Bunch turns the tables on Zadick to make his first World Team Bunch turns the tables on Zadick to make his first World TeamMichael Carnes Special to TheMat.com
05/30/2009
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- The third time was the charm for Shawn Bunch.
After losing to Mike Zadick in the finals of the 2008 Olympic Trials and the 2009 U.S. Nationals, Bunch finally got over the hump against the former University of Iowa standout to earn a spot on the U.S. national team as the 60-kilogram representative in the freestyle division for the World Championship this September in Herning, Denmark.
It wasn't easy, though -- Bunch avoided a last-second takedown attempt by Zadick to win the first match (3-0, 1-3, 2-1), then broke a scoreless tie in the final seconds of the second match with a defensive pushout that forced Zadick out of bounds, giving Bunch a 3-0, 0-2, 1-0 victory.
After losing to Zadick in two previous major tournament finals with a spot on the national team on the line, Bunch said those bad memories entered into his mind.
"I know what I did before (against Zadick), but I came here inspired by that," he said. "There was a lot of tension built up and a lot of bad dreams after not making the Olympic team, but I know what I can do and I just knew it would come together. I knew it was my time be champ."
Bunch, ranked second, came through the challenge tournament with wins over Daniel Dennis, Nick Gallick and Matt Valenti to earn a shot at top-ranked Zadick for a spot on the U.S. national team. Overcoming two previous defeats to the three-time University of Iowa All-American had the Leavenworth, Kan., native and two-time All-American from Edinboro feeling great about himself.
"It's great to have an opportunity to go after that gold medal with all the sacrifices I've made in my life," he said. "I knew I had to battle through the whole tournament just to get to (Zadick) and had stay focused. I'm really excited (about qualifying) and I'm going to be ready."
