[7] After graduating from Oregon State at the end of 1999 season, Wood decided to join the United States Army in Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served full time as a staff sergeant, and later became a member of the wrestling club under head coaches Shon Lewis and Sam Barlow.

[8] Wood qualified for the U.S. wrestling team on his major international debut in the men's 66 kg class at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Earlier in the process, he pinned 2000 Olympian and five-time U.S. champion Kevin Bracken with a 3–0 victory to guarantee his spot on the U.S. team from the Olympic Trials.

[2][6][9] He lost his opening match 9–3 to Greek wrestler Konstantinos Arkoudeas by the massive clamor of the home crowd inside Ano Liossia Olympic Hall, and could not rally for enough points to break a 2–2 tie and thrash Germany's Jannis Zamanduridis in the second round with a 5–2 verdict.

[11][12] Wood vowed to improve his game plan and set sights for Beijing 2008 and London 2012, but he lost the berth twice to Jake Deitchler and Justin Lester, respectively at the Olympic Trials.