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in late January in the frozen winter tundra of the Siberian region in Russia. “I’m excited about wrestling at the
Yarygin,” Pico said. “It’s one of the tough- est tournaments in the World. I’m very excited. I want to wrestle the best compe- tition I can.” The World Cup returns to Los Angeles
in April. Pico served as a U.S. training partner for the big dual-meet event last year, but he’s hoping to make more of an impact this year.
“I would love to wrestle in the World Cup,” Pico said. “I would love to wrestle in my hometown, in front of all my family and friends. The most important thing is that our coaches put the best team out there for the U.S. to win. If they tell me to wrestle in it, and they think it’s the best thing for our team, then I will do it. If they decide there are better guys and that’s what’s best for the team, then it’s the coaches’ decision. “Absolutely, I would love to wrestle in
the World Cup, but ultimately it’s up to the coaches. All I can do right now is wrestle my hardest every tournament and prove to the coaches that I am ready to wrestle on the big stage.”
Pico also has trained with 2014 World champion Soslan Ramonov of Russia. “I’ve learned so much by wrestling overseas with the different styles of wrestling and the different approaches,” Pico said. “The Iranians are great with underhooks and the Russians are good at tying you up with a 2-on-1. We need to learn how to do those things and use them to our advantage. “We’ve got the gas tanks and we’ve got the mental edge, but we lack technique. Our coaches are coming up with game plans and training where we can get bet- ter with that. We can be so much more deadly by learning more techniques and styles of wrestling.”
Pico said he was watching closely when 18-year-old Russian Abdulrashid Sadulaev captured a Senior World title this past September at 86 kg/189 lbs. “He’s great – he won Cadet Worlds when I won Cadet Worlds in 2013,” Pico said. “Watching him improve is unreal. His technique and his confidence, he is so poised on the mat. It gives me a lot of confidence to see it can be done at a young age like that. I watched all of his matches at Worlds. That is a confidence- booster for me.”
Pico landed an endorsement deal with Nike this year and he recently signed a contract with Bellator, a premier mixed martial arts organization.
Pico, who also has excelled in boxing,
has said he plans to compete in MMA when he’s done wrestling. “I am happy to be a part of the Bellator
family,” Pico said. “The priority for me right now is wrestling. It will be great to be a bigger part of Bellator down the road, but all of my focus is on wrestling right now.”
Making the 2015 U.S. Senior World
Team at 65 kg/143 lbs. will take some doing for Pico. Three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf, Junior World medalists Jordan Oliver and Logan Stieber, and National Team member Frank Molinaro are among the top Americans at 65 kilos. “Wrestling against Senior-level guys, everything has to be pretty much perfect against them,” Pico said. “If one slight thing is off, they are going to counter it. My shots need to be perfect and my defense needs to be perfect. These guys aren’t Cadets and Juniors – these guys are men. They have more technique than me right now, so I obviously need to keep learning. I have a good gas tank and I’m willing to wrestle hard. I need to move forward and keep learning.” Pico has thrived under the coaching and guidance of Valentin Kalika, a native of the Ukraine who lives in California. “I am so blessed to have Valentin by my side,” Pico said. “He’s a great coach who has taught me a lot. He is family to me, and he’s family to my family. Without him, I would be nowhere as good as I am today. He’s always looking out for me. He’s a great person and I love him to death. He’s been with me every step of the way. We are planning to do great
Pico will still be a teenager during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Tony Rotundo photo. things together.”
Pico said he is driven and motivated by his loss to Iran’s Hassan Yazdani in the Junior World finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. “That guy is very tough – he’s beaten a lot of good guys on the Senior level,” Pico said. “He showed me what I need to work on. It’s opened my eyes big-time. I can’t just snap guys – I need to get to their legs and finish. It’s kind of hard to go back and watch that match, but I had to do it. It’s helped me out a lot.” Even with his hectic schedule, Pico said he’s enjoying life. He took a break recently to attend a Los Angeles Clippers basketball game with family after coming home from overseas.
“I still find time to have a little fun,” he said. “I really enjoy what I do. I have so much fun wrestling. I have tremendous support from my family and friends. I have great coaches. And I have great support from Andy Barth and the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, and all of my sponsors. I’m very blessed.” Pico said he’s also determined to reach another lofty goal next year. He wants to wrestle at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pico will still be a teenager when the Olympics are held in Rio in August 2016. “It’s obviously my ultimate goal,” he said. “I need to make a Senior World Team first, and compete at that level. I’m trying not to overwhelm myself by think- ing about the Olympics all the time. But I know it’s there, and it’s a definitely a big goal of mine.
“I just need to focus on what I’m doing every day, and continue to improve.”
13 USA Wrestler
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