got the large crowd warmed up for a fantastic session.

Another Hawkeye, Brent Metcalf, opened against Oklahoma State’s Jordan Oliver in a good old-fashioned OSU-Iowa match-up that went Metcalf’s way, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0.

Phil Keddy, yet another former Hawkeye, electrified the crowd with three-period win over 2012 NCAA champion Ed Ruth, 0-1, 3-0, 7-0, in an 84 kg/185 lbs. match.

Old school

41-year-old Dennis Hall, a 1995 World champion, 1996 Olympic silver medalist and three-time Olympian; 52-year-old Andre Metzger, a silver medalist at the 1986 World Championships; and 38-year-old Cary Kolat, a silver medalist at the 1997 World Championships, laced up the shoes again on Sunday. Hall dropped a first round match to Chad Vandiver in consecutive periods. Kolat lost a three-period bout to Jason Chamberlain in the first round, while Metzger lost to Timothy Bleau in his opener.

33-year-old Tina George, a two-time World silver medalist, lost in the first round to 19-year-old Jennifer Page at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

“I lost. It was disappointing I just didn’t get it done, man,” said Metzger. “(Bleau) didn’t whip me very bad, but he did beat me. It’s a bummer, but I fought fair.”

The oldest Olympian? Chris Campbell won a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics at the age of 38.

The future

19-year-old Jesse Thielke and 20-year-old Ellis Coleman, two rising stars in Greco, faced off in the second round at 60 kg/132 lbs. A trio of gut-wrenches gave Coleman the first period and another powerful toss from a front headlock pushed the Illinois native to the semifinals.

Play(s) of the day

Othello Feroleto had the first high-amplitude moment of the first session, lifting and tossing Leigh Jaynes in a 63 kg/138.75 lbs. first round bout. However, in a decisive third period Feroleto was injured and had to default.

The 2006 World champion in Greco at 60 kg/132 lbs., Joe Warren, finished his first match in style, lifting and flattening Marco Lara.

Championship Finals (best-of-three series)

Freestyle

55 kg/121 lbs. – Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) vs. Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (Iowa City/New York AC) vs. Jared Frayer (Norman, Okla./Gator WC)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) vs. Travis Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) vs. Les Sigman (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC)

Greco-Roman

60 kg/132 lbs. – Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) vs. Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Aaron Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. Ben Provisor (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)

96 kg/211.5 lbs – R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) vs. Pete Gounaridis (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)

Women’s freestyle

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) vs. Alyssa Lampe (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) vs. Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)