Mango’s Medal Quest
Fifth at the 2013 Worlds, the two-time Olympian is focused on winning World gold this year
By Craig Sesker DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Spenser Mango’s impressive Greco-Roman wrestling record speaks for itself. He’s made the last two Olympic Teams. And the last five U.S.
World Teams. He’s won a University World title and a Junior World bronze
medal.
Only one thing is missing from his glowing resume. A medal on wrestling’s biggest stage.
That nearly happened last year when Mango turned in a strong performance to advance to the bronze-medal match at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. But Mango had to settle for fifth place after dropping a 5-4 decision to Armenia’s Roman Amoyan in the bronze bout. Mango finished fifth after going 3-2 in the tournament at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Mango has continued to excel even with the weight classes being changed this year. The smallest weight class has jumped up to 59 kg/130 lbs. but Mango still won the U.S. Open and U.S. World Team Trials.
“Inches, I was just inches away from doing it last year,” Mango said. “I was just one point away at the Worlds last year. It came down to a crazy situation and a crazy scramble, and I came up on the losing end of it. We’ve been working on correct- ing those mistakes and I’m looking at bringing home a medal finally.”
Mango will take aim at winning his first World-level medal at September’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. “My focus is always on the Worlds and the Olympics,” he said. “Winning the Open and the Trials is nice, but I am focused on something a lot bigger than that. I want to win gold medals at the Worlds and the Olympics. I’m working hard. I know it’s not because a lack of effort. I’m still hungry and I’m still trying to stay sharp.”
Mango beat another experienced wrestler, 2012 freestyle Olympian Sam Hazewinkel, by a pair of technical falls to win the World Team Trials on June 13 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Both matches were scoreless in the second period before Mango pulled away with a succession of lifts and turns from the top position.
Hazewinkel won the Challenge Tournament while competing in Greco for the first time in five years. Mango beat Hazewinkel in the finals to make the 2008 Olympic Team. Mango also won a Trials weight class that included Jesse Thielke, who placed eighth at the 2013 Worlds. “I was ready for Sam,” Mango said. “I feel like the more com- petition we have at this weight class the better we will be inter- nationally. You look at all the great countries like Iran and Russia and they have like six guys in a weight class who can go out and win a World medal on any given day. The more compe- tition we have in the States the better off we will be at the Worlds and Olympics.”
14 USA Wrestler
Spenser Mango will compete in his fifth World Championships in September. Tony Rotundo photos.
Mango has excelled while being a part of the tradition-rich U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.
“I have some tough guys to train with who really push me,” he said. “That makes a big difference for me when I’m preparing for these big events.” Standing 5-foot-2, the powerful Mango is shorter than most of his opponents. He also is battling bigger opponents at 59 kilos. But he’s an experienced and savvy wrestler who is 28 years old and is at the top of his game.
“I’m still adjusting to the new weight class,” Mango said. “A lot of people don’t think it’s that much of a difference, but nine pounds is a pretty big difference for me. Guys are heavier, hard- er to turn, harder to move and harder to defend against. It’s a huge difference, but I feel like I’ve been adjusting to it as I get more matches in.”
New U.S. National Coach Matt Lindland likes the mentality Mango showed at the World Team Trials. “Spenser Mango, one of his best qualities is he’s a great guy.
He’s a sweetheart and he’s always got a smile on his face,” Lindland said. “But sometimes I want him to step on some- body’s throat overseas. I saw him bring out a little meanness and I saw him get vicious and really score at the Trials. Not just vicious to be vicious, but vicious to put points on the board – big points. Those were some big moves he hit in the finals.”
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