National Champions Q&A: Mo Lawal

John Fuller TheMat.com
06/07/2005

Muhammed “Mo” Lawal has always had that flare for the dramatic. He is different from many U.S. wrestlers on the Senior level in that he is always looking for ways to promote himself. He has never been one to hold his feelings back, including his thoughts that he could beat eventual Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson last year. After winning a freestyle national title at 84 kg/185 lbs., Lawal now seems to have the opportunity for that promotion. TheMat.com sat down with Lawal and talked about what has gotten him to the top of the freestyle ladder, and how he plans to stay there. TheMat.com: What was the feeling you had of finally winning a national title? Lawal: It was cool. I felt good. I’ve worked hard to get to this point. Now I just need to keep it rolling. TheMat.com: In the past, you have had a lot of trouble wrestling against Lee Fullhart. What seemed to be the difference in this year’s national finals match? Lawal: I was more confident. I felt good. I trained smarter and harder than I ever have. TheMat.com: There is no doubt of your ability on your feet. Because of that, do you feel that the new rules favor you more so than they would others? Lawal: I think the new rules favor me cause I am good on my feet, but I feel that I could win no matter what rules are in place. TheMat.com: After you won, you said you wanted to be the “black Cael.” What did you mean by that? Lawal: I don’t want his style, but I just meant how he changed and how he matured as a wrestler. There was a difference between when he first came on the scene and when he won his Olympic gold medal. I ain’t nobody’s groupie, but I like the way he matured as a wrestler. TheMat.com: You recently made the decision to move out to Colorado Springs and train full-time at the Olympic Training Center. Why did you do that? Lawal: Look at all the other countries that train freestyle year-round. I felt like I needed to do that to be serious about winning gold. That was a move I just felt I needed to make. TheMat.com: While some people see you as an athlete with a lot of athletic ability, you also study a lot of film. Who are the wrestlers you have tried to model yourself after in the last few years? Lawal: Kevin Jackson, Kerry McCoy, Daniel Cormier, Jamill Kelly, Melvin Douglas, Townsend Saunders. I’ve watched some tape on Cael, coach (John) Smith, (Yoel) Romero. I’ve tried to watch tapes on athletes that are explosive. I think that helps me more. I like watching people with skills. TheMat.com: In college, you wore a gold pair of shoes during the Big XII Championship match your senior year. Any chance we will see those shoes worn at the World Team Trials? Lawal: I don’t know. For right now, they’re in retirement until I make the World Team. The World Team Trials is the first step to doing something big. This isn’t to offend anyone, but you can win the World Team Trials all you want and then go to the Worlds and get destroyed. I’m not trying to do that. I want to win gold. I haven’t won nothing yet. For more information on Mo Lawal, visit www.molawal.com.