Former Wildcats vie for London Olympics

• Trevor Brandvold

Former Wildcat and Badger All-American Trevor Brandvold takes on an opponent at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in Iowa City April 21. Brandvold finished 2-2 at the trials in his bid for a slot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team. Photo by Justin Bystrom for the Journal

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Former Wildcat state champs and University of Wisconsin All-Americans Trevor Brandvold and Kevin Black did their best to represent the United States at this summer’s Olympic Games in London, but came up just short at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in Iowa City April 21-22.

Brandvold, a volunteer assistant coach with the Badgers this season after earning All-American honors in 2010 and 2011, was trying to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team in men’s freestyle at 96 kilograms. He won his first bout, defeating Brent Jones, 3-3, 4-0, 2-0, before falling to Dustin Kilgore, 1-0, 2-1, to knock him down to the consolation bracket. In his first wrestleback, he defeated Tanner Hal, 2-1, 1-3, 5-0, before being eliminated in the next consolation round by JD Bergman by a 3-2, 3-0 decision.

Black, owner of Victory School of Wrestling in River Falls, was named the 2011 USA Wrestling Women’s Coach of the Year at a banquet preceding the trials. It was the second time he has earned Women’s Coach of the Year honors after also receiving the award in 2009.

Black, who coaches women’s wrestling for the New York Athletic Club, has been training Olympic hopefuls vying for spots in the four women’s Olympic weight classes, including two at Victory School of Wrestling, in preparation for the trials. His wrestlers came away with two second place finishes and two third place finishes.

Black was the first four-time, undefeated state champion in WIAA history as a Wildcat, finishing his career with a 160-0 record. He went on to be a three-time NCAA qualifier, three-time team captain and 2002 All-American at the University of Wisconsin before launching Victory School of Wrestling in 2005.

Brandvold, a three-time state qualifier, won a state championship as a senior at River Falls High School with a record of 46-0 in 2005 and finished his career with a record of 156-12. At Wisconsin, he was a two-time Big Ten champion and two-time All-American at 197 pounds.

Tags: sports, proam, wrestling