Rocky Elam from Kansas City, Missouri, has established himself as a prominent figure in the wrestling world. His journey is marked by numerous achievements both in high school and on the national stage.
High School Success
Elam is a two-time Missouri state champion and a four-time state qualifier, finishing third in 2018, for Staley High School. His prowess in high school wrestling set the stage for his future collegiate career.
- Two-time Missouri State Champion
- Four-time State Qualifier
- Third Place Finish in 2018
The son of Bryant and Cherise Elam, Elam was a member of the Missouri State High School Activities Association All-Academic team three times after placing in the Top Six in the state tournament and having over a 3.5 GPA.
National and International Recognition
Before transitioning to collegiate wrestling, Elam made a significant impact on the national and international scene.
- Won United World Wrestling's Junior Austria Flatz Open in 2020.
- Captured USA Wrestling's Preseason Nationals and Junior Folkstyle Nationals in 2019.
- USA Wrestling's Cadet Freestyle Nationals champion in 2018.
- Preseason Cadet Folkstyle Nationals champion in 2017.
He also trains at the Olympic Training Center as a member of USA Wrestling's Elite Accelerator Program.
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Collegiate Career
Elam's collegiate career began at the University of Missouri, and he later became one of the most coveted competitors in the transfer portal when he entered it this spring. Elam attained All-American status four times as a Tiger. The top-ranked wrestler in the country at 195 pounds, Elam has signed a letter of intent to wrestle at the University of Missouri.
Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam met in the 197-pound match at the NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen on November 22 in Austin, Texas. Both Warner and Elam are two of the top wrestlers in the country at their weight class and are two of the favorites to contend for an NCAA title this year. Despite being two of the top 197-pound wrestlers in the country for the past two years, Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam have never met in their college careers.
Before we dive into this bout, take a look at a snapshot of both Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam’s college careers. Below you'll see their college records, finishes at NCAAs, and a hitlist of their wins over past All-Americans.
Quick Stats
Here's a comparison of Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam's college records:
| Wrestler | Career College Record | All-American Finishes | Notable Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Warner | 76-19 | 3X All-American (2nd in 2022, 4th in 2021, 7th in 2019) | Stephen Buchanan (2X), Eric Schultz (3X), Gavin Hoffman (2X) |
| Rocky Elam | 41-9 | 2X All-American (4th in 2022, 5th in 2021), 2021 Junior World Champion | Gavin Hoffman, Eric Schultz (2X), Nino Bonaccorsi, Yonger Bastida (2X) |
“(He’s) ranked No. 2 in the nation (by FloWrestling) in the preseason,” Dresser said of Elam, one of several of high-level transfers who joined ISU’s program in the offseason. “There (are) not many four-time All-Americans walking the planet. He’s placed between third and sixth his whole career.
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Elam battled through an array of injuries and Dresser said he’ll be on “a pitch count” early for the Cyclones, who open the season on Nov. 8 in the Cyclones Invitational.
“Rocky’s wrestling IQ is really good and I saw him kind of coaching up Yonger in a couple positions (on Monday),” Dresser said.
Missouri wrestling will kick off their 2023-24 season with their annual Black and Gold Scrimmage on Oct. at the Hearnes Center. The Tigers are returning to the mat as reigning champions of the 2023 Big 12 Wrestling Championship. At the 2023 Big 12 Wrestling Championship, all ten Tigers placed in their respective weight classes.
“I got a chance to do some training this summer,” Elam said. “Black and Gold is always always a fun one,” Elam said. Elam is not focusing on the scrimmage, though. “We’re always looking forward to the end of the year,” Elam said.
Head coach Brian Smith teaches the wrestlers the meaning of ‘Tiger Style’ and follows the motto “One more.” Smith uses the phrase ‘Tiger Style’ to define an attitude that encourages excellence on and off the mat.
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“Everybody’s trying to feed off one another,” Elam said. “We’re all trying to learn, and there’s no egos in the room. Nobody’s trying to outdo one another just to be better than someone.
“I don’t have a lot of control over the outcome,” Elam said. “What I do have control over are the things that I’m doing every day in my training: helping my teammates, cooperating with them and my coaches so we can all learn and have a growth mindset environment.
The 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championship will be hosted in Kansas City, Mo. at the T-Mobile Center. “I’m excited about the national tournament, especially because I’m going back home,” Elam said. “There’s going to be a ton of Tiger fans there. Personally [for] me, there’s a lot of sentimental value in it.
The Tigers open the regular season at home against Arizona State on Nov. Their first in-conference dual will be against Oklahoma on Dec.