Before his arrival at OSU, Scott had been a standout wrestler at Waynesburg Central High School in Pennsylvania, a three-time state champion with a high school record of 156-12. That success continued in Stillwater where he was a four-time All American. Scott placed second in the NCAA in his weight class in 2007, and went on to win the NCAA championship the following year.
Scott said he will be accompanied to London by a support group of some 70 people, including his wife and daughter, as well as OSU wrestling coach John Smith — a two-time Olympic gold medalist who has remained a mentor to Scott.
“It’s an honor to wrestle for the U.S. It’s the greatest country in the world,” Scott said. “I can’t wait to represent everyone.”
This is Scott’s first time to qualify for the Olympics. The 26-year-old is slated to begin wrestling on August 11, in a format “different than we’re used to.”
“If you lose to a guy who makes the finals, you will be pulled back in for a ‘wrestle back,’” Scott explained. “If you lose to someone who doesn’t make the finals, you’re out of the tournament.”
In addition to all the other pressures he is facing, Scott also is carrying the torch for an OSU streak.
The Cowboys have a remarkable Olympics pedigree. Scott is the 41st
Cowboy to make an Olympic team. The university has placed wrestlers on
the team in six of the last seven games, and Scott made the current
streak
Saying he is proud to shoulder the responsibility for continuing the streak, Scott said, “I always go into a tournament with one expectation, and that is to win.”
