Cejudo Henry - American victory : wrestling, dreams and a journey toward home

As a team, the authors would like to thank Craig Sesker and Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling, without whose headlocks and pile drivers this book would be impossible. We would like to thank Tracy Greiff, whose kind and generous actions provided the seeds for this story. We would like to thank all those who spent the time to tell the real tale of the American Victory, including Henrys official family and his wrestling family, from Gloria Cejudo to Angel Cejudo, from Frank Saenz to Terry Brands. Finally, we would also like to thank Laura Perciasepe, whose patience gave this book breadth and whose editing gave it life.

I would like to thank my family, my friends, and my supporters. My family: Barbara, Alonzo, Gloria, George, Angel, Christina, and the one and only, the terminator, my mother, Nelly Rico. Id also like to thank Tracy Greiff, Eric Albaracin and the Hurtado family. At USA Wrestling, I would like to thank Rich Bender, Doc Bennett, Craig Sesker, Gary Abbott. Id also like to thank the United States Olympic Committee, including Bill and Jim Scherr. I would like to thank wrestlings greatest supporters Art Martori, Brian Giffin, Dave Berry, Mike Novogratz, Steve Silver, John Bardis, Jeff Levitetz, and Ken Honig. And for the book, Id like to thank Laura Perciasepe, Bill Plaschke, Lydia Wills, Ray Garcia and everyone at Penguin. For my coaches, Id like to thank Terry Brands, Kevin Jackson, Doc Bennett (again), Frank Saenz, Richard Fimbres, Brian Davis, Matt Brickell, and Sergei Beloglazov. And I want to thank the people that put me together and gave me a great smile, Dr. Glauser, Dr. Sullavan, and Dr. Mark B. Burdorf. The people who sponsored me: Brute, Adidas, Tom Scully, Jeff Bowyer, the Zero Scale, Greg Nunley, Rich Creps and Don. The people who supported me and have been a big influence on me: Cole Kelly, Joe Uva, Kenny Ortega, Jerry Colangelo, Mike Sotello, Mike Wang, Noel Thompson, Otto Padron, and my new best friends, Travis and Kathy Holcombe. And Id like to thank the beautiful twins, Lulu and Lala.

Id also like to thank Aaron Polansky, Aaron Simpson, Adam Desabado, Albert Torres, Aldo Mesa, Alex Coronado, Al Fuentes, Andy Patman, Andy Rovat, Anthony Fimbres, Anthony Robles, Arlene Limas, Brian Davis, Ben Askren, Ben Kar, Bill McFarlane, Blanca Torres, Bob Barson, Bobby Douglas, Bobby Lashley, Brandon Hut, Breanne Vovar, Brian Keck, Brian Stith, Bryce Hassemen, Cain Velasquez, Charlie Huber, Chrae Pasqua, Chris Greenman, Chris Simeck, Chuchi, Crazy Chuck Liddell, Cisco, Conine family, Craig Martin, Darrell Miller, Daniel Cormier, Danielle Hurtado, Danny Alcorse, Dan Davine, Danny Keffler, Danny Perru, Darello Barela, Dave Esposito, David Garcia, David Preciado, Dean Morrison, Derrick Peperas, Desiree, Diamond, Diane Simpson, Dr. Carrasco, Dr. Hernandez, Duane Venken, Eddie Albarracin, Eli Arismendez, Emmett Blahnik, Ernesto Gastelum, Filipe Corral, Franky Sanchez, Harry (USA Wrestling), Hector Gomez, Hector Placencia, Hudson Collins, Ivan Ivanoff, Jay Robinson, Jay Allen, JD, Jamie McNab, Jake Diechtler, Jake Hurbert, Javier Mendez, Jenny Quezada, Jeremy Wilson, Jesse Abarca, Jessica Love, Jim Murphy, Jimmy Clips, Joe Hesket, Joey Law, Joe Sotello, John Mora, John Davis, Josh Churrella, Josh Corona, Juan Garcia, Juan Mora, Junior Cortez, Justin Robles, Katherine Hurtado, Kathleen Mascarenas, Kenny Lester, Kira Sreeloan, Kyle Seminara, Larry Langowski, Larry Slater, Lee Fulhart, Leo Martinez, Luis Olivares, Luis Vendejas, Manny Molina, Marco Toledo, Miguel Freas, Mo Law, Nick Lopez, Niko Salazar, Norm Frauenheim, Pablo Roqueta, Paula Lopez, Ramon Robles, Randi Miller, Randy George, Randy Gordon, Randy Lewis, Raquel Albaraccin, Raul Jaimes, Ray Arvizu, Ray Borrego, Readers Digest, Ricardo Liborio, Rey Misterio, Robert Luera, Ron Groves, Rodney Stafford, Rusty Davie, Ryan Hockensmith, Ryan Lockwood, Sanaz, Scott Peters, Shannon Slack, Sean Bormet, Steve Fraser, Steve Lawson, TC Danzler, Tara Hitchcock, Tommy Rowlands, Tommy Marquez, Townsend Saunders, Urijah Faber, Vanessa Oswalt, Vicente Varela, Victor Guerrero, Vicente Cordero, Viola Cruz, Whitney Conder, Z Enrique, Z Enriques family, and Zev Miller.

