U.S. Greco-Roman team kicks off Beijing workouts with soccer game
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by Craig Sesker
In the photo: Olympian Jake Deitchler (right) tries to push his coach, past Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson, out of the way during the team's soccer game on Sunday. At left is Mike Favre, the team's strength and conditioning coach who scored both goals. Photo by Gary Abbott.
Click here for Olympic photo gallery
BEIJING, China - The United States Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team features some of the most competitive guys on the planet.
So when the U.S. team conducted its first workout since arriving in China by playing soccer, the intensity level was as high as you would expect.
In the end, the team of 30-and-over wrestlers and coaches pulled out a 2-0 win over the young guys early Sunday evening at Beijing Normal University.
Both goals were scored by Mike Favre, the team's strength and conditioning coach. Two-time Olympian Brad Vering was among the players on the winning squad, along with Coaches Steve Fraser, Momir Petkovic and Jay Antonelli, and Team Leader John Bardis.
The teams played a pair of 20-minute halves. Instead of relaxing at halftime, the players and coaches instead grabbed a partner and did two minutes of upper-body pummeling on the grass playing surface. They repeated that after the game ended.
The Greco-Roman team kicked off its Beijing training camp by getting in an excellent workout as the teams sprinted up and down the playing surface at Beijing Normal. The game was played in blistering heat and humidity. The high temperature in Beijing on Sunday was 99 degrees with the heat index well into triple digits.
"This was an unbelievable workout for our guys," said Petkovic, who organized the workout. "You keep moving the whole time and you're running all over the place. We've spent a lot of time on the mat, so this was a good chance for us to take a little break from wrestling and still manage to get a great workout in."
Four members of the Olympic Team in Greco-Roman took part in the soccer game. Spenser Mango, Jake Deitchler and Adam Wheeler also played in the game. A handful of training partners also played in the game.
The older guys made sure the younger guys knew who came out on top Sunday.
"You know how competitive we all are," Petkovic said with a laugh. "We have to let those young guys know about it when we beat them."
The Greco-Roman team will be back on the mat on Monday morning with a wrestling workout. The six members of the Olympic Greco-Roman team, along with Fraser and Olympic coaches Jay Antonelli and Rich Estrella, are scheduled to take part in a press conference at the Main Press Center on Monday afternoon.
Click here for Olympic photo gallery
BEIJING, China - The United States Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team features some of the most competitive guys on the planet.
So when the U.S. team conducted its first workout since arriving in China by playing soccer, the intensity level was as high as you would expect.
In the end, the team of 30-and-over wrestlers and coaches pulled out a 2-0 win over the young guys early Sunday evening at Beijing Normal University.
Both goals were scored by Mike Favre, the team's strength and conditioning coach. Two-time Olympian Brad Vering was among the players on the winning squad, along with Coaches Steve Fraser, Momir Petkovic and Jay Antonelli, and Team Leader John Bardis.
The teams played a pair of 20-minute halves. Instead of relaxing at halftime, the players and coaches instead grabbed a partner and did two minutes of upper-body pummeling on the grass playing surface. They repeated that after the game ended.
The Greco-Roman team kicked off its Beijing training camp by getting in an excellent workout as the teams sprinted up and down the playing surface at Beijing Normal. The game was played in blistering heat and humidity. The high temperature in Beijing on Sunday was 99 degrees with the heat index well into triple digits.
"This was an unbelievable workout for our guys," said Petkovic, who organized the workout. "You keep moving the whole time and you're running all over the place. We've spent a lot of time on the mat, so this was a good chance for us to take a little break from wrestling and still manage to get a great workout in."
Four members of the Olympic Team in Greco-Roman took part in the soccer game. Spenser Mango, Jake Deitchler and Adam Wheeler also played in the game. A handful of training partners also played in the game.
The older guys made sure the younger guys knew who came out on top Sunday.
"You know how competitive we all are," Petkovic said with a laugh. "We have to let those young guys know about it when we beat them."
The Greco-Roman team will be back on the mat on Monday morning with a wrestling workout. The six members of the Olympic Greco-Roman team, along with Fraser and Olympic coaches Jay Antonelli and Rich Estrella, are scheduled to take part in a press conference at the Main Press Center on Monday afternoon.
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