His teammates have spent part of their time telling the other athletes at the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey that he is Mike Tyson. He thinks he is closer to Denzel Washington. But after this event, Tyrone Lewis expects everyone to know who he really is.    Lewis, who is wrestling at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men's freestyle, will compete on Sunday, August 14, for a gold medal at this prestigious event. He may not bite your ear off, but he has no problem talking into it either.    
Even after a long flight, Lewis has fresh legs
This is a new experience for the former NCAA finalist from Oklahoma State Univ. Lewis has never stepped foot overseas, and he has only competed in two international events, the Dave Schultz Memorial International and Sunkist Kids International Open. Neither is very close to being in a country other than the U.S.    "That plane ride, it was grueling," Lewis said about his first trek across the Atlantic Ocean that took nearly eight hours. "The transition (to wrestling in another country) is an experience like no other. Going from state to state, you still feel that comfort level and you only think about winning. Here, coming overseas for the first time, I'm representing something - Oklahoma State University and the United States."    Clearly, Lewis has already done his alma mater proud. He earned a degree in Education in Stillwater after placing in the NCAA Tournament all four years he competed, joining an elite group of wrestlers while also at the nation's proudest college program. As a senior, he placed second in the nation.    He took a four-year break between freestyle adventures. In 1999, he won a Junior Nationals title. In 2003, he placed second at the University Nationals.    
Lewis has an explosive offense
And even as Lewis has shown improvement in freestyle competition, he was unable to place at the U.S. Senior Nationals and the U.S. World Team Trials this year. Instead of giving up, he attended the University World Team Trials and placed first, earning his trip to Turkey.    "I didn't reach all of my goals this year, so after I won the University Trials, (going to Turkey) didn't exactly hit me," Lewis said.    Now, it has hit him. He is in Turkey. Living for seven days in between rolling hills. He cannot go anywhere without riding on a bus and going through security checkpoints.    While the hot and humid weather may not differ much from that of one of the Midwest states, the landscape and the blue of the Aegean Sea are vastly different from Stillwater, Oklahoma or Oklahoma City, where he grew up. The only thing close to a Cowboy in Izmir is the "Country Classics" infomercial that plays late at night on Turkish television.    
Lewis plans to come home with gold
"I am blessed. This is an experience I am definitely taking advantage of. For me, there is no better position to be in," Lewis said while smiling.    If all goes well, part of that experience would be bringing home a gold medal from the event that is billed as the Olympics for college athletes.    In Tuesday's practice, he seemed to be the most energized, hopping around the mat at every opportunity while staying vocal as well.    The team's trainers seemed to enjoy the emotion that Lewis put into the practice as well, but the true test will be his opponents' reaction to that flare on the mat. And although it is his first overseas competition, Lewis thinks that he will have the advantage in most of his matches.    "I feel like I'm in the driver's seat," he stated. "I feel very confident. I'm in a position to do well, and without a question, my goal is to win."    With an attitude like that, who needs Mike Tyson? Tyrone Lewis may become the most feared man in America in one week.