Olympic wrestler's secret weapon? His age

By Max J. Dickstein, amNewYork Sports Editor | mdickstein@am-ny.com

June 20, 2008

Jake Dietchler, member of the U.S. Olympic wrestling squad that will compete in Beijing. (June 20, 2008)

Why is 18-year-old Jake Dietchler headed to Beijing as just the third high school wrestler in U.S. Olympic history?

Probably because he's 18.

"How can you really be ready for a high school senior?" asked U.S. freestyle coach Lee Kemp, in midtown with Deitchler and several teammates for a wrestling charity event at Foley's N.Y. Pub on Thursday.

Harry Lester, 24, wasn't ready.

The gold medal favorite could not handle Deitchler's moves in Las Vegas on Saturday at the U.S. Olympic trials, when the youngster beat Lester in a three-period semifinal, 0-5, 5-2, 5-3.

Dietchler then defeated Faruk Sahin in the final to seal an unlikely Olympic bid in the Greco-Roman 1451⁄2-pound weight class.

"I practiced with [Lester] in the fall and he kind of took it to me and beat me pretty bad," Deitchler said. "I was just having fun, and wasn't so focused on winning or losing so much."

Food and fluids were Deitchler's reward. The senior from New Ramsey, Minn., said he gained 15 pounds in the seven-and-a-half hours following his precocious victories.

"Next year I plan to move up a weight class because it's a struggle to make the weight that I'm making," said Deitchler, who will be a University of Minnesota student this fall.

But first comes his hard-won Beijing opportunity.

"On any given day, 15 or 20 guys in that weight class can win the tournament," Deitchler said. Cuts were evident on his face. "I just have to be ready and show up to wrestle that day and I can do something great."

Will his foes be ready?

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