After an impressive showing at last weekend’s Dave Schultz Memorial International by winning the 48 kg/105.5 lbs. weight class, Alyssa Lampe’s confidence level couldn’t be any higher.

En route to becoming the tournament champion, Lampe knocked off 2008 Olympic champion Carol Huynh of Canada in the semifinals. In the finals, Lampe defeated two-time World Team member Jessica Medina of the Sunkist Kids and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. 

“Going into the tournament my confidence wasn’t high, I hadn’t been practicing well or even placing well,” Lampe said. “But after wrestling Carol and beating her, I felt like I could win the whole thing. After that, I got a big confidence boost and I think that really helped me in the finals with Jess. It will definitely help me in practice and leading up to the Trials. ”

Beating such high-caliber wrestlers just might be what Lampe needs to give her that extra edge heading into the Olympic Trials in April. 

Lampe’s toughest competition isn’t necessarily Clarissa Chun, whom Lampe has wrestled several times and has only beaten once. Rather, Lampe’s confidence level and mindset will likely be her toughest opponent. 

“Hopefully, Saturday’s result was a breakthrough and realization that she is good enough to beat anyone,” U.S. National Coach Terry Steiner said. “She has the capabilities, has good technical skills and is strong and explosive. It’s a matter of getting over that hump and willing to give everything she has knowing the end might be heartbreaking.”

Although Steiner knows Lampe has the skills to be the best, he is hopeful she can use what she learned this past weekend and transfer it into other competitions such as the Pan American Championships come Feb. 24-26 and eventually the Olympic Trials. Lampe’s victory at the Schultz event qualified her for the Pan Am event. 

“She had been close to Carol (Huynh) a number of times and hadn’t believed she could do it,” Steiner said. “She has to be confident. Now she needs to take last week and use it to push and drive her. Some people are afraid to fail, others are afraid to win. She can’t be afraid and has to use this win the right way to motivate her.”

Although Lampe’s weight class still needs to qualify for the Olympic Games, Steiner is confident whoever wins the U.S. Olympic Trials will have a shot at medaling in London. Steiner noted the competitiveness in Lampe’s weight class and is optimistic about her chances of securing a roster spot for the Games. 

“This is a competitive team and a very competitive weight class,” Steiner said. “We have several World and Junior champions with a lot of experience. Whoever comes ready to compete that day will be it and I think Alyssa is capable of doing it.”

“She has a great shot but it will come with some struggles and challenges because (the others) are not just going to give up a spot. Whoever wins is going to have to really earn it and she has as good of a shot as anyone,” Steiner said about Lampe’s top competitors in Medina, Chun and Whitney Conder.

Lampe, a 2010 World Team member and resident-athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, knows her struggles come from her mindset and is set on changing that and is focusing on staying positive and working toward becoming the best. 

“It has always been about my confidence level,” Lampe said. “I know my technique is good, I know I have the ability, it’s just about believing in myself and wanting to win instead of wanting to be back in the shadows.”