ATHLETE QUOTES, PAN AMERICAN GAMES GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1999Steven Mays - 54kg - Pensacola, Fla.
Won by tech. fall over Kerry Ashlee, Canada, 10-0, 1:49
"This is a pretty big spectacle and my first time on the world stage. I'm glad I broke through and got my butterflies out. I'm ready to go now. I prepared properly. I did my homework and am ready for the Cubans. What they got I can handle."
Dec. Julio Maldonado, Guatemala, 7-0
"I felt I was in control the whole match. My par terre was working. "
"Tomorrow's another day. I'll be facing tough opponents tomorrow, one tougher than the other."
Dennis Hall - 58Kg - Plover, Wis.
Won by tech. fall over Edgar Ramirez, Guatemala, 11-0, 4:07
"I felt good out there. It's always good to get the first match out of the way. I'm just going to take it one match at a time." Pin Sidney Guzman, Peru, 1:39
"I wanted to make first contact, put him on the defensive. The best defense is a strong offense. I'm trying to make them open up. Once they get tired they start reaching for you."
"It doesn't matter who I face next, I should be facing the Cuban in the final."
"I just keep constant pressure on my opponent. Keep pounding. Superior conditioning is going to win out."
Glenn Nieradka - 63kg - Colorado Spgs., Colo.
Won by tech. fall over Fernando Henrique, Dominican Republic, 11-0, 1:10
"It was a good first match. I have to get ready for the Cuban next. I'm going to have to get real close and take his speed away. Pick up the intensity and take him out of his game."
Lost dec. to Juan Maren, Cuba, 4-2
"I could have done better. It wasn't what he did, it was me. I'll have the same strategy when I face him, keep him close. I gave him space and he took advantage. I shut down. I didn't do what I'm capable of." "I've got to win the next two matches and face him again."
won by tech. fall over James Cako, Canada, 13-0, 4:13
"I was trying to finish the match I fast as possible. I was trying to end it in the first round. My arms were dead"
"I feel good about my overall performance. One mistake cost me the match against the Cuban. It was good to wrestle him early. I can fine tune and correct my mistakes."
"I'm going to get some good sleep tonight."
"We're here to wrestle the Cubans. Anytime we can do that it's going to be a great tournament."
David Zuniga - 69kg - New Brighton, Minn.
Dec. Victor Parreno, Peru, 7-2
"The first match went good. I felt a little sluggish to start but then I got it going. Hopefully, I'll go on from here."
Won by tech. fall over Cam Weatherby, Canada, 11-0, 2:02
"I felt more explosive, not so sluggish from the food. I wanted to dominate. Everyone else had been getting technical superiority, I wanted one."
"The semi will be tough, I'm not looking past that opponent to the Cuban. I've wrestled a couple of them before. They were tough. I'll just wait and see who comes out. I'm taking it one match at a time."
Matt Lindland - 76kg - Lincoln, Neb.
Won by tech. fall over Olguin Sabua, Dominican Republic, 10-0, 1:36
"I feel more ready today than I've ever been. I got it over with and will move on to the next match. That's how I'll do it with all the matches until the finals."
Won by tech. fall over Carlos Albrecht, 10-0, 0:40
"I'm really excited when the team does well, but team stuff goes out the door when its my turn. I think about what I have to do."
"These guys aren't the competition, the Cubans are the competition. Each match is just a warm-up for the finals. I'm prepared to win, I've got to beat him if I want to win the Worlds. If I don't win the Gold I know I need to work harder."
"It's cool that I was the quickest to win. My goal is win, but it's always cool, a bonus."
won by tech. fall over Leigh Vierling, Canada, 10-0, 2:09
"I was not going to make any mistakes. He had nothing to lose. He was looking for a big move. I just had to wrestle smart until I got my best position - on top."
"I wish we would have kept going from the second session."
"I'm going to get a good meal and some sleep."
Quincey Clark - 85kg - New Brighton, Minn.
Won by tech. fall over Mario Miranda, Brazil, 12-2, 3:26
"It took me awhile to get my burn. I wanted to get it going before the match. I started out slow and was not getting my moves. Now I'm ready to do better for the next match."
Pin Rick Henry, Canada, 1:00
"It was good to get that first match out of the way. I'm feeling good. I want to finish all my matches quickly because the Cuban will take a lot out of me. I'll have to wrestle beyond myself to win in the finals. I didn't come this far for second place."
"All I can do is learn from this, train harder and smarter."
won by tech. fall over Eddy Bartolozzi, Venezuela, 10-0, 6:00 "He surprised me. I didn't warm up enough. I thought this morning was enough. I don't want to give up underhooks."
"Definitely a long break between periods. It's like starting over. I took a nap. I didn't get that burn."
Jason Klohs - 97kg - Maple Grove, Minn.
Dec. Colbie Bell, Canada, 3-0
"I went all out. I tore up my shoulder and I was wondering if I was going to wrestle, but I toughed it out. The doctor really helped out. I couldn't do anything with my left arm. My endurance just won out. I feel I'm in the best shape of anyone in my class."
Dec. Antoine Bragaboo, Brazil, 4-0
"I'm wrestling to get my three points and win and save my shoulder. I felt in control of the entire match. I concentrated on defense and in the end I knew I'd prevail. I'll see what I can save for the Pena of Cuba." "I really don't think he knew he had to stay locked."
Dremiel Byers - 130kg - Colorado Spgs., Colo.
Won by tech. fall over Edwin Millet, Puerto Rico, 12-0, 1:17
"I had a little trouble focusing in the beginning. Then I just realized where I was. I came out trying to get an arm spin. My goal is win, to let everyone know, 'Here I am.'"
Lost pin to Hector Milian, Cuba, 1:42
"I just need to be the attacker. I was focused on what he was going to do instead of what I needed to do. I know I'm suppose to give him a whole lot more of a fight."
"It was like wrestling myself. He has the same style and is explosive. And he has the experience. Each tournament is a learning experience. I have lot more glass ceilings to break through. The good thing is that I can see the top through the glass ceilings."
"Whoever I wrestle I've got to go through them. Pinning the next guy would be nice. That would be good for me and the team."
Won by tech. fall over Carlos Nancuvil, Chile, 10-0, 5:02
"I heard the crowd. I was holding the lock by a few fingers. I felt like I wasn't alone."
""I just wanted to be cautious. I'm walking on eggshells. I want to be technically proficient and score big points on my lifts."
"I feel like I'm in a whole. I've got to win tomorrow. I've got to take back from Hector what he took from me."