After a devastating senior-campaign at the 2017 NCAA championships in March, 3x All-American Thomas “The Machine” Gilman embarked on the next chapter of his career with vengeance and a newfound vigor in his veins.
As it were, the cruelest mistress that is wrestling would give Gilman the opportunity to achieve the World, but it would not come easy. Gilman would have to face the demons of his past, one at a time.
Last Chance
In a small bracket, Gilman’s entrance into the Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier was highly anticipated after his NCAA disappointment. Needing only two wins to qualify, The Machine went to work with the larger goal of making the World team in mind. First up was 2016 NCAA All-American David Terao.
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Despite a scare in which Gilman was thrown for four-points, he steadily built his lead against Terao to win 9-4. In the World Team Trials qualifying finals, Gilman would face the infamous, 4x D2 All-American, 2x D2 National Champion Daniel DeShazer.
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Thomas Gilman’s entire run looked to be in trouble before it even got going as he trailed DeShazer 6-0 after the first 3-minutes. In the second and final period, down 6-5 in the closing minute, a fateful caution-and-2 call against DeShazer as Gilman worked for a takedown gave the Machine a 7-6 lead that would carry him to the World Team Trials. At the Trials, Gilman would embark on the vision quest of the ages, his vendetta well in his heart.
2017 World Team Trials
Seeded #9, The Machine would beat the 2017 125lbs NCAA Champion, 2014 133lbs runner-up, 2016 125lbs Champion, 2015 125lbs Champion, and the 2014 133lbs NCAA Champion twice, to make his first senior-level World Team. A tall task, even for the Machine.
FloArena Interactive Bracket
Facing the man that beat him in the national semi-finals a few months prior, Gilman demonstrated his mettle beating #8-seed Darian Cruz, 9-0. He then wrestled a strategic 1-1 match to beat #1-seed Tyler Graff. Then, he absolutely shocked #4-seed Nico Megaludis via 11-0 Tech-Fall to make the Challenge Tournament finals against #3-seed Nathan Tomasello.
It was personal when Gilman “pinned” NATO in the 2016 national semis, and so it was again with a chance at a World team on the line. Gilman succeeded yet again, 6-2.
In the best-of-three final series, Thomas Gilman faced off against 2014, 2015 World Team member (and former Hawkeye teammate) Tony Ramos. With a precisely-tuned gameplan, Gilman beat Ramos in straight-matches, 4-3, 7-2.
To beat the cast of opponents the Machine had triumphed over is a feat in itself. To do so as the ‘Last Chance’ qualifier and make the team in the process was unheard of.
However, Gilman didn’t make the team to simply participate in Paris.
Grand Prix of Spain
Alongside all his teammates save J’Den Cox, Thomas Gilman put large gaps between himself and the competition in Team USA’s final competition prior to the World Championships. Facing 4x Canadian World teamer, 2016 University World Bronze Steven Takahashi of Canada in the first round, Gilman dispatched Takahashi 10-5. It was his closest match of the tournament. He then rattled off a 15-2 TF and a 10-2 decision over the two 2017 European Championship 5th-placers, Levan Metreveli of Spain and Zoheir El Ouarraque of France, respectively. Undefeated, the Machine’s next task was the World stage.
#Lutte2017 — The Senior World Championships
With Stars-and-Stripes on his back, the Machine brought near-perfect firmware to the mat and won his first four-matches en route to the World finals.
In round one, Gilman took on eventual 2017 World Bronze medalist Andrey Yatsenko of Ukraine. Yatsenko, a 2x Cadet World Champion and 2016 Junior World 5th, was never in position to beat Gilman, who was patient for scoring-opportunities based on Yatsenko’s mistakes, winning 5-2.
In the round-of-16, Gilman would face Iran’s Reza Atrinagharchi in a close contest that featured a few intense flurries. When all was said and done, it was Gilman up 3-0 on two 1pt scores and a failed-challenge point.
Reaching the World quarterfinals, Gilman impressed his forward motion on Nodiryon Safarov of Uzbekistan and forced his opponent to wilt to the heat, winning 12-1TF. The Machine’s opponent in the semis would prove a greater challenge.
Hakjin Jong of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 2015 World 5th and 2016 World Military Champion, was himself eager for the taste of World-medal. When Gilman and Jong met, the lead shifted rapidly over the course of six-minutes. 2-0 USA, 3-2 PRK, 5-3 USA until, finally, the final whistle was called and Gilman had earned himself a place in the World finals, 5-4.
Waiting for the Machine in the finals was Japan’s Yuki Takahashi, who was on his own national mission when he took the mat. Following the Olympic run of Rio Silver Rei Higuchi, Takahashi was guile in the exchanges between he and Gilman. Where Gilman attacked incessantly, Takahashi was able to defend and reflect the action to score, eventually sealing Gilman to 2nd-place with a 6-0 victory.
Make no mistake, what Gilman accomplished brought great pride to himself and his country. Thomas Gilman’s #Lutte2017 Silver medal is the first world medal at lightweight for the United States since Henry Cejudo beat, coincidentally, Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan in the 2008 Olympic Finals at MFS55KG. (Nick Simmons (5th, 2011) and Angel Escobedo (5th, 2013) both fell one-win shy of earning a medal in recent years.) By virtue of being the first ‘Last Chance’ qualifier to make the World Team, Gilman is also the first ‘Last Chance’ qualifier to not only make the team, but make the world finals as well. It’s a helluva start for the Machine. #StayClear, as he works toward the future, with World Gold and the national anthem in his sights.
(All images in this article are the work of Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com; this article was updated on September 13, 2017, adding Gilman’s performance at the Grand Prix of Spain.)
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