FEATURE: U.S. World Team members return to where they became famous – Fargo

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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
07/27/2005


Over the past few years, the final spot on one of the U.S. World Teams has been decided in Fargo, N.D. during the Junior and Cadet Nationals Championships.    Kristie Marano defeated Katie Downing here before going to New York and winning a gold medal in 2003. Daniel Cormier downed Dean Morrison in a memorable three-match Special Wrestle-Off in 2003 as well, before placing fifth at the World Championships. Chris Bono, like Cormier a member of the 2005 U.S. Freestyle World Team, defeated Bill Zadick to earn his first spot on a U.S. World Team.    But this year, Bono, Cormier and the rest of the top freestyle wrestlers in the U.S. returned to Fargo this year for a World Team Training Camp.    For many of these wrestlers, joyous memories have been re-hashed. Fargo has now become known as the place where good wrestlers become great, and unknown wrestlers earn full rides to college.    Six of this year's seven Freestyle World Team members placed in this prestigious event, including 163-pound Joe Williams, a 2004 Olympian and 2001 World bronze medalist, who won titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in 1993.    "This just kind of puts you in a situation where it brings back memories when you were doing the extra things," Williams said. "These guys, we're actually able to see them train the way that makes you remember the stuff you used to do. It makes you remember to do those extra things."    Williams used this tournament as a springboard to greatness in the U.S. While at Iowa, he won three NCAA titles. He then earned spots on five U.S. World Teams, and seems to continue to go strong.    For Tolly Thompson, coming back to Fargo couldn't be any more ironic. The giant heavyweight has wrestled this season as if he were in his early 20's, though he just turned 32 years old a little over one month ago.    "It's kind of weird because in a way I do feel like I'm wrestling young. I don't feel old, but coming back here is like a fountain of youth," Thompson said. "This tournament is a great place for young wrestlers to come and become known. It's neat for us to be able to come back here and watch them."    The case is not that much different for Michael Lightner, who has battled numerous injuries and a return from obscurity this year to take over the top slot in the U.S. at 132 lbs.    But a big question many would ask is 'why Fargo?' What would possess the top wrestlers in the U.S., and in many cases the world, to come to Fargo, N.D. and train in a strange environment instead of in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the friendly confines of the U.S. Olympic Training Center.    Athletes stay in dorms, two to a room, share showers and the beds are about as large as Thompson's leg alone. There are no televisions and the air conditioning is not always a working option in this humid town. The meals, while cooked with caring hands, are a far cry from the taste that the professionally-trained chefs in Colorado Springs serve up every night.    "It's out in the middle of nowhere. In Colorado Springs, you get used to having the other athletes around. You sit around the cafeteria and talk for two or three hours when you should be resting. Out here, there's not much to do, so it makes your focus that much more efficient," Williams said.    USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson felt that coming to Fargo was good for the World Team, but it came about because the NCAA discontinued letting the U.S. National Team work out on the mats at the NCAA Tournament between sessions.    "It's been unfortunate that we've been unable to showcase our Senior-level team at the NCAA Tournament. We've been unable to do that the last few years cause of rules and regulations. So we decided to come here," USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson stated.    In the past, the freestyle team has had an event to compete in the same time frame as the Junior and Cadet Nationals, such as the Titan Games last year. But this year, there is no such event, and Jackson has found himself trying to make up ground by putting a camp in front of the top high school wrestlers in the country.    "If by the end of the week, we accomplish our goals - and that is good, strong training in an environment that has the facilities we're used to - we'll come back. We want to showcase our team and show our younger-aged athletes and parents what it takes to train at the highest level," Jackson said.