August 30th - Erin Tomeo

Today was a travel day for US women's team. Most of the group departed out of Colorado Springs and those who didn't were met in Washington Dulles before taking of for Rome. The day, unlike many other travel days, was smooth and easy. Alarms did not have to be set prior to the sun coming up. A full nights sleep is always a great way to start any trip, Some enjoyed sleep than others... I may or may not have overslept a tad.
United was good to us as we embarked on our 9 hour flight . Their planes could use some upgrades but we all got our reward miles booked. Of course conversation on the plane is always fun when a team of 20 deep roll in reppin' the USA swagger. I'm not sure if the sweet old lady knew Terry just turned 45 and was trying to make him feel good - but who doesn't like to be called attractive. The baggage claim on the other side is always suspenseful as everyone watches to see if their bags made it, everything arrived - even Victoria's delicious Mexican coffee.
The energy is great, everyone's spirits are high as we know what this team is capable of. The team is excited to arrive in Rome get the jet lag out, acclimate and go through the final phase to prepare for world domination.
Stay tuned! More exciting updates coming soon...
Erin Tomeo
World Team Coach

August 29th - Helen Maroulis

Yesterday, marked the last day of wrestling practices for our World Team camp. We did a competition simulation: 4 matches in the morning, and a “finals” match for our night practice (complete with spotlight and crowd-chanting music to really set the scene). Doing a competition simulation gives us an opportunity to recreate those nerves and excitement that we get during a tournament, while being able to test out the moves we have been working on this whole summer. We followed last night’s hard day of training with a recovery workout this morning. The workout consisted of foam rolling and dynamic stretching. Since camp has officially ended I have been able to fully reflect on the past couple weeks of training, especially the goal I’ve set for myself, and that we have set as a team: 2014 World Champions. We are ready. This has been one of the best training camps I have ever been a part of. Coach Steiner always stresses that it is not just the outcome, but the process, as well. The process this year has been great, especially thanks to the coaches, national team, strength and conditioning, and sports medicine staff. Now it’s just time to get those results. All that’s left to do here in the US is finish packing and board the plane to Italy tomorrow, where we will have our acclimation camp. Acclimation camps help us get adjusted to the time change while putting us in a new training environment, which is good for our minds and bodies. I couldn’t have asked for a better summer, and it’s not even over yet. I know for many school has already started, but I still don’t consider the summer to be over :P. Not until we finish it off right…2014 World Champions!!!!
Till next time,
Helen Maroulis
55kg World Team Member

August 28th - Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston

August 28

Today is the day that I get to write to you from a coach's perspective and from a previous (very previous) World Team member.

I have to start by saying that I am so excited for these 8 women. I've come to know each and every one of them, their personalities, their talents, and their quirks. They feel like my children or younger sisters (yes, I'm aging myself). I came back home to San Diego a couple of days ago, to touch base with my family before the two week leave for the World Championships. What amazed me, is that I'm missing these 8 women just as I miss my family when I'm away. This team has truly become like my second family and I'm feeling very close to them.

I remember the first World Championships that I medaled in (1990). All I can say is "We've come a long way, baby!" I remember along with the World medals, they were handing out kitchen appliances to us on the podium. No joke! I have my Teflon pot to prove it. I'm thrilled to see how women's wrestling has advanced on the World stage...and I'm super excited about this group of 8 women bringing home some hardware and hopefully the Team Title!

-Afsoon Johnston

2014 World Team Coach

August 27th - Whitney Conder

Today is a rest and recovery day for the World Team. We all have different ways to rest and recover before we prepare for the Worlds. Also, we have competition preparation tomorrow with simulation of the Worlds competition. In preparation for the competition simulation, I am doing what I do before the time of actual competitions. I am going to do the hot and cold contrast to prepare my body and recover it from the workouts that we have had before during this week as well. Our matches tomorrow are to get us in the competition mode to make us prepare and focus on the competition. It helps to prepare for us to compete better in the Worlds and want to win every situation. 

Today, I am focusing on recovering my body so that I can have the best practice possible so I get the most out of it while training and preparing for my Worlds competition. For me we had a few hard workouts this week and my legs are pretty tired and sore so I feel like I need to get the hot and cold contrast the recover my legs. We all have different ways to prepare the days before tournaments, but the better we get at preparing for our tournaments the better. I’m just trying to prepare myself the best way that I know how so that I can do my best in the tournament so I can compete the best possible. No tournament is the same, no match is exactly the same it changes every time.  I do what I can and sometimes get in a little extra to prepare myself for the battle out on the mat that is coming up. The more I can imagine the tournament setting tomorrow in the matches, maybe the less I'll be stressed for the actual competition.  For example, my simulation could make me less nervous when stepping out on the match at the World Championships. I am very excited for this opportunity that I have to compete at Worlds this year, but while being very excited that does make me nervous at the same time. I am going to do my best to prepare myself for the Worlds and try to find the best way or ways to make myself less stressed or nervous so that when I step out on the mat I am as prepared as possible and ready to go. The harder we push as a team the better we can prepare each other so we can all compete in the Worlds our best. Let’s GO Team USA!!!!! 

- Whitney Conder

53kg World Team Member

August 26th - Alyssa Lampe

August 26th 

Its getting closer and closer to the world championships. You can see the excitement in the room. The practices have been shorter, but the intensity is still high.

Today, the world team did an extended warm-up in the weight room before doing 8 sets of 5 explosive reps in the wrestling room. The warm-up consisted of foam rolling, stretching, and explosive movements. The evening session involved live offense and defense situations. I'm starting to feel the nerves and excitement you get before a big competition. I'm confident I have prepared myself to win a world championship. Everyone on the team looks sharp. We're ready to win that team title!

- Alyssa Lampe 
48kg World Team Member

Our Purpose

Everyday in life should have a purpose.  How are you going to get better today? Your goal for the day may be different than the person next to you, but are you willing to zero in on yourself and your own purpose?  Can you find your own goal within our team goal that will make you better?   

Below you'll see our team purpose for each day of camp so far:

August 11th - Staying within the realm of our own focus; winning each situation

August 12th - Fine tuning when to pick up the pace and when to control the lead

August 13th - Rest & Recovery

August 14th - It's always YOU who sets the tempo; when is it high & when is it low

August 15th - Competition simulation off the mat; find a way to win

August 16th - Removing the lactic acid through 

August 17th - Rest & Recovery

August 18th - No way out; refocus when things get hard & stay tough

August 19th - Individual focuses

August 20th - Offense, offense, offense!  Get to it!

August 21st - Recovery; Warm / Cold Contrasts

August 22nd-24th - Recovery & Rest

August 25th - Building confidence in our own offense & fine tuning team problem areas

Welcome!

Welcome US Women's Wrestling's blog on the upcoming 2014 Senior World Championships!  
This blog will follow Team USA's journey from camp to competition!  In our blog, you'll find daily entries from World Team Members and Coaches describing our struggles, workouts, excitement, and more.  

These eight athletes are capable of winning the World Championships, but will have to work together to do so.  Five of the eight athletes are returning or former world medalists and are hungry for more.  We welcome you to follow our journey to the top of the world.  We will try to give you an inside look at the next couple weeks as we travel to Ostia, Italy for our acclimation camp and Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the World Championships.  Up to this point, we have had great preparation and we feel we are in a position to challenge for the world title!