Takedown Report

Acosta Named USA Wrestling Magazine Coach of the Year

TDR Editor’s Note ; Our blogs are collection a titles and opening paragraphs of articles that cover and promote wrestling. Then the link to the full story is provided so readers are encouraged to check out the full story which leads to other articles about wrestling. It also can increase hits or traffic to these websites which is good for them. It is rare that we post the entire article but this story is incredible. We extend our congratulations to Coach Acosta for this well deserved award! Keep wrestling on! Contact us at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2966 (8/21/21) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Life University Coach Upsets 9 time Defending Champion Grand View Vikings Powerhouse for Title and Coach of the Year
MARIETTA, Ga. —– Life University men’s wrestling head coach Omi Acosta was honored by USA Wrestling Magazine as the Coach of the Year Thursday afternoon. The award is given to one coach across all collegiate divisions for their performance on the year. USA Wrestling Magazine had a page insert that has been copied below: “When a person speaks of the “American Dream,” stories such as the one, encapsulates everything you need to know about this belief and the desire to achieve it. The American Dream is a set of ideals in which the freedom America provides includes the opportunity to achieve great success and prosperity through hard work, determination and initiative. Omi Acosta, the head wrestling coach at Life University is living proof that these ideals of the American Dream still exist and can become a reality if you grind hard enough.
Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Omi Acosta first stepped foot on a wrestling mat in the ninth grade at South Dade Senior High School. Like most mothers, Ms. Acosta wanted the best for her son and moving her family to the United States for that opportunity was the clear option. Weighing all of 103 pounds soaking wet and unable to speak a word of English, Omi and his mother approached the wrestling coach at South Dade asking if he thought Omi was big enough to wrestle. It was an easy decision and outright blessing for every wrestling coach who is always in search of their next great 103-pound wrestler and Omi Acosta fit the bill perfectly. Omi instantly showed his work ethic both in the classroom as well as on the mat. Before we knew it, Omi was completely fluent in English, passing all his classes with flying colors and becoming a hammer on the mat. As a junior, he qualified for the state championships and made the podium placing 5th at his weight class.
During his senior year, the sky was the limit as Omi knocked off the defending state champion and was on track for an outstanding season. In the finals of that same tournament, Omi broke his arm against another state champion and was unable to compete the rest of the season but like the unselfish true champion he is, he continued to be the captain of a team that would make history. That 2008 season was a record breaking one for the Bucs of South Dade, as they did what no other team had done before in 34 years, beating Brandon High School and ending their 459-match winning streak, the longest winning streak in sports history.
Now, let’s fast forward 13 years later. After completing a stellar college career which saw Omi become a Junior College All-American and National Champion at Waubonsee Community College as well as a 2012 NAIA National Champion at Grand View University. Omi Acosta duplicates a feat, that no one thought possible because no other team had done it in 9 consecutive years. Omi Acosta and the Running Eagles of Life University won the 2021 NAIA National Championship, toppling a Grand View University dynasty that he helped to build. You see, in 2012 when Omi won an NAIA National Championship at 133 pounds for the Vikings that was the beginning of Grand Views’ 9-year stranglehold of that division. Not only was Omi Acosta a part of Grand View University’s first national title but he also stuck around as a part of the Grand View coaching staff which saw them win three more NAIA National Championships. In that 3-year span, he mentored 12 individual National Champions, 19 All-Americans and 15 NWCA Academic All-Americans.
After a brief stint as the assistant coach of the Coast Guard, where he mentored 2 NWCA Academic All Americans, 2 NCAA National Qualifiers and 1 All-American, Omi was named the Head Coach at Life University in 2016. In that short time, while under the guidance of Omi, Life University has produced 3 individual NAIA National Champions, 10 National Runners up, 23 All Americans and 43 National Qualifiers. His team finished third in the nation in 2019 and made back-to-back trips to the NAIA National Duals finals. As much success as Omi Acosta and Life University has had in the previous years nobody saw this coming as they stunned the wrestling world by knocking off one of the most successful programs in NAIA history. This season the Running Eagles qualified all 12 wrestlers for the National Championships, advanced 3 to the finals and 10 of them earned All-American honors. In a battle that came down to the very last match of the finals, Life University out scored Omi’s alma mater, Grand View University by 5 points, securing the first NAIA National Championship in the school’s history.
Wrestling USA Magazine would like to congratulate Coach Omi Acosta for all he does for the great sport of wrestling. We are honored to select him as the 2021 National Wrestling Coach of the Year Award Winner!” The full issue will become available on August 15 at http://www.wrestlingusa.com … rest of story at https://liferunningeagles.com/news/2021/7/15/mens-wrestling-acosta-named-usa-wrestling-magazine-coach-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

August 21, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized