Tommy Rowlands works for a fall at the 2007 World Championships. Larry Slater photo.
Tommy Rowlands envisioned a much different ending to his wrestling career.
A much happier ending.
Fifth in the 2007 World Championships, he planned on making the U.S. Olympic Team and winning a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
But the slightly favored Rowlands lost to rival Steve Mocco in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. finals of the Olympic Trials in June 2008 in Las Vegas.
"It hurt "" It really hurt" Rowlands said. "It's the most painful thing I've ever had to go through. It was a very painful loss."
Rowlands hasn't wrestled a competitive match in nearly two years, but he's back on the mat training full-time again. He hopes to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team and compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
He plans to return to competition at the U.S. Open next month in Cleveland. Rowlands grew up just down the road in Columbus, Ohio, and was a two-time NCAA champion for Ohio State.
"I'm not out for redemption" said Rowlands, who turns 29 on June 3. "I'm out to reach my full potential and I don't think I've done that yet. The reason I came back was because I want to have an Olympic gold medal hanging around my neck."
Rowlands had been working full-time for MMA Authentics, a premier mixed martial arts apparel company. But Rowlands left his position there to focus on wrestling full-time.
"It was a great experience working there, and we wished each other the best" he said. "Right now, I want a singular focus on wrestling. I don't want to do a juggling act with coaching and competing, or with working and competing. I want to be focused on competing, and hitting on all cylinders in 2011 and 2012."
Rowlands continues to serve as director of the Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus, and also now trains there full-time.
Among the wrestlers he trains with is 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev, who also competes at heavyweight. 2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch, 2010 World Cup Team member J.D. Bergman and two-time NCAA champion J Jaggers also train there.
Ohio State assistant coach Lou Rosselli, a past Olympian, is the head coach at the Ohio RTC. Rosselli is a past U.S. World Team coach.
"Lou Rosselli drives the engine as far as the allure and the demand of the Ohio RTC" Rowlands said. "He's very passionate and cares about the athletes. He just wants to help people. His technique is out of this World. He's there for the right reasons. His athletes not only want to win for them, but also for Lou."
Rosselli was in Rowlands' corner when he finished second at the Olympic Trials.
"I know that hurt him a lot "" that's why I think he's making this comeback" Rosselli said. "It's not for show or anything like that. Tommy's coming back because he still has that dream of being an Olympic champion.
"He was in the bronze-medal match at the (2007) World Championships, and I think he's right in there with the best guys in that weight class. I think he can do really well. He wouldn't be back if he didn't think he could reach his goals."
Rowlands is in his fourth full week of training in freestyle wrestling. He has gained 20 pounds during his time away from the sport, and now weighs 270.
"I feel stronger now" he said. "It feels natural now to compete at this weight."
Training with the talented young Dlagnev allows Rowlands to gauge his progress.
"We push each other and make each other better" Rowlands said. "There are not many people I'm going to compete against that I can train with every day, but Tervel is a World class professional. We bang heads every day, along with J.D. Bergman. It's an incredible training environment. Tervel's one of the best wrestlers in the World right now, and it will take a monumental effort to beat him."
Rowlands jumps into a strong heavyweight class in the U.S. that includes Dlagnev, Mocco and Les Sigman, who won the Hargobind and Dave Schultz events this season.
"It seems like it's the deepest American weight class right now" Rowlands said. "That's a good sign, and I'm excited to get in the mix and see how I do."
Rosselli said Rowlands is making improvements in the room.
"He just came back, so he's obviously not where he needs to be yet and he knows that" Rosselli said. "His conditioning and timing are off. He's lost some ground, and he understands that. He's been working hard and pushing himself every day. His skill level is getting better. He just has to keep building. He has a great attitude."
Rowlands also is excited about competing in his home state for the U.S. Open.
"I think Cleveland is an excellent location" he said. "Northeast Ohio is one of the most prominent areas in the country for wrestling. I think we can have great attendance for this event. Competing in my home state is a great opportunity."
Rowlands said he often thinks about falling to Mocco in the 2008 Olympic Trials.
"I felt like I was in position to win an Olympic medal" he said. "Mocco's a phenomenal wrestler and he got the job done. I think I let everything get to me and overwhelm me. I didn't focus on being the better wrestler and winning the matches. I didn't compete the way I was accustomed to for some reason.
"I had competed since I was 6 years old and put my whole life into the sport of wrestling. I wanted my Olympic dream to come true, and it still hurts to talk about it. I believe everything happens for a reason and I learned a lot from that experience. I want to be an Olympic champion, and that's why I'm coming back."
