Draws and quotes from U.S. freestyle wrestlers Henry Cejudo, Doug Schwab, Andy Hrovat and Tommy Rowlands, and Coach Kevin Jackson after Thursday's weigh-ins at the Pan American Games
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by Craig Sesker
55 kg/121 lbs. - Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Will face Fredy Serrano of Colombia in his first match
"I'm looking forward to dominating and I'm looking forward to building my lead. I want to try out all my technique and try out everything we've been working on before we wrestle at the World Championships."
"If I wrestle the Cuban (Andy Moreno) again, it's going to be different this time. I'm planning to dominate and not let it be a close match again."
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
Will face Cleopas Ncube of Canada in his first match
"This is just another step toward getting ready for the World Championships. The Cuban in my weight won the bronze at the Worlds last year, so it's a good opportunity for me to see where I'm at against one of the top guys in the World. It will be good to get on the mat again because I feel like I've made a lot of gains in the last four or five weeks."
"This is a good atmosphere to compete in. It's just a notch below the Olympic Games, so it's good to get the feel for this kind of atmosphere where all the athletes here in all the sports are trying to win gold medals."
"It definitely helps when you get to be selfish and just think about yourself. When I'm coaching, I'm being selfless and doing everything I can for the athletes I work with. Right now, I'm focused on myself and I have a little less than two months to get ready for the World Championships."
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
Will face Jesus Gonzalez of Venezuela in his first match
"This will be a good experience for me. The Cuban is new and I've beaten the Canadian before. I just want to go in and take everybody out and go home as a champion."
"It's a different experience seeing all the athletes here from the other sports. It's a huge event and it's great to be a part of."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Will face Gustavo Gattareo of Argentina in his first match
"I'm real excited to get after it and win the Pan Am Games - that's what we came down here for. It's real important to get the ball rolling and give us good momentum going into the World Championships."
USA Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson
"We're excited to compete here. The Pan Ams is a major event for us. It's a great event to win. I think Greco has set the tone and it looks like our women are off to a great start. Now it's our turn to finish this thing off. The Cubans have one of the best teams in the World, plus the Canadians and some other countries have some good wrestlers. We're looking for a good performance and hoping this is a springboard toward a good performance at the World Championships."
"After the Olympics and the Worlds, the Pan American Games is the next thing on your resume as far as credentials are concerned. The Cubans have World medalists at every weight class. This is a very important tournament for us. We don't want to fall back, we want to spring forward and not make mistakes. This is an exciting event for all the countries that are here.
Will face Fredy Serrano of Colombia in his first match
"I'm looking forward to dominating and I'm looking forward to building my lead. I want to try out all my technique and try out everything we've been working on before we wrestle at the World Championships."
"If I wrestle the Cuban (Andy Moreno) again, it's going to be different this time. I'm planning to dominate and not let it be a close match again."
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
Will face Cleopas Ncube of Canada in his first match
"This is just another step toward getting ready for the World Championships. The Cuban in my weight won the bronze at the Worlds last year, so it's a good opportunity for me to see where I'm at against one of the top guys in the World. It will be good to get on the mat again because I feel like I've made a lot of gains in the last four or five weeks."
"This is a good atmosphere to compete in. It's just a notch below the Olympic Games, so it's good to get the feel for this kind of atmosphere where all the athletes here in all the sports are trying to win gold medals."
"It definitely helps when you get to be selfish and just think about yourself. When I'm coaching, I'm being selfless and doing everything I can for the athletes I work with. Right now, I'm focused on myself and I have a little less than two months to get ready for the World Championships."
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
Will face Jesus Gonzalez of Venezuela in his first match
"This will be a good experience for me. The Cuban is new and I've beaten the Canadian before. I just want to go in and take everybody out and go home as a champion."
"It's a different experience seeing all the athletes here from the other sports. It's a huge event and it's great to be a part of."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Will face Gustavo Gattareo of Argentina in his first match
"I'm real excited to get after it and win the Pan Am Games - that's what we came down here for. It's real important to get the ball rolling and give us good momentum going into the World Championships."
USA Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson
"We're excited to compete here. The Pan Ams is a major event for us. It's a great event to win. I think Greco has set the tone and it looks like our women are off to a great start. Now it's our turn to finish this thing off. The Cubans have one of the best teams in the World, plus the Canadians and some other countries have some good wrestlers. We're looking for a good performance and hoping this is a springboard toward a good performance at the World Championships."
"After the Olympics and the Worlds, the Pan American Games is the next thing on your resume as far as credentials are concerned. The Cubans have World medalists at every weight class. This is a very important tournament for us. We don't want to fall back, we want to spring forward and not make mistakes. This is an exciting event for all the countries that are here.
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