John Fuller/TheMat.com
Five years ago, Garrett Lowney was supposed to be the future for the U.S. at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman. Now, Justin Ruiz of the New York Athletic Club, a few years removed off a Mormon Mission, has taken over the top slot.
Ruiz, who left the Univ. of Nebraska to train full-time at the Olympic Training Center in 2003, recently won his second consecutive national title, but neither of those crowns has come without a fight. Last year, he downed Lowney before losing in the Olympic Trials finals. This year, it was up-and-comer Adam Wheeler.
TheMat.com sat down with Ruiz and talked to him about the new Greco-Roman rules just passed, and what has helped to separate him from his competition.
TheMat.com: You just won your second national title. Are you surprised at how you have seemingly taken over your weight class after just a few years of training Greco-Roman full time?
Ruiz: I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. That’s what I’ve been working for. I want to stay on top of this for a few more years.
TheMat.com: You were so close to making the Olympic Team last year. Was losing in the Trials hard for you to swallow?
Ruiz: Definitely. It was a huge blow to me. It seemed like everything was working right for me to make the team. When I lost in the Trials, it was a major setback. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do anymore, but I decided to keep going.
TheMat.com: Another young wrestler, Adam Wheeler, has made great strides in the last few months and closed the gap on you somewhat. Is he the wrestler you expect to come out of the Challenge Tournament?
Ruiz: I don’t even know since they have changed the rules again. I think the old rules with just the clinch kind of favored him and they favor my style as well, but with the new rules, it’s kind of a toss-up.
TheMat.com: You faced Wheeler again at the University World Team Trials, an event you eventually won. If you make the World Team, do you plan to compete at both the World Championships and the World University Games?
Ruiz: Yes. At this point, I’m figuring that if I have the opportunity to get international experience and more matches in, then I might as well. I think a lot of the guys at the University Worlds will be at the Senior worlds too, so it will be a chance to wrestle some of the best guys in the world.
TheMat.com: To what do you attribute the amount of young wrestlers taking over the Greco-Roman reigns this year?
Ruiz: I think they’ve been in it for a while and we’re getting to the point where we’ve put the time in and we’re getting the hang of it. Some guys have gotten an earlier start than some of the guys in the past. Now you have a lot of guys with the USOEC where they’re right out of high school and getting those international matches and full-time training.
TheMat.com: Just the other day, a set of new Greco-Roman rules were passed by FILA. What are your thoughts on these new rules?
Ruiz: It’s another challenge. It seems like they keep changing the rules every single tournament. It’s frustrating. You try to get your strategy down for one set of rules and they change it again. Some guys aren’t as strong in certain positions. Like me, I’m not a great reverse lifter, so I’ve got to figure out how to score in the time that they give us. Especially this close to our Trials, it’s frustrating.
TheMat.com: If these new rules were in place two months ago, how much different do you feel that the overall results would have been at the U.S. Nationals?
Ruiz: I really don’t know. I don’t know who’s that tough in the reverse lift, but there are some guys that it’s their best position.
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