U.S. National Champions Q & A: Jamill Kelly
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Amy Ufnowski (TheMat.com)
05/06/2004
Last year, Jamill Kelly stormed through the Challenge Tournament at the World Team Trials, defeating Olympic bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy and former World Team member Bill Zadick before downing World Team member Chris Bono to earn a spot on the World Team. This year, Kelly was still the underdog, but won the U.S. Nationals. He has gone from the hunter to the hunted in just one year. TheMat.com spoke with Kelly about how he has prepared for the Olympic Trials this year. TheMat.com: Now that the roles are reversed, you being the guy everyone is after right now, how is the pressure if there is any to continue to dominate? Kelly: It really doesn't change because no matter what, I want to win. I go in the same way for every match wanting to win. TheMat.com: Your weight class is stacked with tough wrestlers, arguably the toughest weight class in freestyle. Who do you feel is your toughest competition or the guy that will win the challenge tournament? Kelly: I can't say because this weight class is tough. Nobody thought I was going to win last year so I can't say who I think will win the challenge tournament. Most people would probably say Bono and would like that to be who I wrestle in the Championship Series. It is anyone's guess though. Everyone has lost to everyone else in this weight class at one time. TheMat.com: Some wrestlers prefer to wrestle through the Challenge Tournament to get that first match out of the way. Do you think the extra rest and scouting opportunities will help you when it is time to wrestle in the Championship Series, being this is your first year not wrestling in the Challenge Tournament? Kelly: I think so. This is a weight class with many intense wrestlers in it. Being able to sit for the first two days will help me prepare for who I will wrestle on Sunday. Also with John Smith being there and Guerrero, who has been in this position before, will help a lot too. TheMat.com: Do you plan to wrestle practice matches on Friday and Saturday before the Championship Series? Kelly: Yes, Guerrero will work out with me and wrestle some matches before Sunday. TheMat.com: Explain your training situation in Oklahoma. Who do you work out with consistently? Kelly: Right now I am in a great situation in Stillwater at Oklahoma State. I work out with Eric Guerrero, Mo Lawal, Daniel Cormier, and Teague Moore. John Smith has been great letting us train and working with us. Being at Oklahoma State gives me a lot of opportunity and variety in freestyle and working with different techniques. TheMat.com: What have you done differently this year to prepare for Trials than last year's? Kelly: The main thing I worked on was gaining weight. I felt I was small for this weight class last year at World Team Trials. TheMat.com: What have you improved on the most in this last year? Kelly: Mentally, staying focused during the entire match and being able to adapt in any situation. Technically, I have been working on my control of the mat, and mainly working on different techniques to always keep my opponents guessing. TheMat.com: How often does being on the Olympic Team or being an Olympian cross your mind? Kelly: I would be lying to say it doesn't. I have an opportunity of a lifetime within reach. It has been something I have been working toward, so yeah, it weighs on my mind. But, I can't let the anxiety of it work against me. I am just going to go out there and wrestle to the best of my ability. We will see what happens.