Quotes from the U.S. champions at Dave Schultz Memorial International on Friday

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
02/09/2007

Greco-Roman

84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

“This was one of the best Schultz tournaments ever. The depth of the competition was great. 84 kg was a small bracket but challenging. I started with the Bulgaria, then had a tough Korean, then wrestled Justin Millard. Anytime you get a win, that’s good.”

“At this time of the year, we work on getting conditioned and new techniques to use at nationals and Trials. When you get to use them on foreign guys, it helps. You know you can use them in the World Championships, the World Cup, the Pan Am Games and other major events.”

(on the finals against Millard)
“Everybody give you their best in the finals. You have to be ready to perform. We are not in peak condition at this time of the year. It takes a lot of guts and effort to win.”

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

“I felt pretty good wrestling here, better than the last couple of years. I came in and focused on specific things, not winning and losing. I was focusing on the World Cup, which is an important competition in a few weeks. It worked out for me.”

“(about facing Adam Wheeler another time in finals)
You have to get up everytime you wrestle. He is one of those wrestlers who gets better. We go back and forth. I know I have to show up to beat him. I try to get up for him like every other match and work on small progressive goals.”

(about the new season)
“This year I am excited. It’s a fresh start. Last year, I didn’t have the year I wanted to. This year, I am wrestling to have fun. That is when I have my best performances, when it is fun.”

Freestyle

66 kg/145. lbs. - Jared Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

“It started with the first match, and I got that blow out, then I took it one match at a time. I was extremely excited to see it happen. We had a strong weight class.

(about facing World champion Dudaev in the finals)

“He has an incredible chest lock. But I figured if I could keep on him, I could come back for the win.”

“I am satisfied with the win, it doesn’t matter if it is one point or 10 points. He was a good opponent who beat me a year ago.”

“I started with a good fall, winning the NYAC and in France, then I took a Christmas break. This is the start of the spring for me. I will go on to the U.S. Nationals then the World Team Trials. It is a great start for me.”

84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenburg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)

“The Chinese dude surprised me. He was goofy and long. I got a break on a 50-50 call and got past him. Other than him, I wrestled good. I felt really good against Lee in the finals. I felt solid, strong and I contolled the positions. I felt I did a real strong job. My conditioning is better than the past. I was OK with that.”

“This tournament is what got me here. Last year, I had a disappointing performance. It make me think about it. I stepped back from coaching full time at Cornell. I re-evaluated what I was doing and concentrated on myself.”