Quotes from U.S. wrestlers Brad Vering (84 kg/185 lbs.), Adam Wheeler (96 kg/211.5 lbs.) and Dremiel Byers (120 kg/264.5 lbs.) and U.S. coach Steve Fraser after Thursday's morning session of the Olympics
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by USA Wrestling
84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
On the closing seconds of the match:
"I got into the third period and I thought I was where I needed to be. I should've stayed down on the mat and not come up, and he ended up getting me for two points. He's really good at turning guys from that situation. He goes hard in there. I just didn't have the answer for him today."
On his Olympic experience:
"I've been blessed. I feel like I've had a pretty good career. I can't complain about anything. This is tough. I definitely wanted to bring home a medal for us and represent our team. You put in all this work and if you don't get the result you want that's really hard. I just have to move on to the next thing."
On his career:
"It didn't end up the way I wanted it to end up. I'm not going to let my whole career ride on one loss at the Olympic Games. I've had a lot of fun and I've learned so much and the sport has given me so much."
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
On the semifinal loss:
"I was just trying to score and unfortunately I wasn't able to turn him. I gave it 100 percent and I wasn't able to score. I did think I did get a little overaggressive."
"I just have to put this behind me. I'll be ready for the bronze-medal match."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
"My offense wasn't working for me in the end when I needed it to. My lift, I wasn't able to get it off. Hindsight is 20-20, I knew I should've done more on my feet. I missed a couple key opportunities to score on my feet. I'll never get them back, I'll never get them back."
"I dropped the ball today. I apologize to anybody I let down. There's a whole lot more fight in me."
U.S. National coach Steve Fraser (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
On Byers' quarterfinal loss:
"The Swede's a tough guy. It came down to the coin toss or the ball grab or whatever. You have to score and make your own breaks out there. I feel bad for Dremiel because he's good enough to medal in this thing."
On Wheeler's semifinal loss:
"I don't know if he got away from his game plan, but he did a technique that he just started doing not too long ago - this high lock where he tries to pull the guy back. He just got into a situation where he couldn't get it and he was way high on his opponent. He was just so high and out of position, and he hasn't been in that position enough times to realize the danger of that position if he doesn't get it. I'm heartbroken for him. What a way to lose in semifinals of the Olympics - on two reversals. He won both coin flips and had it in his hands to make it happen. I feel really bad for him."
On Vering's value to the Greco-Roman program:
"Brad's meant a lot to the program. He's a class guy, he's a hard worker. He's a great example of what it takes to be the best. He lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds. If anyone deserves a good result here it's Brad Vering. Give the Armenian credit, he pulled it out.
On the closing seconds of the match:
"I got into the third period and I thought I was where I needed to be. I should've stayed down on the mat and not come up, and he ended up getting me for two points. He's really good at turning guys from that situation. He goes hard in there. I just didn't have the answer for him today."
On his Olympic experience:
"I've been blessed. I feel like I've had a pretty good career. I can't complain about anything. This is tough. I definitely wanted to bring home a medal for us and represent our team. You put in all this work and if you don't get the result you want that's really hard. I just have to move on to the next thing."
On his career:
"It didn't end up the way I wanted it to end up. I'm not going to let my whole career ride on one loss at the Olympic Games. I've had a lot of fun and I've learned so much and the sport has given me so much."
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
On the semifinal loss:
"I was just trying to score and unfortunately I wasn't able to turn him. I gave it 100 percent and I wasn't able to score. I did think I did get a little overaggressive."
"I just have to put this behind me. I'll be ready for the bronze-medal match."
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
"My offense wasn't working for me in the end when I needed it to. My lift, I wasn't able to get it off. Hindsight is 20-20, I knew I should've done more on my feet. I missed a couple key opportunities to score on my feet. I'll never get them back, I'll never get them back."
"I dropped the ball today. I apologize to anybody I let down. There's a whole lot more fight in me."
U.S. National coach Steve Fraser (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
On Byers' quarterfinal loss:
"The Swede's a tough guy. It came down to the coin toss or the ball grab or whatever. You have to score and make your own breaks out there. I feel bad for Dremiel because he's good enough to medal in this thing."
On Wheeler's semifinal loss:
"I don't know if he got away from his game plan, but he did a technique that he just started doing not too long ago - this high lock where he tries to pull the guy back. He just got into a situation where he couldn't get it and he was way high on his opponent. He was just so high and out of position, and he hasn't been in that position enough times to realize the danger of that position if he doesn't get it. I'm heartbroken for him. What a way to lose in semifinals of the Olympics - on two reversals. He won both coin flips and had it in his hands to make it happen. I feel really bad for him."
On Vering's value to the Greco-Roman program:
"Brad's meant a lot to the program. He's a class guy, he's a hard worker. He's a great example of what it takes to be the best. He lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds. If anyone deserves a good result here it's Brad Vering. Give the Armenian credit, he pulled it out.
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