2008 USA Olympic Wrestling Team
July 2008
Beijing, China
See TeamUSA website
Feature at International Herald Tribune
Men's freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs.
Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo.
(Sunkist Kids)
YouTube Video
from SI.com and TheMat.com
Cejudo was born in south central Los Angeles and grew up in Phoenix. He won a pair of high school state titles in Arizona before he and his brother moved to Colorado Springs in 2004 to train at the Olympic Training Center. Did not wrestle college. Went from High School to International.
Resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center since autumn 2004. 21 years old for the 2008 olympics.
"...in November 2005, while still a senior in high school, Coronado High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he won the New York Athletic Club Holiday International after defeating '04 NCAA champion Jason Powell of Nebraska in the quarterfinals and dominating junior world champion Besik Kudukhov of Russia in the semis. Five months later (April 2006) Cejudo became the first high schooler to win a senior national championship since USA Wrestling became the sport's governing body in 1983. "He is the future of wrestling," says U.S. freestyle head coach Kevin Jackson. "He's going to win a lot of world and Olympic titles for us and for himself. We expect him to wrestle until 2012 or 2016 and dominate the world."
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa
(Gator WC)
YouTube Video
from Hawkeyesports.com
Schwab was a three-time all-American and Big Ten champion for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1998-2001. The Osage, IA, native won the 1999 NCAA title at 141 pounds and finished his collegiate career with 130 wins, which ranks 10th-best in school history.
74 kg/163 lbs.
Ben Askren, Columbia, Mo.
(Sunkist Kids)
YouTube Vvideo
from Mizzou.com
Askren became Missouri's first National Champion after capturing the 174 pound title as a junior in 2006. The Tiger grappler repeated the feat as a senior in 2007. Qualified for the Olympics with a back-to-back wins by decision over former Oklahoma State grappler Tyrone Lewis
84 kg/185 lbs.
Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich.
(New York AC)
YouTube Video
from Metropolitan Wrestling Association
Former Lakewood St. Edwards wrestler, West Virgina connections here and here and here and here
3x NCAA All-American, his highest NCAA finish was fourth place. Wrestling for the University of Michigan, he finished a disappointing 7th place at NCAAs his senior year.
96 kg/211.5 lbs. Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) YouTube Video |
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120 kg/264.5 lbs. Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) YouTube Video |
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55 kg/121 lbs. Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (Gator WC) YouTube Video |
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66 kg/145.5 lbs. Jake Deitchler, Ramsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) YouTube Video |
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74 kg/163 lbs. T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) YouTube Video | ![]() |
84 kg/185 lbs. Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) YouTube Video | ![]() |
96 kg/211.5 lbs. Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) YouTube Video | ![]() |
120 kg/264.5 lbs. Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) YouTube Video | ![]() |
48 kg/105.5 lbs. Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) YouTube Video | ![]() |
55 kg/121 lbs. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) YouTube Video | ![]() |
63 kg/138.75 lbs. Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) YouTube Video | ![]() |
72 kg/158.5 lbs. Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC) YouTube Video | ![]() |