Nickolos Edward Gwiazdowski (born December 30, 1992)[1] is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler. A two-time NCAA Division I National Champion for the North Carolina State Wolfpack, Gwiazdowski has won two bronze medals at the World Championships, a Pan American Games title, and two Pan American championships for Team USA.[2]

Nick Gwiazdowski
Personal information
Full nameNicholas Edward Gwiazdowski
Born (1992-12-30) December 30, 1992 (age 31)
Duanesburg, New York, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight125 kg (276 lb)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamNC State
ClubTitan Mercury WC
Wolfpack WC
Coached byPat Popolizio
Obe Blanc
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Paris 125 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Budapest 125 kg
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima 125 kg
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Lima 125 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Buenos Aires 125 kg
Silver medal – second place 2022 Acapulco 125 kg
Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Krasnoyarsk 125 kg
Poland Open (Wacław Ziółkowski Memorial)
Gold medal – first place 2023 Warsaw 125 kg
Silver medal – second place 2021 Warsaw 125 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Spala 125 kg
Grand Prix
Silver medal – second place 2019 Istanbul 125 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Istambul 125 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Nice 125 kg
US National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Las Vegas 125 kg
Gold medal – first place 2021 Coralville 125 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the NC State Wolfpack
NCAA Division I Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Oklahoma City 285 lb
Gold medal – first place 2015 St. Louis 285 lb
Silver medal – second place 2016 New York 285 lb
ACC Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Blacksburg 285 lb
Gold medal – first place 2015 Pittsburgh 285 lb
Gold medal – first place 2016 Charlottesville 285 lb
Representing the Binghamton Bearcats
CAA Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Vestal 285 lb

High school career

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He was a two-time NYSPHSAA (New York) Division II state champion for Duanesburg High School in Delanson, New York, where he went 50-0 as a senior, and managed to not have a single opponent go the entire match with him.[3] He received the Dave Schultz and Junior Schalles Awards at the end of the season.[4]

College career

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Nick earned All-American honors as a true freshman at Binghamton University in 2012 (8th at 285). He then transferred to North Carolina State University and redshirted the 2012-13 season to preserve his NCAA eligibility. While there he was then a three-time All-American for the Wolfpack, twice a national champion (2014 & 2015) and once a runner-up (2016), while competing at the 285 lb. heavyweight division. He lost his last match to eventual Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder.[5][6][7]

International career

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Gwiazdowski competed at the 2017 Wrestling World Cup - Men's freestyle, losing in the take-all final match.[8]

Gwiazdowski qualified for the 2017 World Wrestling Championships at 125 kg by winning the U.S. Team Trials where he was an automatic finalist by being U.S. Open champion.[9] At the 2017 Worlds, he won a bronze medal.[10]

At the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2018 he lost to Muradin Kushkhov of Russia in the quarterfinals, but went on to wrestle back and win a bronze medal against Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur of Mongolia.[11]

In 2022, he competed at the Yasar Dogu Tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Coaching career

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On August 21, 2021, while still competing internationally, Gwiazdowski joined the coaching staff of Cornell University as a volunteer assistant coach.[12] He continued to coach the Big Red through the 2023-24 season. [13]

On November 8, 2024, Warren Central High School in Indianapolis announced that he had been hired as an assistant coach.[14]

Freestyle record

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Senior Freestyle Matches
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location
  Zach Merrill February 13, 2022 2022 Bout at the Ballpark

  Arlington, Texas

2021 World Championships 5th at 125 kg
Loss 116–37   Taha Akgül 4–6 October 3, 2021 2021 World Championships   Oslo, Norway
Win 116–36   Dzianis Khramiankou 6–1
Loss 115–36   Amir Hossein Zare TF 0–10 October 2, 2021
Win 115–35   Amar Dhesi 8–3
2021 US World Team Trials   at 125 kg
Win 114–35   Mason Parris 10–3 September 12, 2021 2021 US World Team Trials   Lincoln, Nebraska
Win 113–35   Mason Parris 6–0
Win 112–35   Jordan Wood 9–0 September 11, 2021
Win 111–35   Demetrius Thomas TF 10–0
2021 Poland Open   at 125 kg
Loss 110–35   Amir Hossein Zare DQ (1–6) June 9, 2021 2021 Poland Open

