Former Northern Michigan University-affiliated Greco-Roman wrestler Ellis Coleman reacts during a match against Mate Nemes of Slovakia at the World Wrestling Championships in Paris on Tuesday. Coleman split his two matches before being eliminated. (Photo courtesy Tony Rotundo of WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

PARIS — Four former wrestlers affiliated with Northern Michigan University competed at the World Wrestling Championships in Paris this week.

Former U.S. Olympic Education Center and Olympic Training Site Greco-Roman wrestlers Ellis Coleman, Robby Smith and Ben Provisor are each past participants at the Olympics. Cheney Haight is a two-time Pan American Games champion.

Coleman split a pair of matches before being eliminated on Tuesday at 66 kilograms (145 pounds), scoring a dominant 8-0 first-period technical fall in his opener over three-time Brazil Cup champ Diego Ribeiro Romanelli of Brazil. Coleman earned two takedowns and four step-out points.

But he lost to 2016 European Under-23 silver medalist Mate Nemes of Slovakia, 3-1, in some controversy as officials penalized Coleman early on two points and a caution for a stiff-arm to Nemes’ neck during an active pummel. Each wrestler then was awarded another penalty point for the other’s passivity.

Nemes’ loss in the quarterfinals took away Coleman’s second-chance repechage, when wrestlers who lose to a top finisher also receive another chance to compete.

“I started off kind of slow,” Coleman said in a USA Wrestling news release. “I was able to push the pace in my first match and get the ball rolling.

“Second match, same thing, not much different. I was trying to push the pace a little bit. A style clash. He just stood there and stayed in the zone a little bit. I couldn’t figure out to get him moving to open up my offense.”

Smith, in his fifth straight U.S. World or Olympics, also went 1-1 before being eliminated at 130 kg (286 lbs.) on Tuesday, opening with a throw and pin of Tamas Soos of Slovakia at 1:54. Already leading 2-0, Smith secured a bodylock and tossed Soos for four points, finishing off the throw with the fall of the fifth-place finisher at this year’s U23 European Championships.

In his next match, Smith lost 3-1 to Yasmani Acosta Fernandez, now of Chile. Acosta also defeated Smith for the Pan American title in 2011 while wrestling for Cuba.

Acosta lost in the semifinals, denying Smith a repechage round.

Haight and Provisor lost in their only matches at the Worlds.

Haight, competing Tuesday, was pinned by current World bronze medalist Laszlo Szabo of Hungary at 80 kg (176 lbs.). Haight scored a two-point throw early against Szabo and led 2-1 at the break. But the Hungarian scored a takedown and turn for four points and built a 9-2 lead when Haight tried to press the action but was pinned instead.

Haight, 32, is the oldest U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler at the event and also competed at the Worlds in 2011.

“It didn’t really go according to plan, but that’s life,” Haight said. “I feel I prepared as hard as I could for it. I had a great camp.

“I was giving up some underhooks in that match. It has been a problem with me. I have worked on it a lot. I knew how he wrestled. I wanted to get my points out there early.

“I knew, if he scored first, it would be hard to break through on him because he is a grinder and strong. I wanted to get him while he was coming at me. Once he got ahead of me, it was hard coming back.”

Provisor lost 6-2 to 2014 World Military champion Oleksandr Shyshman of Ukraine on Monday at 85 kg (187 lbs.). The match was tied 2-2 until 12 seconds were left before Shyshman got behind Provisor and hit a four-point throw. In addition, Provisor was ahead on the tiebreaker before the late score.

“I was up 2-2 with 16 seconds left,” Provisor said. “With the head butt that happened, I sort of got upset. It was the same thing that happened at the Olympics. I let my emotions get the best of me. I need to practice on that a little bit more.

“I was winning. I should have circled back with my left foot forward. He scored on my good side. My left side is my tricky side. I shouldn’t have given that point up. Live and learn. It was my first World Championships and now I will probably move to Penn State with Mason and we’ll see.”

Mason is Mason Manville, another competitor in Paris who split his two matches.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.