Quotes from Saturday night champions at U.S. Olympic Team Trials
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by Elizabeth Wiley
Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
On his early development as a wrestler"¦
"From day one, since I was a little kid I got to watch my brothers, Mark and Mike. They were always an example for me. I learned how to do things the right way from a young age. It's just stuck with me."
On how far he's come"¦
"There were some tough times. I came out for the U.S. Nationals five or six times, and I was fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. Not until last year did I really have my break through. I always believed in hard work. Now it's just confidence. I can feel it out there. I'm just a more confident wrestler."
Jake Deitchler, Rumsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
On why he was successful"¦
"I haven't had pressure the whole tournament. I'm the younger guy here and they just told me to relax, wrestle hard, score points, focus on certain things, not so much winning and losing. But that second match, I'm saying, 'hey, this could be my lifelong dream here in about six minutes.'"
On losing the first period"¦
"I lost every first period in this tournament. I didn't beat one guy first period, which is something I have to work on before the Olympics."
On why he believed he could do this as a senior in high school"¦
"The level I train at, my coaches and my family, mentoring-wise just believing I can do everything. People tell me that I'm young enough and kind of ignorant enough. People say that I'm kind of unrealistic about things. To tell you the truth, it really doesn't matter if I can do things like this."
T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
On whether he thought this day was coming"¦
"I knew it would happen, I just didn't know how it would happen. I've just really been training my butt off and trusting in my training program from my coaches. Believing what they say is right for me and trusting in that. I had to basically let go a little bit to get to a point where I'm at."
On how the rules changes in 2005 affected him"¦
"It reinvented my life as far as wrestling goes. It gave me an extension. It couldn't have been a better wish."
On whether he was surprised Keith Sieracki lost"¦
"I wasn't too surprised because these young guys are hungry. All they talk about is beating me or Keith (Sieracki). I knew this weekend none of them were going to beat me, because I wasn't in the mini-tournament."
Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
On how he feels physically"¦
"I've had to do all kinds of things to alter my body to get ready for this new style of wrestling. I've made myself more explosive, better technically, and I don't feel like I've ever been a better wrestler than I am right now at 30 years old."
On being motivated from his loss at Nationals"¦
"The last five weeks were the best five weeks of training I've had. I was actually doing three-a-days two days a week. I've got to thank my strength and conditioning coach has been doing a great job of getting me explosive. My coaches have been behind me the whole time."
On the Greco-Roman team"¦
"That's the thing about our team. We've got such a close knit, tight team. That was evident last year at the World Championships. We all work together it doesn't matter if we have a coach in the corner or not, we're going to be right there supporting each other training."
Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
On what he needs to do well"¦
"I've got to put two, three, or four holds together. You know, I was coming out those first two matches and I think first match was a little more controlled. Second match I was hitting and stopping, hitting and stopping. With Shawn's (Bunch) quickness and agility you've got to hit, hit, hit."
On his attitude coming into the tournament"¦
"We still think positive. Everyone came into this tournament planning on winning this thing and going to the Olympic Games."
On not having the weight qualified...
"It's on my shoulders, it's my fault. But at the same time, if we want a true Olympiad, a true Olympic Games, I think I'm qualified to be at threat to anybody at 60 kilos."
Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
On getting the win"¦
"Oh yeah, for sure. I beat a great competitor. He's one of the guys I kind of looked up to when I was growing up. Now that I beat him, I feel powerful."
On getting pinned at Nationals"¦
"That's what really motivated me. Not that I was slacking but I just made a mistake. That mistake really pushed me and now I'm here."
On his choice to move to the Olympic Training Center"¦
"For sure. To me this is my NCAA title. My dream is to be a World and Olympic champion, and I guess I'm half way there."
On his early development as a wrestler"¦
"From day one, since I was a little kid I got to watch my brothers, Mark and Mike. They were always an example for me. I learned how to do things the right way from a young age. It's just stuck with me."
On how far he's come"¦
"There were some tough times. I came out for the U.S. Nationals five or six times, and I was fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. Not until last year did I really have my break through. I always believed in hard work. Now it's just confidence. I can feel it out there. I'm just a more confident wrestler."
Jake Deitchler, Rumsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
On why he was successful"¦
"I haven't had pressure the whole tournament. I'm the younger guy here and they just told me to relax, wrestle hard, score points, focus on certain things, not so much winning and losing. But that second match, I'm saying, 'hey, this could be my lifelong dream here in about six minutes.'"
On losing the first period"¦
"I lost every first period in this tournament. I didn't beat one guy first period, which is something I have to work on before the Olympics."
On why he believed he could do this as a senior in high school"¦
"The level I train at, my coaches and my family, mentoring-wise just believing I can do everything. People tell me that I'm young enough and kind of ignorant enough. People say that I'm kind of unrealistic about things. To tell you the truth, it really doesn't matter if I can do things like this."
T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
On whether he thought this day was coming"¦
"I knew it would happen, I just didn't know how it would happen. I've just really been training my butt off and trusting in my training program from my coaches. Believing what they say is right for me and trusting in that. I had to basically let go a little bit to get to a point where I'm at."
On how the rules changes in 2005 affected him"¦
"It reinvented my life as far as wrestling goes. It gave me an extension. It couldn't have been a better wish."
On whether he was surprised Keith Sieracki lost"¦
"I wasn't too surprised because these young guys are hungry. All they talk about is beating me or Keith (Sieracki). I knew this weekend none of them were going to beat me, because I wasn't in the mini-tournament."
Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
On how he feels physically"¦
"I've had to do all kinds of things to alter my body to get ready for this new style of wrestling. I've made myself more explosive, better technically, and I don't feel like I've ever been a better wrestler than I am right now at 30 years old."
On being motivated from his loss at Nationals"¦
"The last five weeks were the best five weeks of training I've had. I was actually doing three-a-days two days a week. I've got to thank my strength and conditioning coach has been doing a great job of getting me explosive. My coaches have been behind me the whole time."
On the Greco-Roman team"¦
"That's the thing about our team. We've got such a close knit, tight team. That was evident last year at the World Championships. We all work together it doesn't matter if we have a coach in the corner or not, we're going to be right there supporting each other training."
Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
On what he needs to do well"¦
"I've got to put two, three, or four holds together. You know, I was coming out those first two matches and I think first match was a little more controlled. Second match I was hitting and stopping, hitting and stopping. With Shawn's (Bunch) quickness and agility you've got to hit, hit, hit."
On his attitude coming into the tournament"¦
"We still think positive. Everyone came into this tournament planning on winning this thing and going to the Olympic Games."
On not having the weight qualified...
"It's on my shoulders, it's my fault. But at the same time, if we want a true Olympiad, a true Olympic Games, I think I'm qualified to be at threat to anybody at 60 kilos."
Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
On getting the win"¦
"Oh yeah, for sure. I beat a great competitor. He's one of the guys I kind of looked up to when I was growing up. Now that I beat him, I feel powerful."
On getting pinned at Nationals"¦
"That's what really motivated me. Not that I was slacking but I just made a mistake. That mistake really pushed me and now I'm here."
On his choice to move to the Olympic Training Center"¦
"For sure. To me this is my NCAA title. My dream is to be a World and Olympic champion, and I guess I'm half way there."
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