  Warsaw, Poland

Win 110–34   Youssif Hemida TF 10–0
Win 109–34   Yusup Batirmurzaev 9–2
2021 US Open   at 125 kg
Win 108–34   Tony Cassioppi TF 12–0 May 1–2, 2021 2021 US Open National Championships   Coralville, Iowa
Win 107–34   Christian Lance 9–0
Win 106–34   Matt Stencel TF 10–0
Win 105–34   Aydin Guttridge TF 10–0
2020 US Olympic Team Trials   at 125 kg
Loss 104–34   Gable Steveson 4–10 April 2–3, 2021 2020 US Olympic Team Trials   Fort Worth, Texas
Loss 104–33   Gable Steveson TF 0–10
Win 104–32   Dom Bradley TF 11–0
Win 103–32   Garrett Ryan TF 11–0
2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix   at 125 kg
Win 102–32   Asghar Laghari TF 10–0 January 16–17, 2021 Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2021

  Nice, France

Loss 101–32   Robert Baran 5–5
Win 101–31   Jere Heino TF 11–0
FloWrestling RTC Cup 4th as WRTC at 125 kg
Loss 100–31   Mason Parris 7–10 December 4–5, 2020 FloWrestling RTC Cup

  Austin, Texas

Win 100–30   Amar Dhesi TF 11–0
Loss 99–30   Gable Steveson 1–4
Win 99–29   Mason Parris TF 18–8
Win 98–29   Kyven Gadson TF 10–0 August 30, 2020 Chael Sonnen's Wrestling Underground I

  United States

2020 Pan American Olympic Qualification   at 125 kg
Win 97–29   Amar Dhesi FF March 15, 2020 2020 Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament

  Ottawa, Canada

Win 96–29   Luis Vivenes TF 10–0
2019–20 Deutsche Ringerliga season   for Team Ispringen at 130 kg
Win 95–29   Etienne Wyrich TF 16–0 January 18, 2020 2019–2020 Deutsche Ringerliga season

  Germany

2019 Alans International 5th at 125 kg
Loss 94–29   Amir Hossein Zare TF 0–10 December 7–8, 2019 2019 Alans International

  Vladikavkaz, Russia

Win 94–28   Khasan Khubaev 8–6
Loss 93–28   Batradz Gazzaev 2–9
Loss 93–27   Zelimkhan Khizriev 7–7 November 24, 2019 2019–2020 Deutsche Ringerliga season

  Germany

Win 93–26   Marco Becker TF 16–0 November 23, 2019
2019 World Championships 17th at 125 kg
Loss 92–26   Yadollah Mohebbi 2–5 September 20, 2019 2019 World Championships

  Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

2019 Pan American Games   at 125 kg
Win 92–25   Óscar Pino TF 10–0 August 10, 2019 2019 Pan American Games

  Lima, Peru

Win 91–25   Korey Jarvis TF 10–0
Win 90–25   Andrew Gunning TF 10–0
2019 Yasar Dogu   at 125 kg
Loss 89–25   Taha Akgül 1–5 July 11–14, 2019 2019 Yasar Dogu

  Istanbul, Turkey

Win 89–24   Sumit Sumit 6–2
Win 88–24   Fatih Çakıroğlu FF
2019 US World Team Trials   at 125 kg
Win 87–24   Gable Steveson 3–3 June 7–8, 2019 2019 Final X: Rutgers

  New Brunswick, New Jersey

Win 86–24   Gable Steveson 4–4
Win 85–24   Derek White 9–0 May 6, 2019 2019 Beat the Streets: Grapple at the Garden

  New York City, New York

2019 Pan American Championships   at 125 kg
Win 84–24   Korey Jarvis TF 10–0 April 1, 2019 2019 Pan American Championships

  Buenos Aires, Argentina

Win 83–24   Óscar Pino TF 11–1
Win 82–24   Eduardo García TF 10–0
Win 81–24   Marcos Santos TF 10–0
2019 Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Memorial 7th at 125 kg
Loss 80–24   Deng Zhiwei 5–7 February 28 – March 3, 2019 2019 Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Memorial

  Ruse, Bulgaria

Loss 80–23   Parviz Hadi 2–5
Win 80–22   Fatih Çakıroğlu 6–0
Win 79–22   Robert Baran 5–1
2018–19 Deutsche Ringerliga season 4th for Team Ispringen at 130 kg
Win 78–22   Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov 5–4 January 12, 2019 2018–2019 Deutsche Ringerliga season

  Germany

Win 77–22   Giorgi Sakandelidze 3–2 December 8, 2018
Win 76–22   Dániel Ligeti TF 16–0 December 1, 2018
Win 75–22   Anzor Khizriev 4–2 November 10, 2018
2018 World Championships   at 125 kg
Win 74–22   Sumit Malik 7–2 October 20–21, 2018 2018 World Championships

  Budapest, Hungary

Win 73–22   Amar Dhesi 7–0
Loss 72–22   Deng Zhiwei 4–5
Win 72–21   Natsagsürengiin Zolboo 9–4
2018 Yasar Dogu   at 125 kg
Win 71–21   Nick Matuhin 6–4 July 27–29, 2018 2018 Yasar Dogu

