Quotes from wrestling athletes at U.S. Olympic Team Trials press conference, held Thursday at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas’ Cox Pavillion

Quotes from wrestling athletes at U.S. Olympic Team Trials press conference, held Thursday at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas' Cox Pavillion

Matt Azevedo, freestyle, 55 kg/121 lbs.

"(Winning U.S. Nationals) was one of the most exciting moments in my life. I've never won a national title, so accomplishing that goal was awesome. To win by pin in my hometown was incredible. I had a big support group of family and friends. It was a very, very special moment for me."

"I've had some good results over the last five years. I've been close to winning. Last spring, I called up Sammie Henson, who used to be the No. 1 guy in my weight class. I heard he was retiring and I called him asked him, 'Will you train me, will you coach me?' He's now an assistant coach at Cal Poly, and coaches with me and my uncle John there. The biggest thing we worked on was having a game plan, having a strategy and scouting our opponents well. I wrestled hard, but I didn't have a game plan. Now I have a clear game plan and a clear focus. With that, I'm so calm on the mat and good things have happened."

On what it would mean to wrestle in the Olympics after his uncle, John, made the 1980 Olympic Team that did not compete at the Moscow Olympics after the U.S. boycott:
"It would be awesome. He's been an integral part of my whole career. He's coached me since I was in junior high and he has helped train me. It would mean a lot to him as well because he didn't get to compete in 1980, and he has helped me get to this point."

"I think in a lot of peoples' eyes I am still an underdog and they think I got lucky at Nationals. They think it's a two-man race (between Henry Cejudo and Stephen Abas), and that's fine with me. I believe I can win, I've shown I can win and that's what I plan on doing this weekend. I am excited about wrestling Stephen Abas, a guy I've never beaten before. I'm ready to beat whoever I have to beat to make this team."

Patricia Miranda, women's freestyle, 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

"After coming out of retirement and seeing what I missed about wrestling, it kind of reshaped some of my goals. With Athens being the debut for women's wrestling in the Olympics, I was doing it for me and my country and for all the girls who wrestle. Getting to present wrestling to the World, I felt that extra shared purpose that I need to do this for my sport and for women. That really showed and I enjoyed that responsibility. But after coming back, the goal now is to attain that next level to perform under pressure."

"You still have to prove it and you still have to earn it. Nothing is owed to you in this sport. I have won an Olympic Trials, so it is not unimaginable for me to win a second Olympic Trials. For me, this Trials is just as exciting. The Athens year was like, 'Just get me on this team.' Now the way I do it and go through this process matters. This Trials experience feels very different than Athens did."

"The decision to come back (out of retirement) was made about eight months after the Closing Ceremonies in Athens. I went right into Law School and took that year very seriously. I was still working out, but not near the training I did when I competed. The role my husband (Levi Weikel-Magden) has played was incredible. His role and his vision has made all the difference in the world for me. It makes it really special to share this with him. When I'm out there wrestling, it's an extension of his vision for me. I know my goals are completely attainable and a lot of that is because of him."

Justin Ruiz, Greco-Roman, 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

"The 2004 Trials didn't go the way I wanted to. I had to go back to the drawing board and re-evalaute. Losing in 2004, that kept me in the sport longer than I thought I would. I came back and won a World medal (in 2005) and was on a team that won the World title (in 2007). And I met my wife in Colorado, so everything has turned out well."

"I definitely feel like I have improved. I can score more points in the top position and my defense has improved. I have a lot more weapons. I am more experienced and more mature. I feel great."

"(Winning the World team title) was a lot of fun. It was a great feeling. Everything had to play out just right for us to win and it did. It's hard to put it into words. We have a great group of wrestlers going into the Olympics and I think we're going to bring home a lot of hardware."

"With it being an individual sport, you're not always going to have the same guys on the World Team. But the last three years we've pretty much had the same guys on the team. Everybody has been able to bond as a team. We've developed that cohesiveness. Everybody is rooting for each other and pushing for each other. Everybody is still getting better and hasn't hit their ceiling yet as far as potential."

Tommy Rowlands, freestyle, 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

"I feel like gaining World-level experience last year and being on that kind of stage gives me something that I can draw on when I face adversity."

"Sitting out is an advantage. Anytime you can compete less and not wear yourself out physically and emotionally is an advantage. I know the other guys will be focused and ready to compete. I came out here early to adjust to the time because I live on the East coast. I have a good plan for not wrestling in the mini-tournament. I will be ready."

On how important it is to have his college coach, Russ Hellickson, here in Las Vegas
"It's great. I don't think Russ has seen me compete in a couple of years. For him to be out here to be honored for being a member of the 1980 Olympian and being here to watch me, that is very motivating. He's like a second father to me. I've known him since I've been 8 years old. He's certainly an icon in the sport. It would be pretty special for me to achieve me Olympic dream in front of him. I know it would mean a lot to him.