Las Vegas, Nev. - Former Penn State NCAA Champion and coach Kerry McCoy began his run for the 2004 Olympics in grand fashion over the Easter weekend as he won his fifth-straight U.S. National Wrestling Championship and claimed the top seed for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials, May 21-23 in Indianapolis.

McCoy, a two-time NCAA Champion and three-time All-American at Penn State, was dominating in claiming the 264.5-pound freestyle title in Las Vegas. He won five bouts either by fall or by shutout, including a 3-0 blanking of 2003 NCAA Champion Steve Mocco in the final.

The top eight finishers in each weight class qualified for the Olympic Trials. By virtue of his victory, McCoy will receive the No. 1 seed at the Trials and advances directly to the championship series where he will face whoever emerges from the regular bracket for the right to represent the U.S. at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. McCoy previously made the Olympic team for the 2000 Games where he finished fifth, and has since become the dominant wrestler at his weight in the U.S. and among the elite in the world.

Also competing at the nationals were current Nittany Lions James Woodall and Philip Davis. Woodall posted a 3-2 mark wrestling at 66 kilograms while Davis went 2-2 at 96 kilograms. Davis defeated current Penn State volunteer coach Josh Pearce in one of his matches. Former Penn State NCAA Champion and three-time All-American Jeremy Hunter finished fifth at 55 kg after falling 6-0 to eventual champion Stephan Abas in the semifinals. Former Nittany Lion All-American Clint Musser competed at 66 kg but did not place.