Nick Simmons competes in the freestyle competition against Shinichi Yumoto of Japan at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships.
Former Williamston and MSU wrestling standout Nick Simmons is working toward earning a spot on the United States team for the 2016 Olympics.
Nick Simmons has accomplished a lot on the mat.
The Williamston native and former Michigan State standout wrestler is hoping to achieve more.
Simmons is focused on earning a spot on the United States team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and has picked up his wrestling activity this year to chase his goal.
“Just missing it in 2012, just barely missing the team there, you still have got a little bit of hunger,” said the 32-year old Simmons, who was an alternate for the London Olympics after finishing second at the 2012 U.S. team trials.
“I know that I can still compete at that highest level and I know I can still win. That’s the biggest thing right there is knowing that I still have the capabilities of competing and winning with these guys out there on the mat.”
Simmons, who will be one of nine individuals and three teams inducted into the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, is increasing his competition schedule this year to make one last push toward being a part of the United States Olympic team. He has competed in the Dave Schultz Memorial Tournament, the U.S. Open and World Trials this year and expects to compete in a few events this fall.
“I’m going to get that going again and do what I do this fall with tournaments and preparing myself,” said Simmons, who is competing at 125 1/2 pounds (57 kilos). “I know I can still make the team and go out there and have a good showing at the Olympics and medal and win it.”
Simmons, a 2001 Williamston graduate, is one of the most decorated individuals in the 40th anniversary Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame class. He has experienced international success as a member of the 2011 U.S. World team, being the 2009 U.S. Nationals champion and also a Pan American champ.
Those accomplishments followed record-setting careers at Williamston and MSU. Simmons compiled a 211-0 record and was a four-time state champion while at Williamston with 208 wins by fall or technical fall. He recorded 157 consecutive wins by fall and set a national record for falls in a season (57).
At MSU, Simmons was a four-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion. He ranks first in program history with 46 career falls and second with 138 wins.
Simmons, who is now the associate head coach at Indiana, said a little bit of everything stands out from his days wrestling at Williamston and MSU.
“It was great individually what we’ve done, but the team stuff was probably the best stuff for you to look back on because you can’t do it yourself,” Simmons said. “It was just whatever you did team-wise like beating Iowa in a dual meet or even us in high school winning a team state title. It took everybody and it was fun getting there.”
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
GREATER LANSING SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Induction ceremony
• When: 5 p.m., July 30.
• Where: Lansing Center
• Tickets: $35 per individual, $280 for table of eight and can be purchased at lansingsportshalloffame.org
• Hall of Fame class: Chuck Block (Lansing Community College track/cross country), Jesse Gallegos (boxing), Fritz Kellerman (Sexton/University of Michigan wrestling), Scott Kemp (Grand Ledge/Eastern Michigan baseball), Andy Simmons (Williamston/MSU wrestling), Nick Simmons (Williamston/MSU wrestling), Stephanie Smiley (Holt/Eastern Michigan basketball), Kim Spalsbury (DeWitt/Fowler/Grand Ledge cross country/track), Jamie (Wesley) Klein (Morrice/MSU basketball), 1960 Haslett football team, 1977 DeWitt softball team, 1979 Lansing Eastern boys golf team.
• Richard Letts Community Service Awards: Larry Cockroft, Judge George Economy
• Hall of Fame sponsors: Magic Johnson Enterprise, Dean Transportation, Auto Owners Insurance, Applegate Home Comfort, Dan Henry Distributing
