"Last year after I lost that second match in the finals, I went over in the corner and cried," said Paulson, who placed third in the 2010 U.S. Open. "I told myself that I'm not going to leave in 2010 feeling that same way. I'm going to leave it all out on the mat, win or lose. I'm not going to the clinch. I'm going to go get it done."
The 27-year-old Paulson, who divides his time between training at Iowa State and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, defeated U.S. Open champion Andrew Howe in two straight matches to make his first U.S. World Team. Howe defeated both Paulson twins, Travis and Trent, at the U.S. Open.
"He kind of took us for a surprise at Nationals just because he hadn't been that successful at Nationals or the Trials the year before, so I kind of overlooked him," said Paulson. "I actually thought I'd have Moza Fay. (Howe)'s a stud. The first time I wrestled him he surprised me. He makes you wrestle the whole time. He has a bright future."
Paulson reached the best-of-3-finals match against Howe by beating twin brother Trent in the Challenge Tournament finals in Friday's first session.
"Wrestling Trent is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life," said Paulson. "I hope I never have to do it again. He's my toughest competitor and just my best friend."
Paulson wasn't the only first-time Trials champion in the freestyle competition. J.D. Bergman, who won his first U.S. Open title earlier this year, earned his first spot on the U.S. World Team with consecutive victories over 2009 U.S. World Team member Jake Varner at 96 kg. Bergman's victories over Varner may have surprised some, but certainly not Bergman.
"Varner is just a younger stud for his age group," said Bergman. "I would never expect to lose to Varner, ever."
Going into this year, many were hailing Varner as the future of USA Wrestling after he reached the quarterfinals of the 2009 World Championships before his last season of college wrestling at Iowa State. So does it bother Bergman that Varner has been getting all the hype in his weight class?
"No, it doesn't bother me," said Bergman. "I don't blame them because a lot of people who aren't into the sport see Varner ... four-time NCAA finalist, two-time national champ. He's a stud ... The guy is awesome. I would never ever expect to lose to Varner or anyone that is my age or younger. "
Mike Zadick, a 2006 World silver medalist, made his fourth U.S. World Team in five years by defeating 2009 U.S. World Team member Shawn Bunch two matches to zero at 60 kg in freestyle. It was a hard-fought, seesaw battle where both matches were decided in three periods.
"It's a really great feeling," said Zadick of getting back on the U.S. World Team. "Last year sucked. I really felt like this is a good year to win a World title. I mean, Moscow ... right there. It's just great. The training in Iowa City has just been top notch. I've just had a really good last couple weeks too."
In the Greco-Roman competition, three of the four champions crowned on Friday night were past U.S. World Team members: Spenser Mango (55 kg), Jake Clark (84 kg), and Dremiel Byers. The other Greco-Roman champion crowned, Jake Fisher (74 kg), became a first-time champion.
Mango, who has represented the U.S. at the last three World-level events at 55 kg, defeated 2009 U.S. Open champion Jermaine Hodge two matches to zero with both matches going all three periods.
"It means a lot," said Mango to get back on the U.S. World Team. "I'm happy to win this tournament, but now I'm just looking towards Russia, trying to bring home a medal."
Clark, who is in his first year with the U.S. Air Force after spending much of his career with the U.S. Marine Corps, picked up consecutive victories over 2009 U.S. World Team member Chas Betts at 84 kg. For Clark, it marks his second time on the U.S. World Team, but first time since 2006.
"It's been some bumps in the road," said Clark of the journey from 2006 to 2010. "But everything is falling into place. I've learned to grow up a bit with a lot of different things. I never fully committed myself to the sport. In 2006, I did a bit. But compared to what I'm doing now, it's a whole different world. I like fast food. I like to go out and have a good time every once ... well, maybe more than every once in a while. I'm 30. I can't do that anymore. I've got a small window that I have to attack."
In 2006, Clark admitted that he was content just to be on the U.S. World Team. That's not the case this time around. He says that his mentality has completely changed.
