Tony Ramos brings Nahshon Garrett to the mat at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)"Excited to start the new journey with @UNCWrestling #HeelStrong" is what Ramos posted on his Twitter account @T_Ram133 Wednesday.
Ramos expanded on the message on his Team Ramos official website.
"I am excited to announce I will be continuing my wrestling career and beginning my coaching career under Coleman Scott at the University of North Carolina.
"I am extremely thankful for being a part of the Hawkeye Wrestling family and tradition over the past 8 years. It was an honor for me to wear black and gold and compete in front of fans who love and understand the sport. My family and I will always be Hawkeyes and Iowa City will always hold a special place in our hearts (from meeting my wife in the training room at Carver, to blowing the roof off of a sold out arena and bringing out the patented double rainbows, to the birth of my son).
"I am thankful for the coaches who have been by my side during this journey and transformed me from a non-placer at NCAAs to a two-time world team member. My ultimate goal is to be the best in the world and to do so, I am moving on to explore different styles, techniques, and perspectives to add to the foundation built during my time as a Hawkeye.
"There are some exciting things happening in Chapel Hill and I can't wait to get out there with the coaching staff and be a part of the legacy that is to come.
"Hawkeye Fans, Supporters, Teammates, and Coaches -- THANK YOU! Goodbye for now, Hawkeye Nation!"
While the official North Carolina wrestling website does not have an announcement of Ramos' hiring -- nor is he listed on the coaching staff -- as of late Thursday evening, Tar Heel head wrestling coach Coleman Scott responded to Ramos on Twitter by saying, "Welcome to the family my man! We have titles to win! #heelstrong."
As K.J. Pilcher, wrestling writer for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, pointed out in his article announcing Ramos' move, Coleman Scott was a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist who lost to Ramos on criteria in the 57-kilogram/125.5 pound semifinal in the Olympic Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena earlier this month. Scott was named head coach of the UNC wrestling program in May 2015, guiding the Tar Heels to a 13-5 dual-meet record and 35th place in the team standings at the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in his first year at the helm.
As an Iowa Hawkeye, Ramos was a two-time NCAA qualifier, winning the 2014 national and Big Ten titles at 133 pounds. The native of Carol Stream, Illinois in suburban Chicago was a four-time NCAA qualifier, earning national runner-up honors at 133 in 2013. He recorded a 120-14 career record with the Hawkeyes.
Earlier this month, Ramos placed second at 57 kilos in freestyle competition at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Ramos suffered his first domestic loss on the senior level in the finals of the Olympic Trials to Hawkeye Wrestling Club teammate Daniel Dennis.
At a post-event press conference, Ramos openly expressed his displeasure with the fact that Dennis was coached during the finals by Iowa head coach Tom Brands, saying "I was lied to a couple times. I feel like I was stabbed in the back. I feel like I was loyal to a fault to coaches and athletes from things that I've seen and right now the first thing I'm thinking is I need to move on (and) get out of this program."
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