John Fuller/TheMat.com
The top Greco-Roman wrestlers in the United States seem to be getting younger and younger. One of the leaders of that youth movement has been U.S. Nationals champion Darryl Christian of the New York AC.
Christian won his second straight U.S. Nationals title at 74 kg/163 lbs. in Greco-Roman recently, but he still has yet to accomplish a bigger goal “earn a spot on the U.S. World Team.
TheMat.com spoke with Christian about his future in the sport of wrestling, and the number of younger wrestlers finishing on top.
TheMat.com: How tough was the road in winning your second straight national title?
Christian: With all of the rule changes it was a lot tougher. Wrestling with revolving changes day-to-day makes it tough to prepare. I have not been able to wrestle 100 percent all year.
TheMat.com: What is the difference between you as a competitor at this time last year and you as a competitor right now?
Christian: This year I am able to compete in any type of environment. I have a lot of confidence in myself and my development mentally. The Olympic Trials was a huge awakening to me last year. Losing like I did last year was hard. I wrestled well, but didn’t step up in overtime to win. That experience has fueled my passion to win this year.
TheMat.com: The only weight class the U.S. did not qualify for the Olympics last year was the one you compete at. How disappointing was that for you?
Christian: 74 kilograms across the world in Greco is very deep. I am the young guy when it comes to time in this sport. I know T.C. (Dantzler) and Keith (Sieracki) were training the last number of years to make an Olympic team and they weren’t happy. I guess they have the next quad to make a team. I know that I was disappointed and angry that I didn’t qualify the weight class. I know I won’t be around long. Bottom line is that 74 kilograms needs to get better!
TheMat.com: How good is your competition at your weight class?
Christian: The last four years T.C., Keith, and I have been battling at the top of this weight class. T.C. and Keith are veterans that have been around for a long time and in my eyes to be here until Beijing. The weight overall is pretty deep, but a lot of the 4-10 ranked guys don’t have a lot of overseas experience.
TheMat.com: Last year, you also won the U.S. Nationals title, but you lost in the Olympic Trials finals. Will you prepare any differently this year for the Trials?
Christian: No, this year I just need to step up and win, regardless of the situation. I am preparing a little differently with a recent new injury to my neck and possibly a new code of points. I will only have two weeks to train. I am going into the Trials with an open mindset and respect for any competitor I face.
TheMat.com: There is a lot of youth at the top of the Greco-Roman ladder right now. To what do you attribute that to?
Christian: I think the current Greco-Roman team and coaching staff is the main reason that we are getting better. But with time, faces change and youth is just a part of the system I think guys like Joe Warren, Brad Vering and Dremiel Byers have had a major impact on the younger guys this year with their successes. Besides the guys on the national team, another key player is (USA Wrestling Assistant National Greco-Roman coach) Momir Pectovic. He makes everyone better with his leadership, experience, and straight-forward attitude.
TheMat.com: How will the recent rule changes give you a different approach to your competition?
Christian: The rules have changed so much that I don’t know if I only need to wear one shoe or two to score a point. Overall, Greco has changed from a match format to a situation match. With only one minute per period of live wrestling and 30 seconds per wrestler to score in a reverse lift position. It has been frustrating trying to adapt, but I can’t control what FILA does. I think FILA might lose people’s interest with all these new changes I know I’m losing mine.
Wrestling Gear
