Nick Simmons Drops Heartbreaker in Semifinals at NCAA Wrestling Championships

March 16, 2007

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Top-seeded Nick Simmons dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to Oklahoma State's Coleman Scott in the 133-pound semifinals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships Friday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Although Simmons lost the match, he is guaranteed All-America status for the fourth time in his career, a first at Michigan State since Pat Milkovich accomplished the feat in 1976.

In a thrilling match that went down to the wire, it was the first period that proved to be the difference. Scott recorded a takedown at the 1:42 mark in the first, and looked strong on top, as he secured near-fall points with 48 seconds left in the opening period. Simmons then took about 40 seconds of injury time for his shoulder. After the timeout, Scott rode Simmons the remainder of the period, although Simmons nearly scored a reversal in the closing seconds.

The second period began with Scott in the down position. In this period, it was Simmons who was dominant on top, holding Scott down for all two minutes. In the final seconds, Simmons appeared to have Scott in a spladle, but he couldn't get him on his back for near-fall points.

With Scott on top to start the third, Simmons scored his first points 20 seconds into the period as Scott was called for a technical violation. Following two stalemate calls, Simmons finally escaped with 43 seconds left, cutting the lead to 4-2 and erasing the riding-time advantage by Scott in the process. Needing to get a takedown, Simmons caught another break as Scott was called for stalling with 21 seconds left in the match, making it 4-3. But the takedown never came. Another stalemate was called with just two seconds left, and by that point, it was too late for Simmons to get a takedown.

"That match was the definition of heartbreak," said MSU head coach Tom Minkel. "He got caught early, and it changed the match. It's really unfortunate it worked out the way it did. Nick is a fine athlete who gave us everything he had, and will always be a champion in our books. He still has two matches left tomorrow, and hopefully he can end his career on a winning note."

Simmons, who is already assured of a top-eight finish to earn All-America honors, can place no worse than sixth. He will wrestle in the consolation semifinals in session six, which begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m. If Simmons wins his two matches tomorrow, he can place a career-best third. Simmons has finished fourth the past two years at the NCAA Championships and took seventh as a freshman in 2003.

Play-by-Play: No. 1 Nick Simmons (MSU) vs. No. 4 Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State)

1st Period:1:42 - Scott takedown (0-2)0:48 - Scott near-fall (0-4)0:48 - Simmons injury time
2nd Period:Scott down, Simmons rides out Scott
3rd Period:1:40 - Scott technical violation (1-4)0:43 - Simmons escape (2-4)0:21 - Scott stalling (3-4)Final: Scott wins, 4-3