Sam Hazewinkel looking to ascend to top of Greco-Roman ladder
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by Craig Sesker
In the photo: Sam Hazewinkel lifts Spenser Mango in the finals of the 2008 Olympic Team Trials. Photo by Tech-Fall.com
Reaching the finals hasn't been a problem for Sam Hazewinkel at big tournaments.
Capturing a gold medal has.
Hazewinkel has been No. 2 on the U.S. ladder in Greco-Roman wrestling for three of the last four years. He was second in the U.S. World Team Trials in 2005 and 2006 before placing second behind Spenser Mango at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
In between, Hazewinkel placed second as an Oklahoma senior at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
"I'm so tired of getting second at big tournaments," Hazewinkel said.
Hazewinkel's fortunes at big tournaments changed in July when he won a gold medal at the World University Championships in Greece. He won the Greco-Roman title at 55 kg/121 lbs.
"I really wanted to make that Olympic Team - it's been my dream since I was a real little guy," he said. "It was good to get back on the mat after the disappointment of the Trials. Winning the World University title was a real good boost for me. It's good to go to a big tournament and be able to win. I know I'm right there with everybody else in the World."
Hazewinkel is back for another four-year Olympic cycle. He's been wrestling Greco-Roman full-time for about a year and a half now after completing his college career.
"I've improved by leaps and bounds," Hazewinkel said. "I learned a lot when I was out in Colorado Springs."
Hazewinkel trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs earlier this year. He's now training and coaching at the brand-new Prodigy Training Center in Springboro, Ohio, located between Dayton and Cincinnati. Ryan Root, who wrestled for Penn State, runs the club.
Hazewinkel said he is training primarily with college teammate and two-time NCAA champion Teyon Ware, who is planning to switch to Greco-Roman from freestyle this season. He's being coached by past U.S. Olympian Kevin Bracken. He also is coaching young wrestlers in the club. Past NCAA champion Matt Lackey and past World Team member Mary Kelly also are working as coaches with the Prodigy club.
"Everything is going real well - I'm enjoying it out here," Hazewinkel said. "It's a good environment for me. It was a great deal for me to make a little money and be able to train. It's a chance for me to teach some young kids and give back to the sport."
Hazewinkel started the 2007-08 season with a win over Spenser Mango in the finals of the Sunkist Kids International Open. But Mango went on to make the Olympic Team
Mango beat Hazewinkel in the semifinals of April's U.S. Nationals. Mango then followed by sweeping Hazewinkel in the best-of-3 finals series at June's Olympic Trials.
Hazewinkel knocked off three-time World Team member Lindsey Durlacher in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials. Durlacher placed third in the World in 2006 and fifth in 2007.
The 24-year-old Hazewinkel and the 22-year-old Mango could meet a couple of times in the next few weeks. Both are expected to compete in the New York AC International and in the Henri Deglane International in France. Mango placed eighth in the 2008 Olympic Games.
"Spenser and I go back and forth all the time," Hazewinkel said. "He's got me the last couple of matches. He's a great competitor, and I always look forward to wrestling him. There is nobody in the World I don't think I can beat, including Spenser."
U.S. National Coach Steve Fraser worked with Hazewinkel during his time in Colorado.
"Sam Hazewinkel is one of our up-and-coming Greco stars," Fraser said. "He is a very talented Greco-Roman wrestler, and with continued training and competition Sam will be a World contender on the Senior level, for sure. He has proved his skills by winning the World University Championships this past summer. The key for Sam will be to get in the right training atmosphere with great training partners and coaches that will push him on a daily basis. His chances to be one of the best in the country and the World are great!
Reaching the finals hasn't been a problem for Sam Hazewinkel at big tournaments.
Capturing a gold medal has.
Hazewinkel has been No. 2 on the U.S. ladder in Greco-Roman wrestling for three of the last four years. He was second in the U.S. World Team Trials in 2005 and 2006 before placing second behind Spenser Mango at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
In between, Hazewinkel placed second as an Oklahoma senior at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
"I'm so tired of getting second at big tournaments," Hazewinkel said.
Hazewinkel's fortunes at big tournaments changed in July when he won a gold medal at the World University Championships in Greece. He won the Greco-Roman title at 55 kg/121 lbs.
"I really wanted to make that Olympic Team - it's been my dream since I was a real little guy," he said. "It was good to get back on the mat after the disappointment of the Trials. Winning the World University title was a real good boost for me. It's good to go to a big tournament and be able to win. I know I'm right there with everybody else in the World."
Hazewinkel is back for another four-year Olympic cycle. He's been wrestling Greco-Roman full-time for about a year and a half now after completing his college career.
"I've improved by leaps and bounds," Hazewinkel said. "I learned a lot when I was out in Colorado Springs."
Hazewinkel trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs earlier this year. He's now training and coaching at the brand-new Prodigy Training Center in Springboro, Ohio, located between Dayton and Cincinnati. Ryan Root, who wrestled for Penn State, runs the club.
Hazewinkel said he is training primarily with college teammate and two-time NCAA champion Teyon Ware, who is planning to switch to Greco-Roman from freestyle this season. He's being coached by past U.S. Olympian Kevin Bracken. He also is coaching young wrestlers in the club. Past NCAA champion Matt Lackey and past World Team member Mary Kelly also are working as coaches with the Prodigy club.
"Everything is going real well - I'm enjoying it out here," Hazewinkel said. "It's a good environment for me. It was a great deal for me to make a little money and be able to train. It's a chance for me to teach some young kids and give back to the sport."
Hazewinkel started the 2007-08 season with a win over Spenser Mango in the finals of the Sunkist Kids International Open. But Mango went on to make the Olympic Team
Mango beat Hazewinkel in the semifinals of April's U.S. Nationals. Mango then followed by sweeping Hazewinkel in the best-of-3 finals series at June's Olympic Trials.
Hazewinkel knocked off three-time World Team member Lindsey Durlacher in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials. Durlacher placed third in the World in 2006 and fifth in 2007.
The 24-year-old Hazewinkel and the 22-year-old Mango could meet a couple of times in the next few weeks. Both are expected to compete in the New York AC International and in the Henri Deglane International in France. Mango placed eighth in the 2008 Olympic Games.
"Spenser and I go back and forth all the time," Hazewinkel said. "He's got me the last couple of matches. He's a great competitor, and I always look forward to wrestling him. There is nobody in the World I don't think I can beat, including Spenser."
U.S. National Coach Steve Fraser worked with Hazewinkel during his time in Colorado.
"Sam Hazewinkel is one of our up-and-coming Greco stars," Fraser said. "He is a very talented Greco-Roman wrestler, and with continued training and competition Sam will be a World contender on the Senior level, for sure. He has proved his skills by winning the World University Championships this past summer. The key for Sam will be to get in the right training atmosphere with great training partners and coaches that will push him on a daily basis. His chances to be one of the best in the country and the World are great!
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