Draws and quotes from U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers Harry Lester, Brad Vering and Dremiel Byers, and Coach Steve Fraser after Monday's weigh-ins at the Pan American Games
Share:
by Craig Sesker
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio (Gator WC)
Will face Renato Migliaccio of Brazil in his first match
84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Will face Aguilar Hernandez Rafael of Mexico in his first match
"Nothing's going to shake us down here. We see stuff like this every time we go overseas. The team has real good morale right now. We've been through a lot the last couple of days, but it comes right down to proving who you are on the mat. Once you get out there for that six minutes, that's when it is all going to come out who you really are. We're ready for it."
"I'm really excited about wrestling in this competition. There is no one here I can't beat. I'm wrestling one match at a time to dominate."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Will face the winner of the match between Edwin Rodriguez Castillo of Nicaragua and Ari Taub of Canada in his first match
"There's been a lot of adversity on this trip. The key thing to overcoming adversity is to keep pressing on. It comes with the territory."
"My weight class is tough. I lost last year and I've been wearing that loss ever since. I can't shake it and I think about it all the time. I need to fix that. There ain't no moving on until I do. I need to pick up the pace and get the job done. I know I can do that."
U.S. Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser
"This trip's been a little frustrating, but this is where true champions have to overcome the adversity. So we had to fly here almost twice and we spent 10 hours waiting around in an airport and people didn't get their sleep and it screwed up their weight-cutting routine, but everyone has pulled together. We've seen some great leadership from Dremiel Byers, T.C. Dantzler and Brad Vering. Those guys have been great in leading this team through all of this."
"Lindsey Durlacher is bumping up to 60 kilos. I want to give him a little break from making that hard cut to 55 kilos and let him focus on scrapping with the 60 kilo guys and see where everything falls. His true, ultimate goal is to be ready for the World Championships and the Olympics, and that's what we're working toward.
Will face Renato Migliaccio of Brazil in his first match
84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Will face Aguilar Hernandez Rafael of Mexico in his first match
"Nothing's going to shake us down here. We see stuff like this every time we go overseas. The team has real good morale right now. We've been through a lot the last couple of days, but it comes right down to proving who you are on the mat. Once you get out there for that six minutes, that's when it is all going to come out who you really are. We're ready for it."
"I'm really excited about wrestling in this competition. There is no one here I can't beat. I'm wrestling one match at a time to dominate."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Will face the winner of the match between Edwin Rodriguez Castillo of Nicaragua and Ari Taub of Canada in his first match
"There's been a lot of adversity on this trip. The key thing to overcoming adversity is to keep pressing on. It comes with the territory."
"My weight class is tough. I lost last year and I've been wearing that loss ever since. I can't shake it and I think about it all the time. I need to fix that. There ain't no moving on until I do. I need to pick up the pace and get the job done. I know I can do that."
U.S. Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser
"This trip's been a little frustrating, but this is where true champions have to overcome the adversity. So we had to fly here almost twice and we spent 10 hours waiting around in an airport and people didn't get their sleep and it screwed up their weight-cutting routine, but everyone has pulled together. We've seen some great leadership from Dremiel Byers, T.C. Dantzler and Brad Vering. Those guys have been great in leading this team through all of this."
"Lindsey Durlacher is bumping up to 60 kilos. I want to give him a little break from making that hard cut to 55 kilos and let him focus on scrapping with the 60 kilo guys and see where everything falls. His true, ultimate goal is to be ready for the World Championships and the Olympics, and that's what we're working toward.
Read More#
Olympic medalists Snyder, Blades among 20 U.S. Open champions qualified for 2025 Final X in Newark, N.J.
Dake vs. Valencia & Green vs. Diakomihalis among 10 great men’s freestyle finals set for CLAW U.S. Open
Vito Arujau accepts 2025 Final X berth at 61 kg in men’s freestyle
U.S. wins four women’s freestyle golds, nine medals at U23 Pan American Championships