Tommy Rowlands envisioned a much different ending to his wrestling career.
A much happier ending.
Fifth in the 2007 World Championships, he planned on making the U.S. Olympic Team and winning a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
But the slightly favored Rowlands lost to rival Steve Mocco in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. finals of the Olympic Trials in June 2008 in Las Vegas.
"It hurt "" It really hurt" Rowlands said. "It's the most painful thing I've ever had to go through. It was a very painful loss."
Rowlands hasn't wrestled a competitive match in nearly two years, but he's back on the mat training full-time again. He hopes to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team and compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
He plans to return to competition at the U.S. Open next month in Cleveland. Rowlands grew up just down the road in Columbus, Ohio, and was a two-time NCAA champion for Ohio State.
"I'm not out for redemption" said Rowlands, who turns 29 on June 3. "I'm out to reach my full potential and I don't think I've done that yet. The reason I came back was because I want to have an Olympic gold medal hanging around my neck."
Rowlands had been working full-time for MMA Authentics, a premier mixed martial arts apparel company. But Rowlands left his position there to focus on wrestling full-time.
"It was a great experience working there, and we wished each other the best" he said. "Right now, I want a singular focus on wrestling. I don't want to do a juggling act with coaching and competing, or with working and competing. I want to be focused on competing, and hitting on all cylinders in 2011 and 2012."
Rowlands continues to serve as director of the Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus, and also now trains there full-time.
Among the wrestlers he trains with is 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev, who also competes at heavyweight. 2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch, 2010 World Cup Team member J.D. Bergman and two-time NCAA champion J Jaggers also train there.
Ohio State assistant coach Lou Rosselli, a past Olympian, is the head coach at the Ohio RTC. Rosselli is a past U.S. World Team coach.
"Lou Rosselli drives the engine as far as the allure and the demand of the Ohio RTC" Rowlands said. "He's very passionate and cares about the athletes. He just wants to help people. His technique is out of this World. He's there for the right reasons. His athletes not only want to win for them, but also for Lou."
Rosselli was in Rowlands' corner when he finished second at the Olympic Trials.
"I know that hurt him a lot "" that's why I think he's making this comeback" Rosselli said. "It's not for show or anything like that. Tommy's coming back because he still has that dream of being an Olympic champion.
"He was in the bronze-medal match at the (2007) World Championships, and I think he's right in there with the best guys in that weight class. I think he can do really well. He wouldn't be back if he didn't think he could reach his goals."
Rowlands is in his fourth full week of training in freestyle wrestling. He has gained 20 pounds during his time away from the sport, and now weighs 270.
"I feel stronger now" he said. "It feels natural now to compete at this weight."
Training with the talented young Dlagnev allows Rowlands to gauge his progress.
"We push each other and make each other better" Rowlands said. "There are not many people I'm going to compete against that I can train with every day, but Tervel is a World class professional. We bang heads every day, along with J.D. Bergman. It's an incredible training environment. Tervel's one of the best wrestlers in the World right now, and it will take a monumental effort to beat him."
Rowlands jumps into a strong heavyweight class in the U.S. that includes Dlagnev, Mocco and Les Sigman, who won the Hargobind and Dave Schultz events this season.
"It seems like it's the deepest American weight class right now" Rowlands said. "That's a good sign, and I'm excited to get in the mix and see how I do."
Rosselli said Rowlands is making improvements in the room.
"He just came back, so he's obviously not where he needs to be yet and he knows that" Rosselli said. "His conditioning and timing are off. He's lost some ground, and he understands that. He's been working hard and pushing himself every day. His skill level is getting better. He just has to keep building. He has a great attitude."
Rowlands also is excited about competing in his home state for the U.S. Open.
"I think Cleveland is an excellent location" he said. "Northeast Ohio is one of the most prominent areas in the country for wrestling. I think we can have great attendance for this event. Competing in my home state is a great opportunity."
Rowlands said he often thinks about falling to Mocco in the 2008 Olympic Trials.
"I felt like I was in position to win an Olympic medal" he said. "Mocco's a phenomenal wrestler and he got the job done. I think I let everything get to me and overwhelm me. I didn't focus on being the better wrestler and winning the matches. I didn't compete the way I was accustomed to for some reason.
"I had competed since I was 6 years old and put my whole life into the sport of wrestling. I wanted my Olympic dream to come true, and it still hurts to talk about it. I believe everything happens for a reason and I learned a lot from that experience. I want to be an Olympic champion, and that's why I'm coming back."
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