Darryl Christian finally broke through this year and won a U.S. Nationals title. The only problem is that the U.S. did not qualify for the Olympic Games in his weight class.    The budding Greco-Roman star must now cope with the possibility of being the best U.S. wrestler in his weight class, and not being able to compete on the world's biggest stage.    TheMat.com spoke with Christian about his progress over the past two years and his feelings about the Olympic Games.    TheMat.com: You had never placed higher than third in the U.S. Nationals before winning it this year. How big of a confidence boost was it for you to come out on top this year?  Christian: Winning the Nationals has been a huge confidence boost for me. In the finals I beat Steve Woods, a very good technical wrestler, and he had beaten seasoned veterans Keith Sieracki early the past month and T.C. Dantzler in the semi-finals who are both amazing athletes. I feel good about it. I have trained very hard to be where I am right now.    TheMat.com: Because the U.S. did not qualify your weight class for the Olympic Games, do you feel that the win at Nationals is a little tainted?  Christian: I feel that it is a let down, but I only can worry about what I can control. When I started to wrestle Greco-Roman three and half years ago, winning a national title was one of my goals and I was going to go after it. When the weight didn't qualify, I still had the same plan.    TheMat.com: There were some criticisms thrown your way when you were selected to represent the U.S. at the first Olympic Qualification Tournament. Do you feel that was unfair?  Christian: When I came back form Yugoslavia, there were harsh statements made about me not qualifying and it took a little while to get over. The bottom line is that I 'm a competitor and I got an opportunity to compete and I took it. I gave everything I had to try to qualify the weight class. There is going to be someone always criticizing about something. Most people that had something to say did not know the entire situation.    TheMat.com: Is it hard to think about the U.S. not being able to send a wrestler to the Olympic Games in your weight class?  Christian: It's very hard to think about the U.S. not having someone compete in the Olympics. Especially since we have some very talented and amazing athletes in this weight class as a whole. Everyone that competes in the weight has skills that could be showcased on the Olympic stage.    TheMat.com: Are you still holding out hope that the U.S. will receive a last-minute wild card into the Olympics?  Christian: Having faith that a wild card would come is something I hope for and that is why I am not abandoning ship. I am too small for 84 kilograms and to big for 66 kilograms. So I am here to stay at the Trials. God has a plan for me and I am ready for anything. I will accept it. I am going to put myself in position just to be ready if I get a chance, God willing.    TheMat.com: You said after you won the Nationals that you were considering wrestling freestyle at the Olympic Trials. Is that still an option you are keeping open?  Christian: I was thinking about, but I would like to win the Trials to complete another goal.    TheMat.com: Do you still expect a large amount of competitors at 74 kilograms at the Olympic Trials?  Christian: I expect to see everyone except T.C. Dantzler and Keith Sieracki.    TheMat.com: How much has the resident program at the Olympic Training Center helped you in the past year?  Christian: The resident program at the Olympic Training Center has helped me so much. Momir Petkovic, Anatoly Petrosyan, Ike Anderson, Steve Fraser have been amazing coaches to have coaching me. They all help in different ways, like pieces to a puzzle. Each practice I get better with the different environments they create for me to learn from. The Resident Team has been a major part to my success as well. Kevin Bracken and Jim Gruenwald show the foundation of work ethic to follow and Brad Vering, Joe Warren and the rest of us young guys follow their lead to future success. Without them I would not be giving this  interview.    TheMat.com: Growing up, which wrestler did you look up to or try to emulate yourself after?  Christian: Since I really have not been around wrestling that long to select a style to emulate, I would have to say that I would love to create the mental toughness of Momir Petkovic, and a fierceness and determination of the likes of Steve Fraser, Kevin Bracken, and Jim Gruenwald.