Quotes from Spenser Mango (55 kg/121 lbs.) and assistant coach Ivan Ivanov after Tuesday's morning session of the Olympics
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by USA Wrestling
55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./Gator WC/U.S. Olympic Education Center)
"I didn't really feel any pressure. The first guy was someone I've wrestled a couple of times already, so I knew what I had to do against him. I went out there and got the job done. The second match against the Korean, he's pretty tough. He placed second in the World last year. I was right there with him in the first period. I stood up and couldn't get my head out to the side. I scored, but I also got scored on. Second period, I had a front headlock and had to score. It slipped off."
"This is something for me to build on. I need to get back in the room and work on a few things. I'll be all right."
"I felt good out there. I held my own against the best wrestlers in the World. I need to beat them next time."
U.S. Greco-Roman assistant coach Ivan Ivanov (Marquette, Mich.)
"Spenser did great. In his first match, he had a younger guy, and he knew him well. He wrestled well to win. The Korean was second in the world. Spenser was brave to try his own techniques. The positions were 50-50. The experienced wrestler was a little better."
"Overall, I am happy with what I saw. He lost, but he lost with honor. He showed he could be with the top three in the world. This will only cause a positive thing for him. It will motivate him. He has a lack of experience internationally. This was the first time for him to compete against them at this level. For years, Lindsey Durlacher went and Spenser did not get his chance. We concentrated on the Junior level with him. His road to London starts here through Beijing. I see a potential medalist or World champion next year."
"I didn't really feel any pressure. The first guy was someone I've wrestled a couple of times already, so I knew what I had to do against him. I went out there and got the job done. The second match against the Korean, he's pretty tough. He placed second in the World last year. I was right there with him in the first period. I stood up and couldn't get my head out to the side. I scored, but I also got scored on. Second period, I had a front headlock and had to score. It slipped off."
"This is something for me to build on. I need to get back in the room and work on a few things. I'll be all right."
"I felt good out there. I held my own against the best wrestlers in the World. I need to beat them next time."
U.S. Greco-Roman assistant coach Ivan Ivanov (Marquette, Mich.)
"Spenser did great. In his first match, he had a younger guy, and he knew him well. He wrestled well to win. The Korean was second in the world. Spenser was brave to try his own techniques. The positions were 50-50. The experienced wrestler was a little better."
"Overall, I am happy with what I saw. He lost, but he lost with honor. He showed he could be with the top three in the world. This will only cause a positive thing for him. It will motivate him. He has a lack of experience internationally. This was the first time for him to compete against them at this level. For years, Lindsey Durlacher went and Spenser did not get his chance. We concentrated on the Junior level with him. His road to London starts here through Beijing. I see a potential medalist or World champion next year."
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