Champions quotes from men's freestyle Challenge Tournament
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
06/21/2003
55 kg/121 lbs. - Mike Mena On the caution and two giving Mena the win: I don't make the rules. I just play by them. The first time, they penalized me because they said I was dipping down. In the second one, he goes to lock and dips down. He was pushing me out of the circle and got warned. Then, he did it again. He got penalized and that won the match. It goes in the W column and that's all I care about. What do you need to do to prepare for Stephen Abas? I am going to shut him down from the top and I'm going to force the clinch (laughing). 60 kg/132 lbs. - Mike Zadick What have you been doing to train for these events? Nothing has changed really. I think I've always leaned more towards freestyle. I've always enjoyed freestyle. The weight class has always been good for me. This is the peak of one's career, not high school or college. Do you struggle with the 60 kilogram weight class? It's not easy. It's kind of weird. It's not easy, but it's not hard. It's just putting your mind to it and doing it. When I made it the first time, then everything went smooth. 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jamill Kelly How big of a weekend has this been for you with wins over Zadick and McIlravy? I've wrestled everybody in my weight class. I always knew that I was just as good as those guys on the mat. It's been a hard week with the whole thing with Daniel (Cormier). He's a very close friend. I have been riding this emotion. These two matches are the biggest wins of my life. What changed for you since the nationals? Nationals, I was wrestling Lincoln McIlravy, Olympic bronze medalist, and I just didn't wrestle. This time, I had nothing to lose. Why did you just give up two takedowns late in the match? Did you know he couldn't turn you? That's my strongest point. Nobody can turn me, so I am not afraid to go down against anybody. I use that to my advantage. 74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Heskett What has been the difference-maker for you this season? The whole year has been good. I have been training good and training smart. I understand my body and know what I need to do to train. I am progressing step by step. Now, how big is getting a match with Joe Williams at the nationals? It was bigger than huge. It was something that was necessary. I feel like my style can really give him problems and I can't wait to wrestle him tomorrow. Do you have any surprises left for Joe? I like to hope so. My style is real good and I am excited to mix it up with him out there. 84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Fullhart When he took a 1-0 lead out of the clinch, did you get nervous at all? I wasn't real concerned. He got the lead because I had the better position and let up on the edge. I didn't continue to attack him. I was controlling the match. It takes three points to win. Is keeping your composure on the mat one of your strongest qualities? It's just part of wrestling. You go overseas and you're not going to get a fair draw, so you carry that back home. You don't quit. What needs to be done against Cael this time around? Just wrestle hard, score more points and move my feet more. 96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Tim Hartung You seem more aggressive. What was your plan for this weekend? I was looking to get in on a lot more shots this weekend. I tried to take more shots and it helped me out. If I can get in there every time, I can win the match. Did you think you got ripped off when he was given two points? 2-0 is way better than 2-2, but I didn't get flustered. I knew I just had to keep plugging away. 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tolly Thompson A little happier already this year than last year? Last year wasn't a good tournament for me. I changed my environment. I am in a positive environment. I am back home in Iowa. The corn is growing beautiful. Were you getting frustrated during the match at all? I was, but I wasn't. He wasn't doing anything. I knew he was going to try to play that game. I tried to keep my composure and wrestle. I just made it a street-fight.