Cuba team enters Schultz to prepare for Pan American Championships

A notable international team at this year's Dave Schultz Memorial Championships is the Cuban Greco-Roman team. Cuba is traditionally the top rival for the United States among the Pan American nations and was the World Team champions at the  2001 World Championships.

"Cuba is one of the best in the world, and has been for a long time," said National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser. "It is great to have them here, not only for our No. 1 wrestlers to bang heads with them, but also for our No. 2, No. 3 and everybody else. They are a great asset to this tournament. They have come here early to acclimate for the Pan American Championships. That is one reason they are here now."

The last time Cuba entered the Dave Schultz Memorial in Greco-Roman was in 2003, when they had three individual champions, Olympic champion Filiberto Azcuy and World champions Lazaro Rivas and Mijian Lopez.  Their involvement this year adds to the quality of the competition.

"Cuba has great athletes to start with," said Fraser. "They are very technically talented. They also have a lot of motivation to win. It is one of the few ways to step up over poverty in Cuba. It gives them special status in their society. That helps their people wrestle above their abilities. And they do have good skills and conditioning. They are the most well-rounded of all the countries. The Cubans can burn with you, are very strong and agile. They have it all. It is great that we go there, and they come here, to train and compete."

Cuba had a disappointing effort at the 2007 World Championships, qualifying only one weight class for the 2008 Olympics when Mijian Lopez won the super heavyweight title. Competing well at the Pan American Championships in three weeks in Colorado Springs is very important to the Cuban team. Entering the Dave Schultz Memorial this year is part of that preparation.

"The reason to come to this tournament is to prepare the athletes for the Pan American Championships, which is the qualifier for the Olympic Games," said Cuba's coach Pedro Val. "As we all know, Colorado Springs has high altitude and a great climate for preparation. We are coming from sea level."

Val has been pleased with his team's efforts so far in Colorado.

"So far, I am pleased with the performance and the training here. In this tournament, we have had only one athlete lose his matches," he said.

Everybody is aware that its six months until Beijing Games

Today, February 8, marks the six-month mark prior to the opening ceremony for Olympic Games in Beijing, China. It is fitting that many of the world's top wrestlers, including a number who may be competing in the Olympics this summer, are together for a top international wrestling competition.

To mark the date, the U.S. Olympic Committee will be showing a video during the Dave Schultz Memorial International. 

Time is short until Beijing, and athletes and coaches know it.

"You don't want it to sneak up on you and not think about it," said National Freestyle Resident Coach Terry Brands, who was a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist. "If you use every day to get better, there is a lot of time for improvement. Many of our guys may have let it sneak up on them. Actually, 2004 was not that long ago. There is time to get better if we our focused and confident in our training environments. We want the best team in Beijing. 

Brands knows what it is like to get ready for an Olympic year, earning a spot on the 2000 Olympic team and placing second at the 1996 Olympic Trials. 

"Any fifth-grader is excited about the Olympic Games. If the awareness is there for these Senior-level athletes, it is good for them. You have to feel the excitement. You have to careful not to let it beat you up mentally and emotionally, however. They should be excited but under control of it," said Brands.

Brad Vering, a 2004 Olympian in Greco-Roman and the reigning World silver medalist at 84 kg/185 lbs., is also very aware of how soon the Olympics will be here.

"I am really excited about it," said Vering. "I wish I could have wrestled in this tournament this weekend, but I was a little sick this week. These competitions are important. But there are two tournaments I am focused on winning. One is in June (Olympic Trials) and one is in August (Olympic Games.)"

Having already experienced an Olympics, Vering has experienced the Opening Ceremonies and all the attention surrounding the Games. This time, he is looking at it a little differently.

"The last few years have been sprint and walk, sprint and walk," said Vering. "It has been up and down, for sure. But now, everybody is settled in. We are ready to make a run at it and win a lot of medals. I am downplaying a lot of stuff this time. I'm looking at it like any other tournament. The last time, it was hyped up. For me, I'm just going to go and wrestle those tournaments. After being in the finals of the World Championships, there is nothing important for me than getting in the finals of that (Olympic) tournament."

Sahin seeks another chance at Olympic Team berth

For many athletes, the 2008 Olympic Games may be their last chance to compete in the most prestigious sporting event in the world. This year may be their last true opportunity to represent their nation at the Olympics.

For Faruk Sahin, a Turkish native who is a U.S. citizen and has lived here for nine years, competing in the Olympics and representing the United States is the focus of everything in his life.

"This is the Olympic year. The plan is to defeat everybody in the world to become the best and to win the Olympic Games. That is all I am working on," said Sahin.

Sahin is wrestling very well at the Dave Schultz Memorial at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. He opened the tournament with a victory over Poland's Tomasz Swierk, 4-2, 4-0, then defeated talented Cuban Alain Millian, 2-2, 2-0 in the second round. In the quarterfinals against Tim Bleau of the New York AC, he scored a second-period pin, 6-0, 0:33. He will face Mark Rial of the Gator WC in the semifinals.

"He beat the Cuban. He has those kind of matches in him," said U.S. Army coach Shon Lewis. "You have to keep focused and finish out the tournaments. You have to do that on a consistent basis. Some people may have been surprised about him winning that match. I am not surprised at all."

"I feel great," said Sahin after the quarterfinals. "I know I have to work on my skills and have a good finish here."

Sahin has had some very close battles recently with two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester of the Gator WC, who is entered in the Schultz Memorial but is competing up at 74 kg/163 lbs. 

"I have very good competition here in the USA," said Sahin. "Harry Lester is No. 1 and he is a great wrestler. But he is in my way to get the gold."

In 2004, Sahin gained his U.S. citizenship and won his first U.S. National Championships. He joined the U.S. Army team, with the goal of qualifying to represent his new nation at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

However, that Olympic quest fell short with a positive test from the U.S. Nationals for the stimulant phentamine, suspending him for two years, and forcing him to miss the Olympic Trials. His U.S. Army teammate, Oscar Wood, who Sahin had defeated at the nationals, earned the Olympic berth. Sahin says that the positive test was an accident, and was not taken intentionally. 

"I couldn't wait to get another chance. This year I feel great. I am grateful for getting another chance. In 2004, it didn't happen for me. God willing, I can win the Olympics this year," he said.

At 32 years old, Sahin is not quite sure what his future holds after this year's Olympic quest.

"I have to ask my family and coaches to see how I feel about it. I am focused right now on the 2008 Olympics in China. The Olympics are my dream," he said.

Representing the United States at the Olympics is a driving force for his training.

"I have been here nine years. When I came from Turkey, my skill level was not good. I have improved my skills and conditioning. I would love to represent the United States. It is my dream. When I stand on the podium, it will be the U.S. anthem that I will hear. I would love to win that gold for my country. I am also a member of the United States Army. I want to win for the United States," he said.