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which I applied with my whole family. I had four months to decide if I was coming. After a certain date, the paperwork is done and you can’t do it. The biggest thing is it was a challenge in my life. I said, let’s go. Let’s see what would happen.
USA Wrestler: Tell me about the jobs you held and challenge you had when you moved to America? Petkovic: When I came, I went down to Florida and stayed with my mother for a month and a half. It was very hard to find a job. I had a buddy up in Jersey, a former wrestler, who worked in this company and he asked me to come over. We were going to start a business, delivering stuff around the Tri-State area. I had to make a living, because I had two kids. I ended up work- ing at that place. My English was so weak. I didn’t know the area. I was delivering furniture around and had stops in Brooklyn. With all the maps, I found the address and was look- ing for the number. I finally asked somebody, and he said, ’Buddy you are in Queens, you have to go to Brooklyn.’ That was my start. I started adapting. There were challenging moments. Thanks to wrestling, I was able to stay on my feet, and it got better. Sometimes, I worked four jobs, working in the nights, being a bouncer, doing my own thing during the day. I made a living.
USA Wrestler: How did you get hooked back up with wrestling in America? Petkovic: The biggest reason was my son Sasha. He was 19 or 20. He told me he wanted to start wrestling. He was a very athletic kid, playing football and lacrosse in high school. He never wrestled. I said, ‘Are you crazy? Why do you wait all this time? You’re 20 and you want to start wrestling now?’ He watched the Olympics, and after that, he wanted to start. If he wants to start, I had to bring in some people so he could prac- tice. I got involved with the NYAC. I talked to Sonny Greenhalgh, the chairman. If you can give me two days I would love to run the Greco practices. He said no problem. I ran them twice a week, and sometimes we’d come for freestyle, too. After awhile, Sonny started bringing me with the team at the nationals and Trials. I met the guys and got closer to them. That was my signal that I was getting back to the sport. I want to thank my wife and my family for everything. They have paid the biggest price for my ability to be in wrestling. And they are still paying it, supporting my involvement in the sport.
USA Wrestler: How did you become an Assistant National Coach for USA Wrestling in 2002? What kind of goals did you set for yourself and the Greco-Roman program when you joined our national staff? Petkovic: I got involved with the USA team in 2000 and went to Sydney as a volunteer coach. It was my first time at the World level with our athletes. Then I was there in 2001 at the World Championships. In 2002, I ended up getting the job at USA Wrestling. My goal was simple. I always want to be honest with the athletes I work with. I always told them I would be hon- est, if you showed me you cared and you deserved that. Sometimes you aren’t going to like it. Sometimes I am going to be very rough and tough, with things you don’t want to hear. Sometimes, I’ll kick you in the butt, sometimes I’ll hug you. That kind of relationship I started building with everybody. I still try to do that, to be truthful, to tell them exactly how you need to func- tion mentally, physically to reach the highest point in your career. That goal still drives me today. You have to be truthful to yourself. You have to know the huge price you have to pay to be a champion.
USA Wrestler: The United States had a great run in the late 2000s, winning the 2007 World Team title and placing third in the 2006 World meet. What was special about that group of wrestlers and why did they win? Petkovic: That generation was mentally and physically ready. They came out from Div. I NCAA tough programs. We had a lot of challenges. The moment when they found their peace with us, everything started clicking. All the things they needed to adjust to bring their game to a higher level, they did. They were ready to battle always. They were capable to force their posi- tion, capable of scoring, capable of being mentally tough. They didn’t have any questions about themselves. It was their moment in our Greco history.
USA Wrestler: In your mind, what are the greatest strengths
of American Greco-Roman wrestlers, and what are their biggest challenges? Petkovic: The biggest advantage I see over here is the kids are mentally ready. They really want to do this. And physically, pretty much also. The biggest challenge is the rules and the base in the U.S. is coming from a different direction. One of the hardest part of this process, is when you learn your skills in a different situation, different body position, different way of think- ing, it is very challenging to start changing those habits. Something is instantly already in your brain and muscles. It takes some time. Some of the athletes are not patient. They have to understand how much patience they must have with this. They have to find their peace. You have a different feel, even though it is wrestling. That’s the biggest challenge. They come in, and are mentally and physically tough. A lot of times, that patience goes away. When that goes away, they struggle, and it is not a great environment to improve.
USA Wrestler: Since you have been a National Coach, what individual U.S. wrestlers stand out in your mind? Petkovic: I point out Brad Vering, who was an NCAA champi- on and was mentally and physically ready for this. He was capa- ble to handle those challenges, ups and down. In 2005, he lost the first match pretty bad to the Greek wrestler, and he was devastated. The next year, he didn’t even make the team. As I talked before, about patience, about finding your peace, about understanding it will take some time. To be able to enjoy the process. Things are going to happen. After 2006, he realized a lot of things. He improved his skills, just little itty bitty things, but they made a huge difference in his wrestling. The next year, he stepped up and crushed everybody. He lost in the finals to Alexei Mishin (of Russia), a tough match. He stands out that way, he paid the price and everything came through. If the 2008 Olympics had been a month and a half earlier, Brad Vering would have been Olympic champion. Joe Warren, back in 2001, I saw his hunger and his crazy want to win, want to have the belt. It took a few years to guide him, to make him understand. It came down to the little adjustments in his way of wrestling. When he was in the same position, when he did not score before, he scored. Down the line, he was scoring on everyone, he was lifting them and putting them on their back when he attacked the body from underhooks. Lindsey Durlacher, also. He was a challenging guy, but the moment he found that peace, he wrestled unbelievable in 2006 and 2007. He almost beat the Iranian guy in the semifinals. He was right there, competing with the top dog guys. Adam Wheeler, he spent the last three and a half years with us, and he ended up getting his Olympic bronze medal. Later, it’s Andy Bisek. He showed up, and he’s a great human being. He is a joy to have around. It took him two or three years to readjust and understand the little changes to be Continued on page 41
27 USA Wrestler
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