Joe Williams seeks to go out on a positive note

World bronze medalist Joe Williams of the Sunkist Kids placed fifth at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. After the Games, Williams made a decision to pursue another Olympic cycle. At the time, he was 29 years old. He had things he still wanted to achieve in wrestling.

Now, four years later, Williams enters another Olympic year as a top-ranked wrestler with high Olympic hopes.

"This is winding down now," said Williams, after winning his semifinal bout at 84 kg/185 lbs. at the Pan American Championships. "It was the right decision for me. I want to make sure I leave the sport on a positive note."

For many years, Williams was one of the world's best wrestlers at 74 kg/163 lbs. However, in 2006, Williams had a difficult season at the weight class, and did not earn a placement at the U.S. World Team Trials. Some wondered if he had lost his edge.

Last season, he made a decision to move up a weight class to 84 kg/185 lbs. Things worked out well, as the veteran athlete won both the U.S. Nationals and the World Team Trials to reclaim his No. 1 spot, this time at a new weight class.

"I think the combination of getting on a weight lifting program and not worrying about my weight has helped me to succeed in this weight class," said Williams.

At the U.S. World Team Trials, Williams tore his pectoral muscle and had surgery, taking him out of training for months. He was able to return in time for the 2007 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Although not at full strength, Williams had a gritty performance, placing fifth and qualifying the United States for the Olympic Games at his weight class. Williams feels that he is getting healthy and ready for the Olympic year challenge ahead.

"It is getting there," said Williams of his recovery. "The main thing is staying healthy and injury free. If that takes place, I am on track."

Williams is relaxed competing in a new weight class, where the athletes are bigger than his opponents down at 74 kg. He has adjusted his wrestling to the new conditions.

"There is a difference in style," said Williams of his new division. "At this weight class, you have to be a little smarter about how you wrestle. You have to be strong in positions and stay away from where the opponents are good at."

Williams is competing at the Pan American Championships as part of his preparations for the Olympic Trials process ahead. He expects his next event will be the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas in April, the most important of the Olympic Trials qualifying events. 

"This is to test myself, to see where I am tactically, technically and with my conditioning," said Williams.

He believes that his experience and desire will be a factor in making a second Olympic team.

"Experience has a lot to do with it," said Williams. "At this stage, the guy who goes out and wrestles, and who wants it, will win it. Experience is good, but it will take more than that."

Cejudo competes well in home gymnasium

There has been good local coverage of the Pan American Wrestling Championships in Colorado this week, as the sport of wrestling selects some of its participants for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In addition to the 11 U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athletes in the field for Team USA this weekend, there is one strong local angle which interests the media. Two-time Colorado state high school champion Henry Cejudo of the Sunkist Kids is in the freestyle field at 121 pounds.

Originally from Arizona, Cejudo was one of the nation's top young athletes and moved to Colorado Springs as a high school junior to train full-time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He attended nearby Coronado High School, where he dominated all opponents in the prep ranks. He was named ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year as a senior. However, his biggest achievement that year was becoming the first high school wrestler in USA Wrestling history to win a Senior National freestyle title.

Now concentrating full-time on his Olympic quest, Cejudo is No. 1 in the nation. By earning a spot in the Pan American Championships finals on Sunday, he has now qualified the United States to compete at his weight class in the Olympics.

Wrestling on his home mats at the Olympic Training Center and his adopted city of Colorado Springs has been helpful.

"This is home," said Cejudo after winning his semifinal match and clinching the Olympic qualification. "I see this gym every day. It is like wrestling in my house."

Cejudo feels very comfortable in this facility. He trains on the complex every day. The only other time he has competed in this gymnasium at the U.S. Olympic Training Center was at the Junior World Team Trials, where he won the gold, to earn the right to represent the USA at the Junior World Championships.

"The Springs" has become a home base for his family, as well. His older brother Angel is also training in Colorado Springs, seeking a spot on the Olympic Team at 60 kg/132 lbs. His mother has also moved here, and has been very supportive to both brothers in their Olympic quest. 

"Having my family down here helps," said Cejudo. "The altitude here and the atmosphere in the gym is great for me. Having this event here also helps our city."

The local media has taken notice. The Colorado Springs Gazette and the Denver Post have followed Cejudo this week, and the local television stations come out when he wrestles. After his semifinal victory this morning, he was able to tell his story once again to the local press.

"It feels good," said Cejudo after qualifying the weight class with his morning wins. "The pressure is somewhat off now. You can go to the Olympic without having to sweat about this. I am 100% now. I am ready to go."

Stanford's Gentry still alive for berth; Penn State's White knocked out

American wrestling fans will recognize their names from successful careers on the Div. I college mats. Competing today at the Pan American Championships seeking to qualify their nation for the Olympic Games are past NCAA champion Matt Gentry of Stanford and NCAA All-American Matt White of Penn State.

Gentry competes for Canada at 74 kg/163 lbs. and White wrestles for Puerto Rico at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Both have been on the international scene in recent seasons competing for these nations, and both have Olympic goals.

Neither has to win their division in order to go to Beijing. They need to be the highest placewinner from a nation which has not already qualified for the Olympics and had a representative at the 2007 World Championships. 

After the morning session at the Pan American Championships, Gentry remains in the hunt for an Olympic berth. He was defeated in the semifinals by Cuba's Ivan Fundora. Both finalists, Fundora and Joe Williams from the United States, are from nations which have already qualified. Gentry will need to win his bronze-medal match, and may need a special wrestle-off for the Olympic berth at this division.

White will not be able to qualify his nation for the Olympics at this event. He was defeated in the semifinals by Damion Hahn of the United States and is in the bronze-medal round. The United States is the only nation from the Pan American continent to qualify at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., so the other finalist in this weight class, Michel Batista of Cuba, has automatically qualified his nation at that weight class.

For White to qualify his nation for the Olympics, he will have to a chance to attend two final qualification tournaments for the Olympics, held in Switzerland and Poland. Gentry still has a chance to get it done here in Colorado Springs, but if he falls short, he has two more chances, also.