Women set to compete

It’s just after midnight on our third night in Budapest.  I just had some needed FaceTime with Liz and the boys and I’m retiring in my room with big hopes for tomorrow. 

Alyssa Lampe and Victoria Anthony compete tomorrow along with Jordan Burroughs.  There’s a realistic possibility for three gold medals.  Wouldn’t that be sweet?  Alyssa is currently ranked #1 in the world at 48 kg and Vicki is poised the shock the world at 51 kg.  Of course, Burroughs is on an undefeated international streak that has earned him a world gold medal and Olympic gold medal.  He’s the face of wrestling both in the US and globally.

My working relationship with Alyssa goes all the way back to my very first experience coaching female athletes.  She was a sophomore in high school when she ventured to River Falls for the first time.  It was the first girl’s team for both of us.   Two years later, she was the first athlete (male or female) to take advantage of opportunities offered at Victory School of Wrestling.  Immediately after graduating from high school, she occupied a spare bedroom in our house as we transformed the basement into a wrestling school.  She was there when we put the mats down.  She’s come a long ways since then and traveled hundreds of thousands of miles chasing her dream of becoming a world champion.  She won a bronze medal last year and has been on a mission this year, dominating opponents all over the world.  Tomorrow is her time.

Vicki is under the radar at 51 kg.  She won junior world titles at 44 kg and 48 kg.  She’s never weighed 51 kg before and was under weight all week while eating more than the rest of the team combined.  She’s a real wild card because the new rules play into her style perfectly.  She’s also short and extremely explosive, fast and powerful.  She has a wonderful draw on the top side of the bracket.  When she’s relaxed and having fun, she might be the best wrestler in the world at any weight class.  That’s no joke.  I love her potential as an athlete and wrestler, but I love her for who she’s become over the past few years while working alongside her.  I stumbled across Vicki when she was a junior in high school at a development camp in Chula Vista, CA.  She had all kinds of talent and separated herself from the rest with an intense focus and attention to detail.  She also challenged me to a little “dance-off.”  I recall it ended in a draw.  She joined NYAC and I became her personal coach.  She spent many nights in my basement over three years in between California, the OTC and Simon Fraser.  She even rented a house in River Falls one summer.  She’s been extraordinarily close to making the world team each of the past three years and now she’s here.  And she’s ready for this opportunity.

I’m going to bed tonight as eager as I’ve ever been as a member of Team USA.  We have a real chance to do something great as a team.  Alyssa and Vicki can set the tone for a week of success that we’ve been patiently waiting for and developing.  This team (and coaching staff) has been together at every age level and now it’s our time to shine on the international stage.  You reap what you sow.

#Budapest2013