John Harrell, Associated Press Kerry McCoy begins to celebrate after defeating Tolly Thompson in the finals of the 264.5 lbs. freestyle match at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials yesterday in Indianapolis. Click photo for larger image.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Kerry McCoy was not the most celebrated wrestler competing at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Nor did he participate in the most exciting of the championship matches yesterday at the RCA Dome.

But he drew one of the loudest ovations.

For a hug.

Moments after McCoy, a former star at Penn State University, had made his second consecutive Olympic team in the heavyweight freestyle category -- he swept Tolly Thompson, 5-3 and 8-0, in the best-of-three final -- he went through all the usual arm-raisings and handshakes. Then, spontaneously, he slowly stepped into the seating area for the crowd, climbed several steps, made his way through a few fans in one row and embraced his mother, Gretchen Cisco.

The crowd of 9,478 stood in unison, turned toward them and roared approval.

McCoy appeared a bit embarrassed but unapologetic.

"She means everything to me," he said a few minutes later. "Everything that I do, I do because of her. I wanted her to know that."

He added that he had made such a gesture only twice before, once in 1997 when he won his second NCAA championship, the other when he made the Olympic team in 2000.

"I guess I save it for the most important events," he said, grinning. "Believe me: This one is important to me."

That is because McCoy, 30, is determined to shake the lingering, nagging memories of his fifth-place finish in Sydney. He was projected by many as a gold-medal favorite but lost in the quarterfinals to Artur Taymazov of Uzbekistan after a bizarre dispute.

When American executives protested to FILA, wrestling's international body, that McCoy should have been awarded more points early in the match, they were told the official tape of the first period had been erased accidentally. Americans offered their own tape, but it initially was rejected. Finally, FILA accepted the tape but scored the match in Taymazov's favor, anyway.

It was enough to make McCoy ponder retirement.

"I thought about it a lot, actually, especially with all that went down in Sydney," he said. "There were so many opportunities taken from me, so many bad calls."

The more he thought about it, though, the more he discovered a determination to try again.

While continuing to work on Lehigh University's coaching staff, he remained among the world's elite wrestlers, including a second-place finish in the 2003 World Championships and the top spot at U.S. Nationals every year after Sydney.

His victory at nationals last month in Las Vegas gave him a bye to the final round of the tournament this weekend, meaning Thompson had to wrestle three times Friday and Saturday just to get to McCoy. Fatigue likely was not much of a factor yesterday, though, as Thompson seldom threatened McCoy and McCoy consistently stayed aggressive.

McCoy insisted victory was not as easy as it looked.

"It's never easy, not at this level. Tolly has been around for so much of my career, and he has pushed me very hard the whole time. I have a lot of respect for him," he said. "At the same time, I'm thrilled and honored to be going back to the Olympics. It's not quite the same feeling as making it the first time -- it never is -- but I'm hoping for a much better result this time."

In other noteworthy matches:

Rulon Gardner, who stole the show in Sydney by handing Russian legend Alexander Karelin his first loss in 16 years of international competition, regained his heavyweight spot on the Greco-Roman side by sweeping Dremiel Byers, both by 2-1 overtime scores. Byers had beaten Gardner at nationals, but Gardner overcame a bandaged right wrist and made it through the full tournament. He is the lone American gold medalist to return.

Cael Sanderson, the most successful wrestler in NCAA history after going 159-0 at Iowa State University in 1999-2002, qualified for his first Olympics by gaining revenge on Lee Fullhart, who stunned him in 184-pound freestyle at nationals. Sanderson won the third match, 4-1, but was booed by the crowd, which could be heard accusing him of dirty tactics and passive wrestling once he had the lead. Sanderson also had to make it through the full tournament.

Dennis Hall won the 121-pound Greco-Roman in the most exhilarating -- and exhausting -- match of the day, beating Brandon Paulson, 1-0, in the third overtime. Total time was 16:54, and the crowd was standing and chanting for both wrestlers near the end. Hall won on a takedown, then sprinted around the mat and embraced everyone in sight, including an NBC cameraman.

Sammie Henson, the 121-pound freestyle wrestler who eliminated McCandless' Teague Moore in the semifinals Saturday, was ousted by Stephen Abas, 5-3 and 3-1.

Kristie Marano, the country's most decorated female wrestler, will not participate in the first Olympic tournament open to women. Forced to move up to heavyweight after missing her target of 138.75 pounds by a pound Thursday, she lost her first two matches to Toccara Montgomery, 9-6 in overtime and 4-3.

The rest of the men's freestyle team: Eric Guerrero (132 pounds), Jamill Kelly (145.5), Joe Williams (163) and Daniel Cormier (211.5).

The rest of the Greco-Roman team: Jim Gruenwald (132), Oscar Wood (145.5), Brad Vering (185) and Garrett Lowney (211.5).

The rest of the women's team: Patricia Miranda (105.5 pounds), Tela O'Donnell (121) and Sara McMann (138.75).