TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

This is your first official year of competition after transferring from Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State two years ago. After successfully undergoing shoulder surgery in the off-season and having already set a career season-best 10 victories, how important was it this year to get off to a hot start?

It was important mentally, to get off to a good start to rebuild my confidence after being out for a year. I think confidence is a big part and to get off to a good start is real important.

You were a three-time state champion while attending Newfane High School, and became the all-time winningest wrestler in Section VI. As one of the most feared wrestlers in the state at that point, how exciting is it to be competing in this year’s New York State Collegiate Wrestling Championships, which will be held in Alumni Arena?

I probably wont see past opponents but it will be good to be back in the area and for people who haven’t seen me in a while to come and watch, especially now that it’s a local tournament at UB.

You started off the 2006-07 season competing at 141 pounds. You won the UB Open at that weight class on Nov. 5. Following a disappointing Oklahoma Gold Classic appearance, you bumped up to 149 pounds. How hard is it to make weight for each competition and how much more comfortable are you at 149 pounds?

I'm a lot more comfortable at 149, that’s why I moved up. I tired the year out at 141, my first three times making weight, I didn’t feel comfortable, I didn’t feel strong. I thought it was a better idea to move up, I would feel better, feel stronger and wrestle more to my ability at 149.

Does seeing an opponent compete prior to your head-to-head encounter prepare you in any way?

In a way it does. In a way you can prepare but you can’t really go into a match trying to wrestle to an opponents style or to avoid certain things or to counter certain things, you just have to just wrestle every match pretty much the same in order to win, so you can’t really wrestle different against different opponents.

In 2005, you transferred to UB from Ohio State along with fellow Bulls Steven Muldrow. What was it that attracted you both away from Buckeye country and to UB?

There are different reasons for both of us to leave Ohio State. The reason I chose to come back here is because I needed a change from where I was and I felt like I would be comfortable here with the coaches and with the team. I felt like I could really accomplish my goals here. And with Steve Muldrow, I think after I made my decision to come here, I think it kind of helped him make his decision because he was looking at a few other places too. I think it made his decision to come here easier knowing that he knew someone, a former teammate and it would make his transition easier as well.

In the March 15, 2003 issue of WRESTLING USA, they named you as the #1 ranked wrestler at 140 pounds in the country. In the process, you posted 240 career wins, three shy of the national record at the time, and were named to the 2003 USA Olympic Dream Team. Did being named to such a prestigious team prepare you for competition at the next level?

It definitely gave me confidence coming out of high school and entering college, but college is a whole other level than high school wrestling and I experienced that my freshman year. It is a prestigious award to receive and an honor, and its one of my best honors to receive.

On Saturday, Dec. 15 you wrestle Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro, who was an All-American last season as a freshman and this year is ranked third in the nation at 149 pounds by every major ranking poll. Who is the toughest opponent you have ever faced?

So far in college, he’s probably the best I have ever faced being ranked third, I don’t think I have ever wrestled anyone ranked higher than third so far in college so I would say so far in college, he’s probably been my toughest opponent and the opponent that has achieved the most. It’s hard to say all together, through all my years of wrestling, who would be the best.

Who do you think is your toughest opponent, either for the team as a whole or individually?

As a team, I would say Central Michigan, they’re highly favored to win the MAC, they won the MAC last year. As an individual, it’s hard to say, there are a couple guys who are tough, the guy from Eastern Michigan (Jermain Thompson) is touch, the guy from Northern Illinois (Joe Cornejo) is tough, but its hard to say who’s the toughest.

What is your favorite wrestling move, and how do you set yourself up to make that move?

I don’t have a favorite wrestling move, I don’t think there are too may favorite wrestling moves, but the move I use the most or prefer to use is probably a double-leg takedown. You just shoot in for both of their legs, there’s different set-ups for each one, it’s pretty basic but it’s effective so that would probably be my most effective move.

What is your favorite moment as a UB student-athlete?

Well since this is my first year competing for UB I haven’t really had too many great moments yet so far, I’m hoping that the end of the season will be my greatest moment, hopefully being an All-American at the National Tournament.