Donny Pritzlaff is no stranger to success on the mat, but he has had his share of challenges as well.

In 2006, Pritzlaff was a World bronze medalist, after winning the U.S. World Team Trials and U.S. Nationals at 74 kg/163 lbs.  It was his most successful season on the international level. But Pritzlaff struggled in 2007.  He finished fourth at the U.S. World Team Trials and failed to make the World Team.

Longtime rival Joe Heskett claimed the finished fifth at the 2007 World Championships and earned an Olympic berth for the U.S. only to be diagnosed with a career-ending heart condition. Now, the weight class is wide open with a number of wrestlers competing to earn a spot to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"Donny is the highest credentialed wrestler in this weight class with the World bronze medal," U.S. National Freestyle Team Coach Kevin Jackson said. "His chances are great.  There are some other contenders but not with his experience. If he continues to improve then he is definitely in the mix."

Pritzlaff's past success could give him the advantage he needs to get back to the top.

"I think I'm the guy to beat," said Pritzlaff. "I have the most international experience of anyone.  I feel a lot better than I did at this time last year."

This weekend's competition at the Dave Schultz International Memorial has demonstrated how far Pritzlaff has come in the past few months.

"I'm feeling good," Pritzlaff said. "I started off a little slow in the first match, but my legs are going good now."

He opened up the tournament with a comeback win over Marcinkiewicz Radoslaw of Poland, 1-4, 3-0, 7-0. In his next match, he won by decision over Christoph Pscherrer of Germany, 3-0, 3-0.

In the quarterfinals Pritzlaff faced Eric Luedke of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.  He jumped out to the lead with a win in the first period and didn't let up, winning the second as well. He now heads to the semifinals to face Andriy Shyyka of Germany, with a chance to compete for a gold medal in Sunday night's final round.

"Obviously getting the win is important, but also it's a chance to find out where you are at technically and conditioning-wise," said Jackson. "The most important tournament is the one you're currently wrestling."

This tournament in just a step in the road and Pritzlaff continues to work towards a trip to the Olympic Games. He has won the Dave Schultz Memorial two times, taking gold medals in both 2002 and 2005.

Pritzlaff and Coach Jackson agree that there are some areas that he needs to work on to continue to improve. Competitions like the Dave Schultz provide an excellent opportunity to put that practice to use.

"He needs to work on his counter offense, on his par terre defense, and his ability to score when he needs to and wants to," Jackson said.

"There are certain positions that I am trying to work on," said Pritzlaff. "You can practice perfectly but unless you can do it in a match it doesn't matter."

For now he's focused on a win in this tournament and continuing to improve. Pritzlaff plans to be the man to beat at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials for wrestling in June in Las Vegas, Nevada.