Mena eyes U.S. national team trip

Representing one's country in competition is one of the highest honors bestowed upon an athlete.\nOne of IU's own, assistant wrestling coach Mike Mena, will share in this experience of representing his country. Mena was picked last week to be a member of the U.S. National wrestling team that will compete Feb. 19 and 20 at the 2004 Takhti Cup in Tehran, Iran. \nThe news was music to his ears, he said.\n"I was real excited," Mena said. "I think there's only been like five teams that have gone over there. It's a great honor and opportunity to get that world competition."\nMena will be wrestling in the 121 lb. division at the world meet. He has previous national-level experience as he finished second at the 2003 U.S. World Team Trial and was an Olympic alternate in 2000. His background includes being a four-time All American at the University of Iowa, one of the powerhouses of collegiate wrestling. At Iowa, he complied a 118-24 record and was part of three national championship teams. \nMena knows the lessons learned at Iowa are a big part of his success.\n"The exposure to that caliber of training and coaching has definitely been the foundation of my wrestling," he said. "There's a lot of world champs and Olympic champs in those rooms. All that raises your expectations and goals. It opens your eyes to what can be accomplished."\nMena came to IU four seasons ago after being a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club which is overseen by renowned coach Dan Gable. IU coach Duane Goldman said all it took was a simple phone call to bring his fellow alumnus to Bloomington.\n"I called him and asked him if he wanted to coach here at IU," Goldman said. "I had seen him as a competitor at Iowa. After speaking to some people at Iowa, like coach Gable, he came highly recommended and we got together to work it out."\nBecause of his size, Mena primarily gives coaching advice to the wrestlers in the lower weight classes. His vast experience in wrestling and the tutelage provided helps out the IU wrestlers in a variety of ways.\n"He's my workout partner and brought me to the level where I am now," sophomore Joe Dubuque said, who is nationally ranked and 24-4 on the season at 125 pounds. "He can tell you what you're doing wrong. Mena being selected to the team is awesome. He's worked so hard."\nMena feels his insight is beneficial to the team.\n"You don't forget the pain," he said. "When you're training side by side with these guys, I think your ability to identify with what they are going through, both physically and mentally, is a huge benefit."\nHe will now focus on the overseas trip to Iran for the Takhti Cup. \nMena, who lives in Bloomington with his wife and three kids, has been preparing by working out at the Olympic Training Center in Indianapolis with assistant coach Reggie Wright. \nHe knows whatever his future holds, it will be in wrestling.\n"I definitely have aspirations on being a head coach one day," he said. "But it's not my time right now to be a head coach. I'm still learning, and very young. I have a lot to absorb. Indiana is the best place for Mike Mena and I'm going to be here a long time."\n-- Contact staff writer Colin Burns at coaburns@indiana.edu.