I'll be honest ... I can't say I was really expecting to be in the Worlds this year," said Clark. "It happened real quick again. But I'm a lot more prepared now. I was expecting to do well here, but being that I've been away from the mat for the last two years, it's something I know is going to take time. Luckily, I'm doing the right things and that's pushing me forward at a faster pace than I really expected."
Two-time World champion Dremiel Byers registered two shutout victories over U.S. Army teammate Tim Taylor to make his sixth straight U.S. World or Olympic Team at 120 kg.
Fisher, who was third at the 2009 U.S. World Team Trials, defeated surprise finalist Steve Forest two matches to zero to make his first U.S. World Team.
In the women's freestyle competition, Kelsey Campbell, who was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2010 U.S. Open, made her first U.S. World Team at 59 kg by defeating two-time World fifth-place finisher Deanna Rix.
Two-time World champion Kristie Davis (formerly Kristie Marano) won two matches to zero over Erin Clodgo at 67 kg.
Jessica Medina was pinned in the first best-of-3 finals match against Amy Whitbeck at 51 kg, but came back to win the final two matches to make her second U.S. World Team.
Stephany Lee also made her second U.S. World Team with a two matches to zero victory over 2008 Olympian Ali Bernard at 120 kg.
Saturday's Session III is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT.
Friday's Best-of-3 Finals Results
Freestyle
60 kg:
Mike Zadick (Gator WC) def. Shawn Bunch (Gator WC), 2 matches to 0
Zadick dec. Bunch, 0-2, 2-0, 4-0
Zadick dec. Bunch, 0-1, 7-0, 3-0
74 kg:
Travis Paulson (Sunkist Kids) def. Andrew Howe (New York AC), 2 matches to 0
Paulson dec. Howe, 1-0, 1-1
Paulson dec. Howe, 0-1, 1-0, 2-1
96 kg:
J.D. Bergman (New York AC) def. Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC), 2 matches to 0
Bergman dec. Varner, 3-1, 3-2
Bergman dec. Varner, 2-1, 1-1
Greco-Roman
55 kg:
Spenser Mango (New York AC) def. Jermaine Hodge (U.S. Army), 2 matches to 0
Mango dec. Hodge, 2-0, 0-1, 1-0
Mango dec. Hodge, 0-2, 3-0, 1-0
74 kg:.
Jake Fisher (New York AC) def. Steven Forrest (U.S. Marine Corps), 2 matches to 0
Fisher dec. Forrest, 1-0, 1-0
Fisher dec. Forrest, 0-3, 3-0, 1-0
84 kg:
Jake Clark (U.S. Air Force) def. Chas Betts (Minnesota Storm), 2 matches to 0
Clark dec. Betts, 1-0, 2-0
Clark dec. Betts, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
120 kg:
Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army) def. Tim Taylor (U.S. Army), 2 matches to 0
Byers dec. Taylor, 1-0, 1-0
Byers dec. Taylor, 1-0, 1-0
Women's Freestyle
51 kg:
Jessica Medina (Sunkist Kids) def. Amy Whitbeck (New York AC), 2 matches to 1
Whitbeck pinned Medina, 0-1, 4-1, 1:33
Medina dec. Whitbeck, 1-0, 2-0
Medina dec. Whitbeck, 1-0, 1-0
59 kg:
Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) def. Deanna Rix (Sunkist Kids), 2 matches to 1
Rix dec. Campbell, 3-0, 0-1, 1-0
Campbell dec. Rix, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
Campbell dec. Rix, 1-0, 1-0
67 kg:
Kristie Davis (New York AC) def. Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids), 2 matches to 0
Davis dec. Clodgo, 1-0, 3-1
Davis dec. Clodgo, 2-1, 2-0
72 kg:
Stephany Lee (Sunkist Kids) def. Ali Bernard (Gator WC), 2 matches to 0
Lee dec. Bernard, 2-1, 2-2, 2-1
Lee dec. Bernard, 1-0, 3-1
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