One-on-One with Tony Nelson

Tony Nelson defeated Northwestern's Mike McMullan to win the NCAA title (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

Minnesota junior Tony Nelson recently won his second NCAA championship at heavyweight and became the program's fifth two-time NCAA champion. Nelson finished the season with a 33-1 record to improve his overall record to 98-11 with one season remaining.

InterMat recently caught up with the Golden Gopher big man.

What has life been like since the college wrestling season ended? Have you taken some time off the mat?

Nelson: Yeah, I've taken a couple weeks off from wrestling. Our spring break was during nationals, so I was right back into school and trying to get caught up on things.

Tony Nelson is congratulated by his teammates after pinning Oklahoma State's Alan Gelogaev at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

You entered this year's NCAAs as the No. 2 seed at heavyweight despite the fact that the top-seeded wrestler took a loss at the National Duals to a wrestler you defeated multiple times. Where you surprised that you weren't given the No. 1 seed?

Nelson: Honestly, after Bradley lost to Gelogaev I thought I was going to get the No. 1 seed for sure. When I saw it come out that I was the No. 2 seed I kind of looked at how I was the No. 2 seed last year also. I had done it from there before. I knew I had been there and I was comfortable there. So I knew I could do it.

Compare the emotions of winning your second NCAA title to your first.

Nelson: When you win your first one some people think you could have gotten lucky. Being able to repeat really solidifies that you're one of the best. Maybe this year's title wasn't as exciting as last year's last-second takedown. But to me it was the more important one. It was fun to go out and do it again.

USA Wrestling recently released senior level freestyle rankings and you earned a No. 2 ranking at 120 kilos, behind only Tervel Dlagnev. What was your reaction to that ranking?

Nelson: It's pretty respectable. I didn't know that I would be that high. I've earned it through college wrestling, I guess. Tervel and those guys behind me are all great wrestlers. I'm going to have to put some work in. Obviously, I haven't done a lot of freestyle. I've been doing more lately. I'm focusing on college. But I'm trying to make that transition so when I'm done wrestling collegiately I can go right into freestyle and hopefully make a run at the 2016 Olympics.

Do you plan on competing in freestyle events this spring and summer?

Nelson: Yeah, I'm going to do some freestyle this spring. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to do the U.S. Open. I'm for sure going to go to the University Nationals. I may try to compete in the World Team Trials.

Tony Nelson pinned Odie Delaney of The Citadel in the second round of the NCAAs (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

You have been effective from the top position in college. You're able to ride many of the nation's top heavyweights. Obviously, in freestyle there is no riding time. Do you feel your style is better suited for folkstyle? Or do you feel as comfortable in freestyle?

Nelson: I think I'm better in folkstyle, but I don't think there's too big of a difference for me. On the feet I'm very good with positioning. That's a big thing in freestyle. One thing I need to work on is just being able to score those points and maybe getting a pushout, or that one takedown that could make the difference.

The Gophers will return eight All-Americans, which is more than any other program. How excited are you about the team's potential next season?

Nelson: It's really exciting. Next year we're going to be one of the top teams. Penn State is still the team to beat, in my mind. It would be a great way to finish my career to have the team finish on top.

Minnesota head assistant coach Brandon Eggum with Tony Nelson shortly before this year's NCAA finals match in Des Moines, Iowa (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

Your head coach J Robinson missed some time this season because of his knee surgery, and Brandon Eggum served as the interim head coach. Compare Eggum's coaching style with J Rob's coaching style. Are they similar or quite a bit different?

Nelson: Eggum has worked under J a long time, so he has kind of picked up a lot from him. But he has his own way. Nothing changed too much because they didn't want to throw us off. The season kind of just flowed once J went down. They did a great job of getting us ready for each week. Eggum is a great coach. He could be a head coach somewhere, but he loves Minnesota. I think that's why he's stayed here.

You competed as a 215-pounder in high school. The high school weight classes have since changed. Now there is discussion about the possibility of eliminating the 220-pound weight class at the high school level in Minnesota. Do you have an opinion on that?

Nelson: With the Olympic weights there is a 211-pound weight class. They kind of have a huge gap if they get rid of 220 pounds. It would go from 195 pounds all the way up to heavyweight, which is similar to college. In high school it allows the in-between guys a weight to compete at. High school is a lot about participation and letting kids get to know the sport. Cutting a weight class is just cutting participants you have.

Cole Konrad won two NCAA titles at heavyweight for Minnesota (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)

Two past Gopher heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Cole Konrad spent some time in MMA. Both were champions in their respective organizations. Is MMA something you would ever consider?

Nelson: I've thought about it. But right now it's probably not my first goal to pursue. If it's something that I decide to do I've got people around that will train me and prepare me for it ... with Brock, he's trained under Marty. There are connections. So it's a possibility.

Have you wrestled with both Brock Lesnar and Cole Konrad? If so, compare the difference in wrestling each of them.

Nelson: I've never wrestled Brock. Cole came in quite a bit when I was a freshman and sophomore, so I've wrestled him a little bit. He's one of the best. He beat me up when I first came here. He helped show me what college wrestling is all about. I respect the guy a ton. He's an amazing wrestler. There's a lot of respect there.

Tony Nelson pumps his fist after winning the NCAA title (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

You joined an elite group of two-time NCAA champions at Minnesota, a group that includes Verne Gagne, Tim Hartung, Damion Hahn, and Cole Konrad. Now you have an opportunity to become Minnesota's first and only three-time NCAA champion. What would that accomplishment mean to you?

Nelson: It would be amazing. Just to get to where I am now, it feels great. I can't thank the people around me that have helped get me here enough. I won that first one, and then I was able to overcome the big hump of repeating as champion in one of the tougher heavyweight weight classes ... but to win three would just be awesome for the program, for me, and for the people around me. It's a great opportunity.

This story also appears in the April 12 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

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