University of Wyoming Wrestling Assistant Coach Chris Pendleton and three UW students competed in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa. Pendleton finished the day with a 2–1 record, taking second in the challenge portion of the event.
The efforts of Pendleton qualified him for the U.S. National Team, the second time he has earned a spot in his career.
Pendleton wrestled in the 96-kilogram (211.5 pound) bracket. His first match of the event was against JD Bergman of New York Athletic Club/Ohio ROTC, which he won in a 2–1, 3–1 decision. He won his next match as well, as he defeated Dustin Kilgore in a 1–0, 4–3 decision. He lost his final match to Tommy Rowlands in the finals, losing a 3–1, 4–0 decision.
Three UW wrestlers also competed in the trials.
Outgoing senior Joe LeBlanc went 0–2 for the day in the 84-kilogram freestyle bracket.
Tyler Cox, who wrestled for Wyoming in 2011 and took an Olympic redshirt last season, went 0–2 in the Greco-Roman 55-kilogram bracket as well.
Michael Martinez, a current senior on the UW wrestling team, went 0–2 in the 55-kilogram freestyle bracket.
