Shungnak wrestler Spencer Woods drops 3-1 decision in third round of best-of-3 finals at Olympic Trials
- Van Williams, Alaska Sports Report
- Apr 20, 2024
- 1 min read
by Van Williams | Apr 20, 2024 | Alaska Sports Report
The U.S. Olympic Trials ended Saturday night in heartbreaking fashion for Greco Roman wrestler Spencer Woods of Shungnak.
The 25-year-old Alaskan dropped a grueling best-of-3 finals battle with Payton Jacobson of Wisconsin in the 87kg division, losing 3-1 in the third and final match of the day in State College, Penn.
Jacobson’s victory earned him the right to represent Team USA at this summer’s Paris Olympics. After the hard-fought match that was broadcasted live on Peacock, Woods congratulated his counterpart with a smile, causing Jacobson to put his arm around Woods in a sign of true respect.
The two brawny 191-pounders battled on the mat in three separate six-minute matches over a nine-hour stretch.
Unlike freestyle, there are no attacks below the waist in Greco Roman. Wrestlers must do their work in the upper body, so the action is slower and more methodical. They crashed into each other like offensive linemen in a football game as they shoved, bumped and grabbed each other while jostling for positioning and leverage.
Woods, of Kotzebue High fame, is a three-time national championship and two-time member of the U.S. team at Worlds who started his career in freestyle at the University of Maryland.
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