U.S. National Champions Q & A: Toccara Montgomery

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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
05/10/2004


Toccara Montgomery has established herself as a dominant wrestler on the World level. She has won two World silver medals - at different weight classes.    After last year's loss World Championships, she defeated the woman who took the gold medal at the World Cup just two weeks later.    TheMat.com spoke with Montgomery about the upcoming Olympic Games, and how she continues to prepare for what will be the biggest event in women's wrestling history.    TheMat.com: You have now won four straight U.S. National titles. As each year passes, does it get any tougher to get motivated for this tournament?  Mongtomery: Actually no. Vegas is an unbelievable atmosphere to wrestle in. When I go out there to wrestle, it magnifies my ability to wrestle. It puts me in a different game mentally.    TheMat.com: You have basically had a full two years at 72 kilograms. Is your body completely used to the weight now?  Mongtomery: I think so. I still think I wrestle better when I am at the smaller weight, but I think my body has adjusted to the new weight class.    TheMat.com: You lost to Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan last year in the World Championships finals. You then came back and beat her two weeks later at the World Cup. How big was that win for you at the World Cup?  Mongtomery: It was a huge win for me. I felt like she took something away from me in my home country, so I went to Tokyo to do the same thing to her.    TheMat.com: What have you learned about your wrestling in the past year?  Mongtomery: I'm a thinking type wrestler. A lot of people think I am explosive and just a brute. A lot of coaches tell you to try to think two moves in advance, and that's something that I try to do now.    TheMat.com: With only four weight classes being competed at the Olympic Trials, how much better do you expect the competition to be at your weight class?  Mongtomery: I've always had good competition. In the finals there, I think it's going to be that much more intense with the 67 kilo girls coming up. It's going to be a battle for whoever comes out and I am looking forward to whoever that may be.    TheMat.com: With more women filtering into your weight class, how much of an advantage is it to sit out the first two days?  Mongtomery: It's really hard to say. I like to get a first match in. Sometimes I wonder if it's better to go through the Challenge Tournament, but as I look at things now, it probably is a better situation for me to just sit out and wait.    TheMat.com: Of the seven World Team members from last year, you are the only one who doesn't live in Colorado Springs. Does that affect your training at all?  Mongtomery: I think it affects it, but in a positive way. When I am out there, I don't think that the Training Center is my optimal training place. I think that's here at Cumberland with the men's team and in Cleveland as well. It's good to work with my coach Kip Flanik, who is there for me 24/7.    TheMat.com: Who do you train with on a regular basis?  Mongtomery: When I'm here in Kentucky, I train with Coach Wilder, the men's coach here and Jacob Teuchler, a member of the men's team.    TheMat.com: How important is it to you to make the Olympic team this year?  Mongtomery: It's really important to me. I feel like this may be my last year possibly and I would just like to go out with a bang.    TheMat.com: We know that education plays an important role in your life. How high are the chances of you retiring after this year?  Mongtomery: Right now, I think it's 50/50 that I may be finished. It's something that I have been thinking about for the last year or so. When I graduate, I just want to find a job and stick with that. Maybe get into coaching.