Former Wolverine Hrovat is Beijing-bound

6/16 - A slew of Michigan natives were in action at the Olympic Trials in Las Vegas last

weekend and only one came away with a spot on the Olympic squad.  Former Michigan

all-american Andy Hrovat became an Olympian with his best of three finals win over

former Oklahoma State standout Mo Lawal at 84kg.  Hrovat, who will be making his first

Olympic trip, rallied back to win two in a row after losing the first match to Lawal in two

straight periods. 

Also making the team as an alternate was former MSU 3x Big Ten Champ Nick Simmons

who finished 3rd at 55kg.  Simmons, who entered the tournament as the 5th seed,

dropped his opening round bout to former Olympic silver medallist Stephen Abas. 

Following the loss to Abas Simmons rattled off 4 straight wins including a first period pin

over 2008 NCAA Champ Angel Escobedo of Indiana and a win over the 55kg US National

champ from last month Matt Azevedo. 

Davison native Brent Metcalf advanced to the semifinals at 66kg after scoring a win over former Iowa State NCAA Champ Trent Paulson.  Metcalf, who was an NCAA Champ this year for Iowa, lost to former Hawkeye and World Champ Bill Zadick in the semifinals.

The University of Michigan was well represented at the trials by Hrovat, along with Ryan Churella and Tyrell Todd.  Churella, a former NCAA Runner Up for the Wolverines, finished 4th at 74kg.  Churella defeated a former World medallist in Donny Pritzlaff in the consolation semifinals before losing to Travis Paulson to finish 4th.  Todd finished 4th in the challenge tournament at 84kg after scoring a big win over 2007 NCAA Champ Jake Herbert of Northwestern.

For full brackets of the Olympic Trials, click here.