Prior poundings help turn OTC wrestler into a winner

The harder Adeline Gray fought, the more Leigh Jaynes pounded her into a pulp.

Gray was a talented but inexperienced 14-year-old, competing in wrestling camps at the Olympic Training Center. She usually left in tears, with bumps, bruises and a broken ego.

“She was punishing me with every mistake I was making,” Gray said of Jaynes.

Most of the punishment Saturday came from Gray, who recovered from a lackluster first period with an energetic second in which she pinned Yuanyuan Jiao of China to repeat as the 147.5-pound champion at the Dave Schultz Memorial International at the OTC.

Jiao turned Gray late in the first for a 4-0 victory, then in the second, Gray took a 1-0 lead on a leg grab, and when Jiao attacked, Gray put her on her back with 3 seconds left. Her OTC teammate, Deanna Rix, also defended her Schultz crown, beating Fengming Liu of China. OTC residents Elena Pirozhkova and Iris Smith claimed silver medals.

Since Gray, 19, the daughter of a Denver graffiti detective, won the Schultz last year, she has become more explosive on her feet, with fine-tuned defensive tactics, seasoned by a move to the OTC from the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich. She also has tasted success – a national title and a fifth-place finish at the world championships.

“It’s all experience,” Gray said, “and I’m hoping it will pay off when the big time comes around. That’s what makes those girls better. It’s not just your skill or your talent or your conditioning. That experience is what puts you over the edge.”

Gray routinely adds to her arsenal with bits and pieces from wrestlers who once made her cry – technical aspects from Jenna Pavlik, aggressiveness from Kelsey Campbell, a front headlock from Tatiana Padilla, a double from Whitney Conder and clenches from Rix.

Of course, Jaynes, a 2012 Olympic hopeful like Gray, also helps her improve.

“The quickest way,” Gray said, “is to have your face smashed into the mat 12 times. … You don’t want to make that mistake again after you get punished that hard.”