United States Pan American Games Wrestling Team Press ConferencesU.S. Greco-Roman Wrestling Team Press Conference
Thursday, July 22, 1999 - 6:30 p.m.
Main Press Center, Winnipeg Convention Centre - Press Conference Room
Joe DeMeo, Niskayuna, N.Y. - Head Coach On The Pan Am Games:
"First of all, I've been around the U.S. Team since 1975 and this is the greatest group of athletes that we have ever had and the greatest group of Greco-Roman wrestlers as well, I think each of them is prepared to compete well in this tournament and expect each one of them to get a medal and be competitive for any of the top three medals including the gold medal."
On The Cuban Team:
"The Cubans are a great wrestling team. They have strong competitors in every single weight class. They have a lot of experience and they are talented. I think in every case our people go with them and if they wrestle a good match then who knows."
On Past Pan Am Performances:
"I certainly think we can equal past performances and I believe we have the best group of athletes so we will see. I think that each of my people are capable of getting a medal that is absolutely for sure and I think that each one of them, given the proper circumstances and a great match are capable of beating anybody there."
On The 0-0 Rule At End Of First Round:
"The reason for the rule is to not have a 0-0 match, to allow the wrestlers to determine the outcome of a match instead of the referees and I think that concept is a positive because it allows the wrestlers to determine the outcome of the match instead of the referee."
Dan Russell, Colorado Springs, Colo. - Assistant Coach
On Pan Am Games:
"This is a great event for us. This is an event in which the athletes get a chance to feel the Olympic Spirit which is really important. They get a taste of what it is like to be at the Olympic Games, the Olympic Village, the other athletes there, all of the glitz, the glamour, the show. It gets them prepared mentally and physically. It gives them a chance to compete and gain experience against top competition such as Cuba. It also gives us a chance to compete with the new rule changes and get a feel for how the new rules will be interpreted. This is a big event for us. It is one of the major events that we get up for. This is a team that I am very proud to be a part of."
58 kg- Dennis Hall, Plover, Wis.
"The preparation for this event means a lot to me especially being down the last two years (97 and 98) on the World Senior Circuit. This will be a good test to show me where I am at. I have a tough opponent in the Cuban. This Pan Am Games will help me get more experience and get back on track for a gold medal in Sydney."
On Being Teammates With Steven Mays (his new training partner):
"The last two years I was coaching at a small Division III school and I only had one training partner. I brought Steven Mays in and it has really helped me out having a second training partner. It would be nice for both of us to win gold."
69 kg - David Zuniga, New Brighton, Minn.
Goals For Pan Am Games:
"I want to take one match at a time. I have a big match with the Cuban who I lost to in 1995 at the Pan Am Games. I think if I wrestle a smart match I will be able to take him."
On Moving Up A Weight Class:
"I think that moving up a weight class is the smartest thing that I have ever done. I enjoy wrestling again, I feel like a kid. Learning all over again and having a lot of fun. I'm not worried about cutting weight and am just wrestling all of the time. Not having to worry about cutting weight has allowed me to focus more on wrestling and my technique and I think I have improved."
76 kg - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb.
On Last Season:
"Well my goals are a lot higher than sixth in the World. I expected to medal last year at the World Championships. I had a great chance in the semi-finals and lost to the Cuban who is the top in my weight class. So this is a good event for me leading up to the Olympic and World Championships. This is a good test for both."
130 kg - Dremeil Byers, Fort Carson, Colo.
On the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program:
"The Army's World Class Athlete Program is outstanding. They do all they can to help athletes attain their goals and win medals. I have been competing with the Army Team since 1996. I think that I am competing better now because I am paying attention to the small things and picking up better on what the coaches are saying."
On Goals For Pan Am Games and World Championships:
"Right now I just want to see what is out there and do my best. There are a lot of people pushing me and supporting me to be my best and I don't want to let anyone down. I just want to do my best."