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level in women’s wrestling, Campbell realized she could really become great if she dedicated all of her attention to wrestling. Campbell’s light-bulb moment came when she won the U.S. Open in 2009. That was the first time she had been in the finals of a Senior-level event and it was then she made the decision to move to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
“I moved to the OTC in 2009 because in that 2008-09 season I decided I want- ed to get better at wrestling and felt like I needed something more than what I was getting at ASU,” Campbell said. “I won Nationals then lost at Trials, which was a big reason why I decided to move here.” In order to remain a student at ASU and focus on wrestling at the OTC, Campbell switched her classes to online courses, allowing her to complete her World Religion degree at ASU in 2011. Training at the OTC allowed Campbell to dedicate her time and effort into wrestling and improve on the little things that she might have missed out on in her late start to the sport. “For me, since I started so late, I think that is one of the things that has helped and hurt me at times,” Campbell said. “I didn’t have those years of experience as a kid and had to always learn fast.” It’s that ability to focus and learn in a
swift fashion that helped Campbell rise to such success in a short time after arriving in Colorado Springs.
“She was always self-motivated. But her biggest need was a daily structure and constant competition in the room and coming here really gave that to her,” U.S. National Coach Terry Steiner said. “She improved her technique and basic knowl- edge and awareness, but I think her greatest asset from the start is her atti- tude and decision-making.” While Steiner credits the program at the OTC and the other girls in the room for refining Campbell’s skills, he says it’s been her work ethic and determination that has made all the difference. “She just puts her head down and works. Pretty soon you have greatness and an Olympian,” Steiner said. “That’s what you get after years of hard work.” Campbell tries to remain focused on
the task at hand and never overlooking any match or event.
One day at a time, one match at a time, one minute at a time. That is Campbell’s approach to wrestling and life.
That day and match finally came in April at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City.
“I feel like I’m constantly learning things every day on the mat that my competitors and training partners probably learned when they were young.”
- Kelsey Campbell
Campbell was one match away from defeating No. 1 seed, Helen Maroulis for a spot on the team bound for London, and she was starting to let her emotions get to her, losing her focus. “The first match, I was thinking she’s the No. 1 seed. I’m not going to go in here thinking about results right now I’m just going to take it minute by minute,” Campbell said. “When I won that first match, that’s when it started to hit me a little bit. I even told (my coach) Keith Wilson, ‘I’m feeling a little bit of emotion right now, help me keep it together.’ It took a lot of mental effort and focus going into that second match.” Campbell stayed focused long enough for that final match to capture an Olympic berth. She won the first period 2-0, but dropped the second period to Maroulis 1- 0, leaving Campbell with one more period to make the Olympic Team. If she lost, Campbell would have to wrestle Maroulis in a third and decisive match. It never came to that. Campbell only needed one point to win the final period, securing her Olympic bid. “She’s not a flashy wrestler. She’s not going to be up five or six points,” Steiner said of Campbell’s style. “She is solid defensively and hard to score on and she doesn’t beat herself. They are going to have to beat her; she doesn’t put herself in harm’s way.”
Once that clock hit zero, Campbell’s tears flowed like a kinked hose finally being released.
That display of such raw emotion was very uncommon for Campbell. As Coach Steiner pointed out, Campbell is very composed both on and off the mat.
“She is a very solid wrestler overall, and as a human being,” Steiner said of Campbell’s character. “Emotionally she doesn’t rely on anyone to motivate her or make her stay positive. She has strong faith and as someone on the outside looking in, you can tell she is very con- trolled and level-headed.”
It is clear to those that know Campbell well, or have only met her a handful of times, that Campbell is a very driven and focused individual.
She has been put in opportunistic situ-
ations and seized them whole-heartedly. “She looks at things through the right perspective and makes good decisions on the mat and off,” Steiner said. “By doing those things, it has given her a chance to be in the position she is in now. Just how she lives her life, to her technique on the mat, she sees the big picture.”
For someone who started wrestling a mere nine years ago, Campbell has accomplished a lot. Campbell’s Olympic berth is a testament to her hard work and ability to learn fast and efficiently. “I always had to figure things out so
quickly,” Campbell said. “I didn’t have time to figure things out, I just needed to figure it out. I feel like I’m constantly learning things every day on the mat that my competitors and training partners probably learned when they were young. But, I feel it has pushed me and I’ve always had to work super hard.” Campbell joins three other accom- plished women - World medalists Clarissa Chun and Elena Pirozhkova, and past World Team member Stephany Lee - on the Olympic Team. Campbell, Chun and Lee wrestle for the Sunkist Kids. “Our competition is tough. When you get down to four weights it gets crunched and there is a lot of talent out there,” Steiner said. “We know we’re not going to coast to a title. We respect our oppo- nents, but I wouldn’t put anyone ahead of our group right now.”
With the London Games just over two months away, Campbell is trying to focus on the task at hand. Taking it one day at a time, one match at a time, and never getting too far ahead of herself.
Before heading to the Olympics, Campbell will compete in the World Cup and the Canada Cup.
“I’m just focused on the next thing, which is what I did going into Trials,” said Campbell. “I just need to focus on the next task. It’s exciting and so many peo- ple played a part in it.
“So I’m not trying to dismiss what’s coming, but I’m going to do my best and represent the U.S. I’m aiming for gold, but there are things happening before that.”
33 USA Wrestler
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