Bill Plaschke would like to personally thank his parents, Grover and Mary Plaschke, for always being there, always coaching, always cheering, particularly when his shoulders were on the mat, He would also like to thank his childrenT-Berry, Boy-Boy and M.C.for their constant hugs and endless patience. Thanks to his siblings Brad, Beth and Bob, for always picking up the phone even when Bill sometimes had a cauliflower ear. Thanks to Danielle English for her constant and unconditional support, not to mention her giggles. If it wasnt for Kevin Baxter grabbing Bill out of a cool pressroom on a steamy afternoon in Beijing and dragging him to a weird wrestling match, this book would have never happened, so thanks to Kevin. Finally, thanks to manager Michael Price for giving him the advice to start the book, Los Angeles Times boss Randy Harvey for giving him the time to write it, and Gene Wojciechowski for giving him the inspiration to finish it.

Henry Cejudo is a freestyle wrestler who won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At twenty-one years old, he was the youngest American ever to have won an Olympic wrestling gold medal. Henry was born in Los Angeles, and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Bill Plaschke has been named the Associated Press Sports Columnist of the Year four times. He has been a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times since 1996 and is a regular panelist on ESPNS Around the Horn. He has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and his work has been featured frequently in The Best American Sports Writing.

The two fat dudes with leering grins and neck tattoos are leaning against a wall of my apartment complex, staring out at the dirt courtyard, watching a bunch of screeching kids play soccer.

It is downtown Phoenix, early summer, 1998, and nearly triple-digit degrees. I am not wearing a shirt, and theres sweat running down my chest. My hand-me-down cutoff jean shorts hang low off of my butt, revealing a pair of torn boxer shorts which used to belong to one of my older, bigger brothers. My tennis shoes are a size too big, so I wear thick white socks.

Im not a great soccer player. But for some reason, Im faster than most of these kids. And for every reason, I think I have more fire.

When the ball goes into the corner, some Mohawk-wearing punk from one of the downstairs units chases it down. And so I chase him down and run him over, flattening him and his creepy mesh gym shorts and his fancy Target tennis shoes. The ball rolls over into the corner, resting at the cowboy boot of one of the two men, who stops and catches it with his toe. I hustle over and lean down to pick up the ball, and thats when the man takes the toe of his boot and sticks it into my chest. I look up at his face, and there is a ragged scar running down the right side, into his greasy bearded stubble. His buddy has bushy eyebrows and smiles with some gold pieces where there should be teeth.

Hey, boy, says the scarred man.

Hey what? I say.

You like to fight? he asks.

Do I like to fight? I dont know. Im always fighting at home with my three brothers, but only because they are part of a family that overwhelms me, because Im the youngest of six children forever crammed into a one-bedroom apartment where theres not even room for my own pillow. Ill fight my brothers for the remote control on the three-channel TV, or Ill fight my brothers for the last clean towel, so, yeah, I guess I fight at home. And sure, I also fight at schoolkids who call me a midget because Im short for my age, kids who call me dumb, nobody knowing how hard it is to spend six hours in quiet and controlled conformity when you come from chaos. Screw them.