  Istanbul, Turkey

Loss 70–21   Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi 3–4
Win 70–20   Duman Bultrikov TF 10–0
Win 69–20   Sumit Sumit TF 10–0
2018 US World Team Trials   at 125 kg
Win 68–20   Adam Coon 6–1 June 22–23, 2018 2018 Final X: Lehigh

  Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Win 67–20   Adam Coon 6–1
Win 66–20   Yudenny Alpajón 9–1 May 17, 2018 2018 Beat the Streets: Team USA vs Cuba

  New York City, New York

2018 Pan American Championships   at 125 kg
Win 65–20   Yudenny Alpajón 9–0 May 3–6, 2018 2018 Pan American Championships

  Lima, Peru

Win 64–20   Carlos Félix TF 11–0
Win 63–20   Catriel Muriel TF 10–0
2018 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix   at 125 kg
Win 62–20   Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur 5–1 January 27, 2018 Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2018

  Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Win 61–20   Zhanxiang Hu 7–0
Loss 60–20   Muradin Kushkhov 1–3
Win 60–19   Alan Khugaev 6–1
2017 World Clubs Cup   as TMWC at 125 kg
Loss 59–19   Geno Petriashvili 5–6 December 7–8, 2017 2017 World Clubs Cup

  Tehran, Iran

Win 59–18   Mönkhtöriin Lkhagvagerel TF 10–0
Win 58–18   Mert Emin TF 10–0
Win 57–18   Pushpender Singh TF 10–0
Win 56–18   Korey Jarvis TF 10–0
2017 World Championships   at 125 kg
Win 55–18   Natsagsürengiin Zolboo 5–1 August 25, 2017 2017 World Championships

  Paris, France

Loss 54–18   Taha Akgül TF 0–10
Win 54–17   Yadollah Mohebbi 5–4
Win 53–17   Dániel Ligeti 10–1
Win 52–17   Andrei Romanov TF 10–0
2017 Spain Grand Prix   at 125 kg
Win 51–17   Amin Taheri Jafar 5–2 July 15–16, 2017 2017 Grand Prix of Spain

  Madrid, Spain

Win 50–17   Edgardo Lopez TF 10–0
Win 49–17   Sean Molle TF 14–4
2017 US World Team Trials   at 125 kg
Win 48–17   Dom Bradley 3–2 June 10, 2017 2017 US World Team Trials

  Lincoln, Nebraska

Win 47–17   Dom Bradley 5–1
Win 46–17   Katsutoshi Kanazawa TF 11–0 May 17, 2017 2017 Beat The Streets: Times Square

  New York City, New York

2017 US Open   at 125 kg
Win 45–17   Zach Rey 3–2 April 26–29, 2017 2017 US Open National Championships

  Las Vegas, Nevada

Win 44–17   Dom Bradley 6–4
Win 43–17   Bobby Telford 4–1
Win 42–17   Daniel Stibral TF 11–0
Win 41–17   Michael Gregory TF 10–0
2017 World Cup   as Team USA at 125 kg
Loss 40–17   Komeil Ghasemi 0–5 February 16–17, 2017 2017 World Cup

  Kermanshah, Iran

Loss 40–16   Jamaladdin Magomedov 1–3
2017 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix 14th at 125 kg
Loss 40–15   Adlan Ibragimov 4–6 January 28, 2017 Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2017

  Krasnoyarsk, Russia

2016 World Clubs Cup   as TMWC at 125 kg
Win 40–14   Parviz Hadi 3–2 November 30 – December 1, 2016 2016 World Clubs Cup

  Kharkov, Ukraine

Loss 39–14   Alen Zasyeyev 2–4
Loss 39–13   Giorgi Meshvildishvili 2–5
Win 39–12   Oleksandr Khotsianivskiy 2–1
2016 Intercontinental Cup   at 125 kg
Loss 38–12   Batraz Gazzaev 1–2 October 14–16, 2016 2016 Intercontinental Cup

  Khasavyurt, Russia

Win 38–11   Anzor Khizriev 5–1
Win 37–11   Umar Israilov 9–1
Win 36–11   Dmitry Popov 3–2
2016 Ziolkowski International   at 125 kg
Win 35–11   Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi 5–0 June 17–19, 2016 2016 Ziolkowski International

  Spala, Poland

Win 34–11   Diaaeldin Kamal 5–0
Loss 33–11   Mukhamagazi Magomedov 7–8
2016 US University Nationals   at 125 kg
Win 33–10   Tanner Hall 4–1 June 2–6, 2016 2016 US University National Championships

