That undefeated streak remained intact after Sunday's opening session of the 2016 Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City.
Ramos, a two-time returning World Team member, had to dig deep in his two matches to punch his ticket to tonight's finals at 57 kilos.
He opened his tournament by defeating Nahshon Garrett 3-3 on criteria. Ramos trailed 3-2 in the third period, but earned a caution point late in the match to win on criteria.
Ramos then edged 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott 4-4 on criteria in an action-filled semifinal match. Scott led 2-0 at the break after scoring off the shot clock and by a step out. Ramos battled back in the second period, countering a Scott attack for a takedown to make the score 2-2. The former Hawkeye kept the pressure on and scored another takedown to go up 4-2. Then in the final five seconds Scott took down Ramos to make the score 4-4. However, Ramos held criteria based on having more two-point moves.
He will now face another former Hawkeye, Daniel Dennis, in the finals. Dennis earned his trip to the finals by notching a 6-2 victory over Tyler Graff in the semifinals. Graff led 2-0 at the break, but Dennis came back to score six unanswered points in the second period.
Three weeks after winning his second NCAA title, J'den Cox will wrestle in the Olympic Team Trials finals at 86 kilos. He had an impressive run to the finals, which included victories over Clayton Foster, Jake Herbert and Keith Gavin.
On the bottom side of the bracket, Kyle Dake defeated David Taylor 4-3 to advance to the finals. The match was knotted 1-1 at the break. Dake picked up a takedown in the first 15 seconds of the second period to lead 3-1. The two then traded step out points, and Dake led 4-2 late. Taylor took a shot late and was able to get to Dake's legs but unable to finish for a takedown.
At 74 kilos, Andrew Howe came through the challenge tournament with victories over Mark Hall, Alex Dieringer and Nick Marable, setting up a rematch from the 2012 Olympic Team Trials finals against Jordan Burroughs.
Olympic champion Jake Varner battled through the challenge tournament to reach the finals tonight at 97 kilos against returning World champion Kyle Snyder. Varner was unscored upon in three matches.
In women's freestyle, a surprise came at 48 kilos where Haley Augello, a past Cadet World champion, defeated two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe, 7-6 in the semifinals. On the bottom side of the bracket, Victoria Anthony handled 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa Chun 9-2 in the semifinals.
World champion Helen Maroulis had three technical falls to advance to the finals at 53 kilos. In the finals she will face three-time World Team member Whitney Conder. Conder had two technical falls and a 7-2 victory in the semifinals over Michaela Hutchison.
Victoria Francis won the challenge tournament at 75 kilos. She will meet three-time World champion Adeline Gray tonight.
In Greco-Roman, returning World fifth-place finisher Robby Smith was unchallenged in the opening session at 130 kilos, earning a 39-second pin in his first match, which he followed up with an 8-0 technical fall. Smith will meet Adam Coon in the finals. Coon had a pair of technical falls to reach the finals.
In the only other Greco-Roman weight class contested on Sunday, 75 kilos, Geordan Speiller came through the challenge tournament. He defeated Cheney Haight 7-0 to advance to tonight's finals against two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek.
Finals Matchups
Men's freestyle:
57 kilos: Tony Ramos vs. Daniel Dennis
74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs vs. Andrew Howe
86 kilos: J'den Cox vs. Kyle Dake
97 kilos: Kyle Snyder vs. Jake Varner
Greco-Roman:
75 kilos: Andy Bisek vs. Geordan Speiller
130 kilos: Robby Smith vs. Adam Coon
Women's freestyle:
48 kilos: Haley Augello vs. Victoria Anthony
53 kilos: Helen Maroulis vs. Whitney Conder
75 kilos: Adeline Gray vs. Victoria Francis
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