Quotes from World Team Trials champions on Sunday
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by Gary Abbott
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Henry Cejudo
"The first match I was a little rusty. It went better in the second match and I got my shots off. I floated a little more in that match, and loosened up more."
"There was a lot of pressure being in Sports Illustrated so young, but I have great coaches that work with me."
"I believe everything is possible if you train hard."
(do you mind being the future of American wrestling/)
"I don't mind. I am young, hungry and out to win."
I am really close to that guy. He is really fun and kind off the mat. He is the best coach in the world.
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab
(about facing rival Chris Bono)
"It was a war. I know it will be a war with him everytime."
(in the final seconds of the third match)
"I knew I had to be on the attack. I got a high crotch. I was like a dog on the bone. I was going to score no matter what, even if I had to rip it off. I had been there a thousand times before and I knew I could finish it."
"I believed the whole weekend I couldn't lose. I stayed calm and patient. I knew I could get to anybody. I knew I could beat all these guys. I just had to do it the same day. It feels good. Now my focus is on the Pan Ams and the World Championships. But I will enjoy it tonight."
84 kg/185 lbs. - Joe Williams
"After the first two matches, I talked to Kenny Monday, Mike Duroe and Zeke Jones, and I wanted to start out a little faster. I came out and scored right away."
(about his lateral drop)
"I had good position. It happened to be there. Fortunately it worked in my favor."
(about moving up a division)
"It feels good. The last few years I focused on cutting weight. Not dropping weight is a big difference for me. I don't have to drop the 23 pounds. I just concentrate on technical stuff."
(about competing at the new weight)
"I think the setup is important. They are a little bigger and stronger at this weight class. I think setups will be key for me at the World Championships."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tommy Rowlands
"They were great matches. I was happy with how I wrestled. I'm sure I will see him again soon. I'm not where I need to be yet, but I am making progress. I'll take six or seven days off and then get after it. I have nothing to lose."
(about going up to heavyweight)
"I did well at heavyweight in college. It wasn;t going to be an easy transition. I knew I was capable of winning at this level. Winning is a justification in my mind that I made the right decision."
(about two Ohio State coaches making the team)
"The attitude and environment that Tom Ryan and Lou Rosselli have established is contagious. I am thriving in that environment. It is no coincidence that Joe Heskett and I are first time World Team members.
(about Lou Rosselli)
"I needed a World-class freestyle coach if I was going to stay in Columbus, or I would have had to move to Colorado Springs. I feel I am getting better every day. Lou Rosselli works with me on my areas of concentration, and holds me accountable. And I am working very hard."
Women
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Stephanie Murata
"I was really surprised with the first match. I felt it would go at least two periods, maybe all three. I was surprised to get the pin."
"You hope you are successful. But every championship and World Team Trials state for themselves. They get harder as you go on, so it gets sweeter. It never gets old hat when you put your heart and soul into it."
"I think it is important to know your opponent. It is not necessary to train for one person, but you have to be ready for battle. I am doing this hopefully through the next Olympics, then I am done."
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen
"I am really excited right now. I have a chance at the World Championships. I have been working for this my whole life. I am excited to see what I can do at the Worlds. It is the year before the Olympics and perfect timing for this."
(about missing last year with an injury)
"It was my second ACL that I blew out. It was frustrating at first. But getting hurt can really help you. It really makes you realize how much you want it. It feels good to put it all together. You find out about who you are and how tough you are. I have one more year and then I'll call it quits."
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann
"I love what I am doing, training every day. For the most part, I have fun. I wrestle with the boys at Limestone (Univ.) I was going to grad school. I recently transferred there to be with my boyfriend and with people who support me. The guys there are young and eager. That is what was surprising. It's one of the first rooms where they say, 'Wow, she's an Olympic medalist. They are happy to learn from me."
"I am happy with my training situation now. I didn't know if I wanted to still wrestle after the Olympics. Do I go another four years? People wanted to know. They don't understand the sacrifice it takes. You don't ever go out in the sun. You have to say that nothing else is a priority."
"I really will do this until I stop wanting to do this. If you still have the need and desire to compete, you keep doing it. Unless an injury forces me out, I will keep wrestling."
Greco-Roman
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren
"It is an honor to get a chance to make a run at history and to win a second World title for the United States. I'm not going to change much with my training. With Momir Petkovic and the entire Greco-Roman staff, all I have to do is show up for practice and not think much. I get better every day. The world is in trouble. I am focused."
"It took me a few years after college to learn Greco-Roman wrestling. That took some patience, but now I get it. It has been fun."
"I am the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler in the world. It will be trying to stop a Mac truck. Once you get that taste of victory, it is hard not to have that taste all the time. It's a good feeling to get this over with and to try to defend my title."
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Harry Lester
"I just went out and got it going on my feet. He is one of my teammates and we work out every day."
(About his big throws)
"I love to throw for show. It make it more exciting for me. I work from different positions and take what I can get."
"The next couple of months, I have to train my butt off, get myself prepared and go get a gold medal."
(about his knee injury)
"I hurt my knee a few weeks ago in Colorado. T.C. (Dantzler) and Brad Vering fell into it. It wasn't serious. It was a freak thing in the room. It's OK. I'm still getting by."
"He doesn;'t have any problem with the process. I have to wrestle everybody anyway."
"I am happy mentally. I love to wrestle. I don't put pressure on myself. I love to have fun."
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz
(About his opponent Adam Wheeler)
"He is very big. He's bigger than me, as you can see. He's strong, gifted, young and a up-and-coming wrestler. When he goes overseas, he does very well. He is a fierce competitor."
(about training with fellow Nebraska alum Brad Vering)
"He's a great friend, training partner and helps me in the wrestling room. He also points out things for me, so he's a little bit of a coach.
