Iowa’s Daniel Dennis battles Minnesota’s Jayson Ness in the 2010 NCAA finals. Larry Slater photo.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Daniel Dennis is one of the top young freestyle prospects in the United States.

Not heavily recruited coming out of high school in Illinois, Dennis put together a strong college career at 133 pounds for the University of Iowa.

Dennis was a member of three NCAA championship teams during his last three seasons for the Hawkeyes.

He placed second at the 2010 NCAA Championships in Omaha, dropping a last-second decision to Minnesota’s Jayson Ness in the 133 finals.

Dennis traveled to Moscow, Russia, last September as a training partner for former Hawkeyes Mike Zadick and Brent Metcalf at the 2010 World Championships.

Dennis is competing at 55 kg/121 lbs. in freestyle. He plans to compete at the Dave Schultz Memorial International next month at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

He is ranked No. 7 in the U.S. at 55 kilos.

Dennis sat down with USA Wrestling’s Craig Sesker for an interview following Thursday afternoon’s practice.

Was dropping down to 55 kilos the plan all along for international wrestling?

Once I graduated from college, I started looking at the weight classes and trying to pick which one worked best for me. I feel like I can compete the best at 55, and that weight class gives myself the best opportunity to win. I have to be disciplined and manage my weight, and I need to continue to learn and get better on the mat.

What did you learn from going to the World Championships?

It was really enlightening and eye-opening. You have to really be in control when you wrestle against competition like that. It was a great experience. The environment was very, very intense. To win World and Olympic titles, you have to be in complete control and be very stubborn with your positioning. I learned a lot.

What matches did you focus on watching?

I just tried to watch as many matches as I could. I watched the big names, the guys who were winning, and tried to see what they were doing to be successful. I wanted to see how the foreigners were scoring. I just tried to take in as much as I could from the whole experience. I was there to help Zadick and Metcalf. Once I would get them ready, I would try to take in what I could in the competition arena.

Do you feel like the U.S. isn’t that far away from having success again internationally in freestyle?

It seemed like we were in every match. It was rough because the U.S. lost so many close matches. I know our coaches here have addressed that, and we are working real hard on trying to make sure we win those tough matches.

How good is the training situation for you in Iowa City?

It’s phenomenal here. I feel like this is a great environment to train in. I can’t think of a place in the country better to be. You have Tom and Terry Brands as coaches. You have Brent Metcalf and Mike Zadick in here. I’m in a great environment to thrive and improve.

What will it take to make your first World Team this year?

I’m giving myself the best opportunity to do that by training here and listening to our coaching staff. I just have to implement what I have been taught. It’s exciting to have this opportunity.

How much does the way your college career ended drive you as you now focus full-time on international wrestling?

Absolutely, that loss drives me even more to have success at this level. It sucks, the way my college career ended. I need to make that motivational in a positive manner. My college career obviously didn’t finish the way I wanted it to. I have to learn from it and move forward. It was really easy to sulk because it’s been haunting at times when I think about it. That’s a constant battle. I don’t think there has been a day that has gone by where that match hasn’t crossed my brain.

Your only college offers coming out of high school were from Northern Illinois and Iowa. How fortunate were you to end up here?

Very fortunate. I landed on a gold mine when I came to Iowa. It’s been an unbelievable experience, wrestling here. I’ve learned from a lot of great coaches.

What did you learn this past fall when you traveled to compete in Russia and Armenia?

I didn’t really have the results I wanted. I was in every match, but I lost some matches. I have some things to figure out and improve on. I know I can wrestle with anybody. I felt very confident in my abilities after wrestling in those events. I know I can be successful at this level.

How do you stack up against the other wrestlers in the U.S. at 55 kilos?

It was the same way in collegiate wrestling for me. I came to realize that I just need to focus on my own wrestling and not worry as much about all the other guys in my weight class. It didn’t matter who I was wrestling. If I was wrestling as good as I could, it didn’t matter who I was facing. I knew I could have success against anybody. Internationally, I think I can do the same thing. I’m confident in my abilities. I just have to be committed and dedicated to doing whatever it takes. I need to know when I step out there I’m going to be wrestling as good as I possibly can.