Mike Zadick battles Shawn Bunch at the U.S. Nationals. Photo by Larry Slater.

How intense was Mike Zadick's battle with Brent Metcalf during their recent workout at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City?

Just take a look at both of their faces.

"I had a couple of dinged eyeballs and some marks on my face. He had a black eye," Zadick said. "It was an all-out war. He wrestles hard and he's tough to score on. I have unbelievable workout partners."

Zadick is training with an array of proven and tough wrestlers in preparation for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Zadick, a 2006 World silver medalist, won the U.S. Nationals for the first time in his career this year. With that win, Zadick has earned a spot in the best-of-3 freestyle finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. He will compete in the Trials on May 30.

If Zadick wins the Trials, he punches his ticket to the World Championships on Sept. 21-27 in Herning, Denmark.

The balance of the World Team Trials qualifiers at 60 kilos will battle it out in a Challenge Tournament earlier in the day for the right to face Zadick in the finals.

The 30-year-old Zadick looked impressive in winning the U.S. Nationals last month in Las Vegas. Down to 60 kilos for the first time since last summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Zadick won the U.S. Nationals after beating Shawn Bunch 1-2, 2-0, 2-0 in the finals.

"Winning that tournament was big for me," Zadick said. "I felt great. I'm a different wrestler now. I'm ready to win a gold medal this year."

Zadick made his first World Team in 2006 in what turned out to be a magical year for him and his close-knit family from Great Falls, Montana.

Mike Zadick won a silver medal at the World Championships in Guangzhou, China. He knocked off Russia's Mavlet Batirov, now a two-time Olympic gold medalist, in the semifinals of the 2006 Worlds.

The next day, Mike's older brother, Bill, won a World title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Since that event, Mike Zadick made the 2007 World Team and competed in the 2008 Olympics. But he hasn't returned to the high level he wrestled at in 2006. He was a combined 0-3 in those two major events.

In 2007, Zadick won the World Team Trials but then had to win a Special Wrestle-Off later in the summer over Nate Gallick to make the team.

Zadick lost his first match of the 2007 Worlds to eventual bronze medalist Sahit Prizreni of Albania in Baku, Azerbaijan.

"It was a crazy year, and it was pretty long and drawn out," Zadick said. "It was mentally draining."

It also was a wild 2008 for Zadick. The U.S. fell short of qualifying the weight class of 60 kg/132 lbs. for the Olympic Games in freestyle, but Zadick went on to win the Olympic Trials and traveled to Beijing with the U.S. team.

Zadick received his opportunity when a wrestler from Bulgaria was injured prior to the Olympics. Zadick was named as a replacement just two days before the competition and only one day before weigh-ins took place at his weight class.

"I am very grateful for having the opportunity to wrestle in the Olympics, and I thank USA Wrestling for helping me get in there to compete," he said. "I obviously wish I could've wrestled better."

Zadick fell to Vasyl Fedoryshyn of the Ukraine in his first match at the Olympics. He received a chance to wrestle back after Fedoryshyn reached the finals, but Zadick then lost to Bazar Bazarguruev of Krygyzstan and was eliminated.

"My weight was high and it was one of the harder cuts I've ever had to make," Zadick said. "It was very hard, not knowing until the last minute that I was going to wrestle in the Olympics. It was very mentally draining.

"The next day, after weigh-ins, I didn't have anything when I stepped on the mat. I couldn't keep any food in me after I weighed in. I didn't have any energy."

In the hours before competing in the Olympics, Zadick had some concerns while back in the warmup area.

"I was drilling and warming up for the Olympics, and I was trying to convince myself and trying to brainwash myself that I was ready," he said. "When I got out there in my first match, I saw some opportunities but my body wouldn't move to do it. I was so lethargic out there. It was pretty embarrassing.

"That performance is a pretty big motivator for me this year. I don't want to feel that way again."

Zadick moved into the Olympic Athletes' Village in Beijing after he was chosen to compete in the event.

Zadick said it was tough staying in the dorms at Beijing Normal University with the American training partners prior to becoming an Olympian. He had to watch the Opening Ceremonies on television while the Olympic wrestlers marched with all the other U.S. athletes.

"The Olympic Games are awesome - it's the pinnacle of our sport," he said. "Being there and being a part of it, I loved it. It was an unbelievable atmosphere. When the Opening Ceremonies were going on, I was just hoping and praying I would get the opportunity to be an Olympian."

Zadick said his weight is not as big an issue now.

"At the U.S. Open, I managed my weight well and kept it under control," he said. "I made the weight the right way and I had energy to compete. It was a good tournament for me."

Zadick did look energized in winning an entertaining, three-period battle over the lightning-quick Bunch in the U.S. Nationals finals. Bunch will have to win the Challenge Tournament for another shot at Zadick at the World Team Trials.

"I know he's explosive," Zadick said. "I need to get on him and get in his face right away. I know he's coming. I just have to force my offense from the first whistle. I wrestled my way the second and third period."

Zadick will not compete at the Challenge Tournament for the first time at a World or Olympic Trials.

"I think sitting out is an advantage for me because the other guys will have to wrestle some tough matches to get to the finals," Zadick said. "I know I am going to be raring to go, whether I have wrestled eight matches or zero matches before the finals. I'm in control of my own destiny."

Three of the best wrestlers in the United States at 66 kilos, one weight class above Zadick, are training with Zadick in Iowa City. They include fellow Olympian and World Team member Doug Schwab along with Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf and past U.S. National Team member Jared Frayer.

Metcalf was second at the U.S. Nationals. Schwab was fourth. Frayer placed fifth.

"It will be exciting to see what those guys can do at the Trials," Zadick said. "Knowing how hard they train, I think they will be the guys to beat at 66 kilos."

Zadick also trains under the watchful eye of twins Tom and Terry Brands in Iowa City. The Brands brothers combined to win three World titles, an Olympic gold medal and an Olympic bronze medal in their careers.

Terry Brands, now an assistant coach to Tom at Iowa, coached Bill Zadick to a World title and Henry Cejudo to an Olympic title during his time as USA Wrestling's Resident Freestyle Coach. Tom helped coach and train Mike Zadick when Zadick was second in the World.

"The Brands brothers have been unbelievable, and it's great having them help me get ready for the Trials," Zadick said. "I've felt the best in my day in and day out workouts that I ever have in my life. I feel like I am past the level I was at in 2006. I feel like this is a great year for me to win a World title.

"I'm sick of making these World Teams and not doing anything about it. I want to win a World title this year. Now I have to go out there and prove I'm the best in the World."