Gwiazdowski into Best-of-Three Finals for Spot in Summer Olympics

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – With a pair of shutouts today, former NC State two-time national Champion Nick Gwiazdowksi has reached the final stages of qualifying to represent the U.S. at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Gwiazdowski will face Gable Steveson tomorrow night in a Best-of-Three Finals series, with the winner getting to represent the U.S. at 125kg at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In the Challenge Tournament semifinals in the night session, the top-seeded Gwiazdowski downed #4 seed Dom Bradley 6-0. After a clock violation point, Gwiazdowski scored an exposure to take a 3-0 lead at the break. He then added a pushout, and a takedown in the final seconds for the final margin.

🎥: @NGWIZZZ earned a 6-0 shutout in the semifinals over Dom Bradley, scoring off an exposure in the 1st, & a late takedown to seal the win.

Gwiazdowski will face Gable Steveson in a Best 2-of-3 Finals tomorrow night, winner represents the U.S. at the Summer Olympics. pic.twitter.com/eQCJM6KrjW
— NC State Wrestling 🤼‍♂️ (@PackWrestle) April 3, 2021

"It is finally here," said Gwiazdowski about competing for a chance to represent the U.S. at the Summer Olympics. "This time last year, I was ready. But then an extra year got tacked on, and I said I would be ready (when that happened). And I am ready now."

Gwiazdowski opened his day with an 11-0 tech in the quarterfinals over Garrett Ryan. He started with a takedown and put him on his back for four points, and another takedown made it 6-0 at the break. After a push out, Gwiazdowski got two more takedowns in the second to end the match early.

🎥: @NGWIZZZ opened with an 11-0 tech in the quarterfinals at the Olympic Team Trials.

He will face #4 seed Bradley in the semifinals tonight. Action resumes at 7:30 PM (ET). pic.twitter.com/GlOAPwCqOC
— NC State Wrestling 🤼‍♂️ (@PackWrestle) April 2, 2021

At 97 kg, Michael Macchiavello entered as the #3 seed and reached the Challenge Tournament Finals, but fell short of the Best-of-Three Finals losing by tech fall, 10-0 to top seed Kollin Moore.

Macchiavello reached the Challenge Tournament Finals with a 2-2 criteria win over #2 seed Hayden Zillmer. Down 2-0, Macchiavello used a takedown in the second period for the winning score.

🎥: @mike_macch used a takedown in the 2nd period to advance on criteria, 2-2, past #2 seed Zillmer in the semifinals.

Macchiavello will be in the Challenge Tournament Finals later tonight against #1 seed Moore. pic.twitter.com/B6ovxftjcd
— NC State Wrestling 🤼‍♂️ (@PackWrestle) April 3, 2021

In his first match of the day, it was a battle of the 2018 NCAA Champion at 197 pounds (Macchiavello) and the 2021 NCAA Champion at the same weight (A.J. Ferrari of Oklahoma State). Macchiavello used a pair of step outs, and a failed challenge point, to win his quarterfinals bout 3-1.

Also in the afternoon session, Tommy Gantt fell on a late overturned call at 74 kg in the quarterfinals.

North Carolina State University Athletics

Gwiazdowski into Best-of-Three Finals for Spot in Summer Olympics

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