FARGO FEATURE: Olympian Jake Deitchler back in town to sign autographs at Junior Nationals
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by Craig Sesker
FARGO, N.D. - Just a year ago, Jake Deitchler was preparing for the finals of the Junior Nationals as a senior-to-be in high school.
A year later, the 18-year-old Deitchler was sitting in Buffalo Wild Wings signing autographs as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Greco-Roman wrestling.
It's been a wild, and exciting, time for the University of Minnesota recruit since he shocked the nation by winning the U.S. Olympic Team Trials last month in Las Vegas. He became the youngest American wrestler to make an Olympic Team in 32 years.
Deitchler's family was selling his Olympic T-shirts Tuesday afternoon at Buffalo Wild Wings, a restaurant that sits right across the street from the Fargo Dome. Deitchler was planning to watch the Junior Nationals finals in Greco-Roman on Tuesday afternoon.
Deitchler, from Anoka, Minn., will compete in the Olympic Games at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on Aug. 13 in Beijing, China.
Since he made the team, Deitchler has been in New York City on a media/fundraising tour with USA Wrestling and taken part in the Fourth of July celebration with other Olympians in Washington, D.C.
This past weekend, Deitchler and the other Greco-Roman Olympians traveled to Las Vegas with Team Leader John Bardis. They took in a Journey concert and watched the Ultimate Fighting Championship event.
Deitchler sat down Tuesday for a short interview with USA Wrestling's Craig Sesker.
What's it like coming back here now as an Olympian after competing here just a year ago?
It's definitely different. I have kids who are maybe a year or two younger than me coming up to me and asking me for an autograph. It's fun to be back here. Being here in this kind of atmosphere, it gets me excited to get back on the mat again. This is a great tournament.
Your Olympic T-shirts are very popular. So which Olympian has the best shirts?
I argue with (Spenser) Mango about who has the best shirt. Obviously some are better than others. I like mine, he likes his. We have a little fun talking about it.
What is it like being around some of the top young wrestlers from around the country who are here?
It's been great. I love this atmosphere here in Fargo. I can't wait to watch the Greco finals today. It should be fun.
You obviously will be an underdog in Beijing. How do you approach the Olympics?
I'm going in as an underdog and that's just fine with me. I'm going in there to win it. That's what all the guys on our team are working toward.
How much video have you studied of the wrestlers who will be in your weight class at the Olympics?
I have watched some video. I've tried to learn a little bit more about my opponents before I go over to China. It's helped me quite a bit. I have a good idea what to expect now.
You've spent a lot of time with two-time Olympian and 2007 World silver medalist Brad Vering. How has your Olympic teammate helped you in recent weeks?
He's been a great mentor for me. He's a great guy, and an all-around great person. I really look up to him and he's a great team leader. He's given me some great insights about being an Olympian and what he learned from his experience in the (2004) Olympics.
What has it been like hanging out with the other Olympians on the U.S. Greco-Roman Team?
It's been a great time. Those guys are fun to be around. They joke around a lot and give me a hard time about being so young. It's a great group of guys. We have great camaraderie on this team. These are guys I've looked up to and now I get to be on the team with them.
A year later, the 18-year-old Deitchler was sitting in Buffalo Wild Wings signing autographs as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Greco-Roman wrestling.
It's been a wild, and exciting, time for the University of Minnesota recruit since he shocked the nation by winning the U.S. Olympic Team Trials last month in Las Vegas. He became the youngest American wrestler to make an Olympic Team in 32 years.
Deitchler's family was selling his Olympic T-shirts Tuesday afternoon at Buffalo Wild Wings, a restaurant that sits right across the street from the Fargo Dome. Deitchler was planning to watch the Junior Nationals finals in Greco-Roman on Tuesday afternoon.
Deitchler, from Anoka, Minn., will compete in the Olympic Games at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on Aug. 13 in Beijing, China.
Since he made the team, Deitchler has been in New York City on a media/fundraising tour with USA Wrestling and taken part in the Fourth of July celebration with other Olympians in Washington, D.C.
This past weekend, Deitchler and the other Greco-Roman Olympians traveled to Las Vegas with Team Leader John Bardis. They took in a Journey concert and watched the Ultimate Fighting Championship event.
Deitchler sat down Tuesday for a short interview with USA Wrestling's Craig Sesker.
What's it like coming back here now as an Olympian after competing here just a year ago?
It's definitely different. I have kids who are maybe a year or two younger than me coming up to me and asking me for an autograph. It's fun to be back here. Being here in this kind of atmosphere, it gets me excited to get back on the mat again. This is a great tournament.
Your Olympic T-shirts are very popular. So which Olympian has the best shirts?
I argue with (Spenser) Mango about who has the best shirt. Obviously some are better than others. I like mine, he likes his. We have a little fun talking about it.
What is it like being around some of the top young wrestlers from around the country who are here?
It's been great. I love this atmosphere here in Fargo. I can't wait to watch the Greco finals today. It should be fun.
You obviously will be an underdog in Beijing. How do you approach the Olympics?
I'm going in as an underdog and that's just fine with me. I'm going in there to win it. That's what all the guys on our team are working toward.
How much video have you studied of the wrestlers who will be in your weight class at the Olympics?
I have watched some video. I've tried to learn a little bit more about my opponents before I go over to China. It's helped me quite a bit. I have a good idea what to expect now.
You've spent a lot of time with two-time Olympian and 2007 World silver medalist Brad Vering. How has your Olympic teammate helped you in recent weeks?
He's been a great mentor for me. He's a great guy, and an all-around great person. I really look up to him and he's a great team leader. He's given me some great insights about being an Olympian and what he learned from his experience in the (2004) Olympics.
What has it been like hanging out with the other Olympians on the U.S. Greco-Roman Team?
It's been a great time. Those guys are fun to be around. They joke around a lot and give me a hard time about being so young. It's a great group of guys. We have great camaraderie on this team. These are guys I've looked up to and now I get to be on the team with them.
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