Gardner-Webb's Trott Takes Sixth At 2015 UWW/University Nationals
May 31, 2015 | Wrestling
AKRON, Ohio – Gardner-Webb rising junior Austin Trott fared well at the 2015 UWW University Nationals this weekend, wrestling his way to a sixth-place finish at 74 kilograms.
Trott (Kingsland, Ga. / Camden County HS) received a bye in the opening round, then blanked Colin Navickas (Edge Hoboken) via tech. fall. Trott then pinned Brian Hamann (Wolfpack Wrestling) in just five seconds and recorded another tech. fall win in his third match – putting away Doug Welch (Boilermaker) by a 12-2 score.
Trott fell to the consolation bracket with a 10-0 loss to Ian Miller (Golden Pride) in the championship bracket quarterfinals, but bounced back in fine fashion in a 12-1 tech. fall win over Garrett Sutton (Michigan RTC).
He then picked up his second quick pin of the tournament, taking down Zachary Skates (Gator/OKCU) in just 31 seconds.
Trott lost via tech. fall to Chris Dowdy (Finger Lakes) in his eighth match (12-2) and was pinned by Nestor Taffur (Princeton Amateur Wresting) in the fifth-place match in 2:19.
Several more Gardner-Webb wrestlers competed at the event, including Kyle Ash at 74 kilograms. Ash posted a 3-2 mark – winning his first three matches before falling to Miller (Golden Pride) in the fourth round.
Christian Maroni (0-2, 74 kg), Brett Stein (2-2, 80 kg) and Payton Mills (0-2, 86 kg) also competed in Akron.
Trott is coming off another strong season for the Runnin' Bulldogs, posting a 25-9 overall mark with a team-best 10 wins via fall and six tech. fall victories. Trott ranked among the NCAA Division I leaders in pins in 2014-2015.
He is part of a strong core returning for head coach Daniel Elliott in 2015-2016 – one of three NCAA qualifiers who will compete for Gardner-Webb. Trott (2014, 165 pounds) will be joined by Hunter Gamble (2013, 174 pounds) and Ryan Mosley (2015, 149 pounds) as top national contenders next season. Standout Chris Vassar (141 pounds) also returns after entering last season ranked in the national top-25 before an early-season injury.
The 'Dogs are expected to return their entire starting lineup for 2015-2016.
