Adam Wheeler

A recurrent runner-up, Adam Wheeler finally broke through by defeating five-time reigning national champion Justin Ruiz in the final at the 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling trials. Wheeler won the tightly-contested…
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A recurrent runner-up, Adam Wheeler finally broke through by defeating five-time reigning national champion Justin Ruiz in the final at the 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling trials. Wheeler won the tightly-contested…
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A recurrent runner-up, Adam Wheeler finally broke through by defeating
five-time reigning national champion Justin Ruiz in the final at the
2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling trials. Wheeler won the tightly-contested
best-of-three final two matches to one, after winning three bouts
earlier in the day just to meet Ruiz, a 2005 World Championships
bronze medalist who earned a bye into the final. The Wheeler-Ruiz
rivalry has many chapters dating back to 2004, but the 2008 Olympic
Trials was the first time Wheeler came out on top at a major national
tournament. He finished runner-up to Ruiz at Nationals in 2005, '06
and '07 and at the 2005 and 2007 World Team Trials. Other close calls
for Wheeler were third at the 2008 Nationals, fourth at 2006 World
Team Trials and fourth at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.