Daniel Daniel Dennis – Olympian
Daniel Dennis was at the Cedar Rapids Prairie wrestling room as a guest clinician for Mark Ironside’s wrestling camp yesterday. Daniel Dennis is just what you would expect for a clinician. Direct, to the point, and very effective. I was able to listen in as he showed not only solid technique, but a great talk about attitude and work ethic.
After Dennis was done, Mark Ironside took the floor for a twelve minute talk about work ethic and attitude. I did film that with my phone. That talk was just as much for parents to hear than the kids, if not more so. The theme from both Dennis and Ironside was the same about how you have to work to get what you want. It starts in the practice room and then you have to hustle in a match. That is Iowa Wrestling. Great stuff.
I remember watching Daniel Dennis in Dubuque in November of 2005 for his first collegiate competition. He was very strong and had basic moves like a fireman’s carry that worked well. Little did I know he would end up being an Olympian eleven years later.
First of all, congratulations on making the Olympic team. What was your first thought when you realized you were an Olympian?
Daniel Dennis: I was just feeling happy about the accomplishment for a little bit. It was a feeling of satisfaction for a little bit. Now on to the next thing.
What is your schedule like from now until Rio?
Daniel Dennis: I leave to go to Germany on the 27th. I am there until the 4th. Then we have a training camp before we go down to Rio.
I got in on the end of your clinic. Could you go over the five positions that Coach Gable taught you that would keep you in any wrestling match?
Daniel Dennis: Head up, elbows in, your back straight, your butt underneath you, and your knees bent. That goes in every position of wrestling and it is really pretty universal, especially collegiate. Everything from on the mat and up on your feet. It’s a very basic but solid position to focus on.
You wrestled 133 in college and now you are at 125. Is making weight a factor for you?
Daniel Dennis: Making weight is not a concern. We have a day before weighin and I do a pretty good job of making the weight. I feel like it’s a great weightclass for me. I just have to monitor and stay on top of it and I do a good job there.
You have the biggest hands and forearms for a 136lbs person that I have ever seen.
Daniel Dennis: Rock climbing.
Did you specialize specifically in wrestling as a kid growing up? Any advice you would like to give parents of young wrestlers.
Daniel Dennis: Yea, don’t take it too serious too soon. At a young age, it’s not about being undefeated and winning every trophy. At a young age it’s about having fun. I have seen too many kids get burned out. And too many kids despise the sport because parents think that their fourth grader has to win every event in the country. I didn’t win anything growing up and had a blast doing it. I started getting competitive going into high school where I took it seriously. I took it serious at a young age, but I had fun with it. Don’t push your kids too hard.
Did you play other sports as a kid?
Daniel Dennis: I played football, I played baseball a lot, I swam when I was much younger. I was always out getting my elbows scraped up, black eyes, things like that. Let your kid be a kid and do a bunch of sports. And then hone in on one the older you get.
You were off the radar for a couple of years and was never the big marque name in college. Now you make the Olympic team and instantly you have kind of a cult hero following that caught on to a lot of people because of your story of preserverance and the way you live your life. What has your journey been like since you graduated from Iowa in 2010?
Daniel Dennis: A lot of ups and a lot of downs. Now I’m a little bit more consistent. I moved out of Iowa City when I wasn’t really a contributing member to the team. That’s what I care about. I love those guys. I moved out of Iowa City because I wasn’t helping them out the way I should have been. Getting out of there and getting refreshed and then continuing my relationships there got me motivated to want to come back and want to be doing it instead of going through the motions.
Iowa Wrestling fans that have followed your career are thrilled and excited to see you make it as an Olympian.
Daniel Dennis: Thanks for everything. The Iowa fan base is absolutely amazing and the most unique probably in the world. It’s great wrestling for them and being around that fan base. I love it.
I get chills everytime I hear the Olympic theme. I was just old enough to remember when Gable won his Gold medal. When I hear that theme, I always think of Gable and Tom Brands. It is going to be great when we hear that Olympic theme and see Daniel Dennis wrestling for Team USA in the red, white, and blue. The best of luck to you.
Daniel Dennis: Thank you. I appreciate it.