  Akron, Ohio

Win 32–10   Tanner Hall 3–1
Win 31–10   Garrett Ryan TF 10–0
Win 30–10   Nolan Terrance TF 12–2
Win 29–10   Ben Tynan TF 10–0
Win 28–10   Billy Miller TF 10–0
Win 27–10   Louie Maser TF 10–0
2016 US Olympic Team Trials 4th at 125 kg
Loss 26–10   Dom Bradley 2–2 April 9, 2016 2016 US Olympic Team Trials

  Iowa City, Iowa

Win 26–9   Bobby Telford 5–0
Loss 25–9   Zach Rey 2–4
Win 25–8   Justin Grant 4–1
2015 Bill Farrell M. International   at 125 kg
Win 24–8   Dom Bradley 1–0 November 5–7, 2015 2015 Bill Farrell Memorial International

  New York, New York

Win 23–8   Anthony Nelson TF 11–0
Win 22–8   Pavel Krivtsov 11–6
Win 21–8   Justin Grant 4–2
2015 Spain Grand Prix   at 125 kg
Win 20–8   Deng Zhiwei Fall July 11, 2015 2015 Grand Prix of Spain

  Madrid, Spain

Win 19–8   Mehdi Gonbadani TF 14–4
Win 18–8   Kamil Kosciolek TF 10–0
Win 17–8   Jose Cuba TF 10–0
2015 US World Team Trials 4th at 125 kg
Loss 16–8   Dom Bradley 1–2 June 12–14, 2015 2015 US World Team Trials

  Madison, Wisconsin

Win 16–7   Tyrell Fortune 5–0
Win 15–7   Adam Coon TF 12–2
Loss 14–7   Zach Rey 1–7
Win 14–6   Connor Medbery 6–4
2015 US Nationals 4th at 125 kg
Win 13–6   Chadwick Hanke Fall May 7–9, 2015 2015 US National Championships

  Las Vegas, Nevada

Loss 12–6   Tervel Dlagnev 2–8
Win 12–5   Dom Bradley 4–4
Win 11–5   Michael Graves TF 10–0
2014 US World Team Trials 4th at 125 kg
Loss 10–5   Tyrell Fortune TF 0–10 May 29 – June 1, 2014 2014 US World Team Trials

  Madison, Wisconsin

Loss 10–4   Zach Rey 3–9
Win 10–3   Dom Bradley 9–9
Win 9–3   Jarod Trice 4–4
2013 US University Nationals   at 120 kg
Win 8–3   Austin Marsden 7–5 May 24–26, 2013 2013 US University National Championships

  Akron, Ohio

Win 7–3   Connor Medbery 10–8
Loss 6–3   Tyrell Fortune 0–8
Win 6–2   Michael Kroells TF 16–4
Win 5–2   Connor Medbery 12–9
Win 4–2   Jeremy Johnson 14–9
2013 US Open 7th at 120 kg
Win 3–2   Jeremy Johnson 3–1, 4–0 April 17–20, 2013 2013 US Open National Championships

  Las Vegas, Nevada

Loss 2–2   Tyrell Fortune 2–4, 3–5
Win 2–1   Riley Orozco 4–3, 3–0
Loss 1–1   Dom Bradley 0–3, 0–2
Win 1–0   David Lopez 8–3, 6–0

References

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  1. ^ "Nick Gwiazdowski". TeamUSA.org. United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "Nick Gwiazdowski". TeamUSA.org. United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "UNC's Nick Gwiazdowski completes perfect season in New York". MaxPreps.com. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  4. ^ "NC State Athletics - Wrestling". Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "No glory in loss, NC State's Gwiazdowski still exits a winner". Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "Nick Gwiazdowski eyes 3rd straight NCAA wrestling title". March 16, 2016. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "NC State Athletics - Wrestling". Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.
  8. ^ Maese, Rick (February 17, 2017). "U.S. comeback isn't enough to shake off Iran at freestyle wrestling World Cup". Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017 – via washingtonpost.com.
  9. ^ "2017 Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Preview - 125 kg - The Open Mat". news.theopenmat.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  10. ^ "Live Updates: Day Five 2017 World Championships". August 25, 2017. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  11. ^ "Gwiazdowski in Russian tournament". wrestrus.ru. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  12. ^ "Cornell Wrestling Announces Nick Gwiazdowski as Volunteer Assistant Coach". Retrieved December 2, 2024 – via cornellbigred.com.
  13. ^ Sommer, Austin (July 29, 2024). "Cornell's Young Lineup with the Same Old Goals". Retrieved December 2, 2024 – via intermatwrestle.com.
  14. ^ "Welcome Nick Gwiazdowski to the Warren Central Wrestling Staff". November 8, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024 – via instagram.com.
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