Casey Cunningham of the Sunkist Kids came out aggressively to win his first three matches at the 2008 Pan American Championships, placing him in the gold medal match at 74 kg/163 lbs. These impressive victories pits him against 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and 2007 World bronze medalist Ivan Fundora of Cuba.

Cunningham relishes the challenge of taking on Fundora, to see where he stands in his quest to win an Olympic medal of his own.

"I want to go out every match and perform," said Cunningham. "I am really looking forward to wrestling the Cuban, who was third at the 2007 Worlds."

Cunningham will need to stick to his style, a style that has helped him win big against his first three opponents at the event. So far, Cunningham has outscored his opponents 38-4.  In the first round he beat Marcelo Mina of Ecuador, and followed with wins over Maximo Blanco of Venezuela and Jaime Espinal of Puerto Rico to reach the finals.

"I like the way Casey is wrestling," said Kevin Jackson, USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach. "He is aggressive.  He is scoring points early and he continues to look to score.  He is wrestling the way we need to as a country to be successful."

As important as tonight's match is, Cunningham is still focused on his goal of making it to the Olympics.

"I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think I could win the Olympics," Cunningham said.

Cunningham made a run to for the spot on the 2004 Olympic team, a spot earned by Joe Williams. After that season, he took a few years off from competition, concentrating on his job as the assistant wrestling coach at NCAA Div. I power Central Michigan.

Last year, Cunningham returned to competition, and looked impressive. He placed second at 74 kg/163 lbs. at the both the U.S. Nationals and the U.S. World Team Trials, showing the time away from the mat had not set him back in his desire for an Olympic berth.

"I never really considered myself retired," said Cunningham. "I got married and had kids.  I needed to be at home.  I felt like God told me it was time to come back.  I have really been enjoying the process."

Joe Heskett, who beat Cunningham for the U.S. World Team spot last year, placed fifth at the World Championships. A few weeks afterwards, Heskett was diagnosed with a career-ending heart condition.  This puts Cunningham as a favorite at the weight class, heading into the Olympic year.

His wife is Tara Nott, a 2000 Olympic champion in women's weightlifting. Cunningham and Nott both trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center earlier in their careers. He has some additional insight into what it takes to succeed at the Olympic level. 

With his weight class already qualified for the Olympics, Cunningham can focus on doing well at the Olympic Trials.

"It would be pretty special," Cunningham said. "That's definitely my goal.  Like I said, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could make it.  That's the goal, the plan."

Cunningham has a number of top wrestlers in his division pushing for that spot.  In fact, he is not even currently ranked first in his weight class in TheMat.com rankings. Ben Askren has claimed that spot after a strong fall and winter season. 2006 World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff is another top challenger. Although Heskett is not there, Cunningham knows he will need to be his best this spring to reach his goal.

"He is right in the mix," said Jackson. "I think there are two, three, or four guys that have a legitimate chance of making it to the Olympics.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Casey make it.  He experience is great and he has a great chance of reaching his Olympic goal."

The gold medal match tonight against one of the top wrestlers internationally in his weight class, could show exactly how close to earning a trip to the 2008 Olympic Games Cunningham is.

"Tonight's a huge match," Jackson said. "Fundora from Cuba is a consistent top three finisher in the world and is always in the mix for the Olympics.  That's going to tell the story."