Quotes from National Men’s Freestyle champions

55 kg/121 lbs. - Matt Azevedo, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
(On Cejudo move that led to the pin)
"A little bit, yeah. I think when you lose the first period it definitely changes your mind frame. You feel like you have to go out and get the guy. A lot of times I feel like that too. I think he maybe tried to force something that wasn't there."

"I expected to win. I knew I could win a National title and obviously this is just a stepping stone to get to the Olympic team. This is a big goal. This is a big deal for me to be a National champion."

60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
(On having to prove himself here)
"I've been beating guys all the time. I felt like I didn't get respect for what I've been doing. I can beat all those guys. I think I'm the best in the world and I can win the Olympic gold if I make the team."

(On what his strength is right now)
"I wrestle smarter now. I'm more physical with my hands. I'm just using what I've learned on the mat."

(On how he prepares for the Trials)
"My mindset is to win, don't give up anything. I know I can do it. I've been working out, practicing, and beating everyone in the room. I'm ready for that."

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
(On competing at this competitive weight)
"Everybody knows each other so well. I've wrestled him. Everybody has wrestled everybody in our weight so many times. It just comes down to the fact that you do it so well it doesn't even matter."

"I didn't really set up my holds. I was hanging on the head a lot and blocking off instead of getting attacks. He was doing a good job of going for that high crotch, he's good there. I felt like I missed some opportunities for go behinds, ones I really wasn't very happy with. Like you said, I really don't want it to go to a clinch, because it's a flip of a coin. That's not good enough odds for me."

74 kg/163 lbs. - Ben Askren, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
(On his dream of doing this)
"You know I had a lot of things I wanted to do this year. I said this year I wanted to be tough. This year is for the Olympics. That's all I do everyday, my life's boring, but it paid off."

(On whether he thought he should be number one)
"I felt like it. I beat Donny (Pritzlaff), I placed above Casey (Cunningham), I had great overseas tournaments. I've been number one since November and then all the sudden they come in and move me down to number three."

(On being down in his second match)
"I know Ramico (Blackmon) can't go three periods hard with me. I got a little over anxious in making him tired, but I knew if I made him tired in the first period it would pay off in the second and third. To win the first period really wasn't necessary. I was expecting to go three."

84 kg/185 lbs. - Mo Lawal, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
(On not getting respect before the event)
"Not disrespected, but I feel like people forgot about me. They tried to make a star out of some of these college kids. They forgot about me."

(On having lost before)
"The thing is if me and Andy (Hrovat) are wrestling tomorrow he won't be thinking about this last match because it's a new match. Anything can happen."

(On dropping back to 84 kg)
"I just decided to do it. I was kind of light and 84 is where it's at, so I came back."

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
(On staying at this weight)
"The thing that kept me at this weight is that it's my weight class. I can't wrestle heavyweight. I'm not tall enough. I'm too short. I've been successful when I have gone up but I don't think I could wrestle it as well as 96 kg at a consistent basis."

(On whether this is his last shot)
"I think when you start saying this is my last chance you almost set yourself up to fail. You set your expectations so high that you may not reach them. That can happen anytime, but I really don't want to put a timetable on my career until I accomplish everything I need to accomplish in this sport."

(On staying on top for so long)
"The keys are a good coaching staff, John Smith and Kevin Jackson. Good training partners, I had Tommy Rowlands in a couple weeks ago. Mo Lawal has been in Stillwater and he's a national champ, Chris Pendleton, Tyrone Lewis, good training partners. I mean just being dedicated is important."

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
(On the exchange with Steve Mocco)
"I don't have any hard feelings (about it). The hand fighting just got a little too physical. It was a real tough match."

(On the winning point)
"There was no controversy on the last point at all. The only controversy is that I need to wrestle better."

(On what he needs to do better)
"My preparation was great for this tournament. I felt great out there. I didn't execute the way I wanted to. I need to get my offense going and score more points. I was ready to go. I just need to compete better next time."

(On his Olympic goal)
"I feel like I'm the best in America. If I wrestle my best, I can compete for a gold medal in the Olympics.