Kerry McCoy (red) battles Stephen Neal in the finals. (TheMat.Com photo)

DALLAS, Texas; June 25, 2000 -- Current Penn State coaching assistant and former Nittany Lion NCAA Champion Kerry McCoy earned a berth on the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team Saturday night in the 286-pound weight class.

McCoy, who resides in State College, defeated Stephen Neal, of Bakersfield, Calif., by scores of 4-1 and 6-4 on Saturday in the best-of-three format at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Reunion Arena to earn the berth. He will represent the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia in September.

By virtue of his victory over Neal in the finals of U.S. National Championships in April, McCoy did not have to wrestle this weekend until he met Neal, who won the qualifying tournament among the other 286-pound competitors.

Originally from Middle Island, N.Y., McCoy has been a member of the Penn State wrestling coaching staff since 1997 upon completion of his outstanding collegiate career. McCoy finished his career with a 150-18 record and won the NCAA heavyweight titles in 1994 and '97. He won 131 of his last 132 matches, including an 88-match winning streak which was fourth-longest in NCAA history. McCoy was the 1997 Hodge Award winner as W.I.N. Magazine's Wrestler of the Year. His 47 wins in 1994 are a school record as are his career 34 falls. The three-time Big Ten Champion posted a 41-0 record en route to his national title as a senior in 1997. he graduated with a degree in marketing.

McCoy becomes the third Penn State wrestler to compete in the Olympic Games. In 1988, Ken Chertow represented the U.S. at 114.5 pounds. In 1996, Sanshiro Abe represented his native Japan at 125.5 pounds. Penn State head coach Troy Sunderland was an alternate for the U.S. team for the 1992 Olympics.

Also this weekend, Cary Kolat, who wrestled at Penn State from in 1993 and '94 before transferring to Lock Haven, won a spot on the U.S. freestyle team at 138.75 pounds. Kolat, who now resides in Morgantown, W. Va., also won the U.S. National title and did not compete at the Olympic Trials until Saturday, beating Bill Zadick twice, 4-2 and 3-0.

The XXVII Olympics will be held September 15-October 1 in Sydney.

NOTE: Coverage of the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Trials will be televised by PAX TV (Ch. 16 on AT&T Cable in the Centre Region) on Saturday, July 1 from 9-11 p.m. EDT.