U.S. National Champions Q & A: Lee Fullhart
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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
05/12/2004
For the past four years, most of the talk in wrestling has been about Cael Sanderson. But this year, Lee Fullhart has quieted some of that talk with his win over Sanderson in the National finals. For the first time in his freestyle career, Fullhart is the hunted. The brute from Iowa has been compared to wrestling's version of Ivan Drego. TheMat.com spoke with Fullhart about his preparation for the Olympic Trials. TheMat.com: How did it feel to finally win a National title? Fullhart: It was a long time coming. Something I thought I was capable of a long time ago. Things are starting to fall in place. TheMat.com: Was the win any more special because it was over Cael Sanderson? Fullhart: No. You take the win in stride regardless of who was standing in the finals because it puts me in the best spot to go into the Olympic Trials and make the Olympic Team. TheMat.com: Do you think that the Olympic spot at your weight class is a two-man race, between you and Cael, or are you looking for someone else to possibly come out of the Challenge Tournament? Fullhart: I'm ready for all challengers and all comers. Obviously Cael is the frontrunner, but there is no one-man guarantee to get through. I'm looking and preparing for all comers right now. TheMat.com: You seem to have wrestled the same style for years now, constant pressure and wearing down your opponents. Have you made any changes in the last few years, or have you just continued to stay consistent? Fullhart: Just learning to wrestle under the extreme circumstances. Learning how to get pressure on guys who deal with pressure a little better. Learning how to turn it up a notch and learning how to force my style against all comers. TheMat.com: At what point in your career did you figure out that the style you wrestle now was the best style for you? Fullhart: It goes back to high school. That's the thing that attracted me to Iowa. It was a style I was able to win with because of my physical power. It generated success from the point of being able to beat people that on paper should beat me. TheMat.com: Some wrestlers train for specific opponents, others try to make their opponent wrestle their style. Do you ever train specifically for an opponent? Fullhart: Obviously, I am doing things that are getting me ready for Simpson, for Eggum, for Mo Lawal and for Sanderson. I am going to stay where I'm good, but in the back of my mind I need to be aware of the things my opponents do real well. TheMat.com: Who has helped you to prepare and improve the most over the last four years? Fullhart: Kevin Jackson. He's really settled me down in the Colorado Springs environment. He got me to re-realize how tough I can be. Kevin does a real good job of keeping me more at ease and more focused. TheMat.com: This last year, you made the decision to leave your coaching position at Tennessee-Chattanooga, and your close friend Terry Brands, to come to the Olympic Training Center. What has that move done for you? Fullhart: It's just been a win-win situation. I am still able to go back to Chattanooga when I need a real hard grind. I have also been able to get away from the grind of daily coaching and building a program. It's tough to compete at the elite level when you're building a program. TheMat.com: If you make the Olympic Team, what will be the first thing you do? Fullhart: Start preparing for Athens right away. TheMat.com: In your opinion, and excluding yourself, who is the best wrestler in the world at your weight class? Fullhart: Sajid Sajidov of Russia.