55 kg/121 lbs. - Henry Cejudo
"The first match I was a little rusty. It went better in the second match and I got my shots off. I floated a little more in that match, and loosened up more."
"There was a lot of pressure being in Sports Illustrated so young, but I have great coaches that work with me."
"I believe everything is possible if you train hard."
(do you mind being the future of American wrestling/)
"I don't mind. I am young, hungry and out to win."
I am really close to that guy. He is really fun and kind off the mat. He is the best coach in the world.
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab
(about facing rival Chris Bono)
"It was a war. I know it will be a war with him everytime."
(in the final seconds of the third match)
"I knew I had to be on the attack. I got a high crotch. I was like a dog on the bone. I was going to score no matter what, even if I had to rip it off. I had been there a thousand times before and I knew I could finish it."
"I believed the whole weekend I couldn't lose. I stayed calm and patient. I knew I could get to anybody. I knew I could beat all these guys. I just had to do it the same day. It feels good. Now my focus is on the Pan Ams and the World Championships. But I will enjoy it tonight."
84 kg/185 lbs. - Joe Williams
"After the first two matches, I talked to Kenny Monday, Mike Duroe and Zeke Jones, and I wanted to start out a little faster. I came out and scored right away."
(about his lateral drop)
"I had good position. It happened to be there. Fortunately it worked in my favor."
(about moving up a division)
"It feels good. The last few years I focused on cutting weight. Not dropping weight is a big difference for me. I don't have to drop the 23 pounds. I just concentrate on technical stuff."
(about competing at the new weight)
"I think the setup is important. They are a little bigger and stronger at this weight class. I think setups will be key for me at the World Championships."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tommy Rowlands
"They were great matches. I was happy with how I wrestled. I'm sure I will see him again soon. I'm not where I need to be yet, but I am making progress. I'll take six or seven days off and then get after it. I have nothing to lose."
(about going up to heavyweight)
"I did well at heavyweight in college. It wasn;t going to be an easy transition. I knew I was capable of winning at this level. Winning is a justification in my mind that I made the right decision."
(about two Ohio State coaches making the team)
"The attitude and environment that Tom Ryan and Lou Rosselli have established is contagious. I am thriving in that environment. It is no coincidence that Joe Heskett and I are first time World Team members.
(about Lou Rosselli)
"I needed a World-class freestyle coach if I was going to stay in Columbus, or I would have had to move to Colorado Springs. I feel I am getting better every day. Lou Rosselli works with me on my areas of concentration, and holds me accountable. And I am working very hard."
Women
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Stephanie Murata
"I was really surprised with the first match. I felt it would go at least two periods, maybe all three. I was surprised to get the pin."
"You hope you are successful. But every championship and World Team Trials state for themselves. They get harder as you go on, so it gets sweeter. It never gets old hat when you put your heart and soul into it."
"I think it is important to know your opponent. It is not necessary to train for one person, but you have to be ready for battle. I am doing this hopefully through the next Olympics, then I am done."
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen
"I am really excited right now. I have a chance at the World Championships. I have been working for this my whole life. I am excited to see what I can do at the Worlds. It is the year before the Olympics and perfect timing for this."
(about missing last year with an injury)
"It was my second ACL that I blew out. It was frustrating at first. But getting hurt can really help you. It really makes you realize how much you want it. It feels good to put it all together. You find out about who you are and how tough you are. I have one more year and then I'll call it quits."
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann
"I love what I am doing, training every day. For the most part, I have fun. I wrestle with the boys at Limestone (Univ.) I was going to grad school. I recently transferred there to be with my boyfriend and with people who support me. The guys there are young and eager. That is what was surprising. It's one of the first rooms where they say, 'Wow, she's an Olympic medalist. They are happy to learn from me."
"I am happy with my training situation now. I didn't know if I wanted to still wrestle after the Olympics. Do I go another four years? People wanted to know. They don't understand the sacrifice it takes. You don't ever go out in the sun. You have to say that nothing else is a priority."
"I really will do this until I stop wanting to do this. If you still have the need and desire to compete, you keep doing it. Unless an injury forces me out, I will keep wrestling."
Greco-Roman
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren
"It is an honor to get a chance to make a run at history and to win a second World title for the United States. I'm not going to change much with my training. With Momir Petkovic and the entire Greco-Roman staff, all I have to do is show up for practice and not think much. I get better every day. The world is in trouble. I am focused."
"It took me a few years after college to learn Greco-Roman wrestling. That took some patience, but now I get it. It has been fun."
"I am the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler in the world. It will be trying to stop a Mac truck. Once you get that taste of victory, it is hard not to have that taste all the time. It's a good feeling to get this over with and to try to defend my title."
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Harry Lester
"I just went out and got it going on my feet. He is one of my teammates and we work out every day."
(About his big throws)
"I love to throw for show. It make it more exciting for me. I work from different positions and take what I can get."
"The next couple of months, I have to train my butt off, get myself prepared and go get a gold medal."
(about his knee injury)
"I hurt my knee a few weeks ago in Colorado. T.C. (Dantzler) and Brad Vering fell into it. It wasn't serious. It was a freak thing in the room. It's OK. I'm still getting by."
"He doesn;'t have any problem with the process. I have to wrestle everybody anyway."
"I am happy mentally. I love to wrestle. I don't put pressure on myself. I love to have fun."
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz
(About his opponent Adam Wheeler)
"He is very big. He's bigger than me, as you can see. He's strong, gifted, young and a up-and-coming wrestler. When he goes overseas, he does very well. He is a fierce competitor."
(about training with fellow Nebraska alum Brad Vering)
"He's a great friend, training partner and helps me in the wrestling room. He also points out things for me, so he's a little bit of a coach.
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