Courtesy of John Harrison
Nobody who ever saw Carl (in photo at right, moments after winning the 1984 NCAA Championship) wrestle for Penn State at Rec Hall will ever forget him. It wasn’t just that his outstanding wrestling attracted attention. His “go-get-em” attitude was contagious. From the moment he sprinted onto the mat for a bout until the match was over, Carl’s enthusiasm spilled over into the crowd-PSU fans moved to the edge of their seats and Rec Hall roared. Carl’s work ethic matched his enthusiasm level-some of his wrestling accomplishments at Penn State include:
- 1984 NCAA Champion at 118
- 3x EWL Champion
- EWL wrestler of the year in 1984
- member of the EWL Hall of Fame
- captain of PSU team as a junior and senior
- set school record for most career wins during his senior year and remains #7 on all time victory list.
- went undefeated at 118 (lost once at 126), his junior year but was upset during the first round of nationals and knocked out of the tournament
Carl, what have you been doing since you graduated from Penn State?
After graduating from Penn State, I began working for Doubleday Publishing Company conducting market research to support their many publishing divisions and 3 of their radio stations. At that time they also owned the New York Mets baseball team which I did some work for as well. After two years with Doubleday, I joined Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical (a division of Johnson & Johnson) and have been working in various sales and marketing positions ever since (for the past 11 years). It has been a thrill to introduce to health care providers many new drugs that have improved the quality of life for millions of people.
What are your best memories from the years you spent as a Penn State wrestler?
Without question, my fondest memories are the times I spent with my teammates not only on the mats but off as well. We had an extremely close knit team that did everything together. Even when we were struggling to make weight, we could make each other laugh. John Manotti’s infamous Eric Brugal head measurements, the “blow-off competition” on the van ride back from the Midlands tournament and the Sutton Court slams are times I will never forget! I remember how quickly our team developed into one of the best in the country during my four years due to a committed and talented coaching staff and I will also never forget the tremendous support from the Wrestling Club and fans. Another memory that will never fade is the 1984 NCAA tournament at the Meadowlands. I still get chills when I drive by the arena.
How has the Penn State wrestling experience impacted your life/career?
You learn very quickly that in order to succeed in the sport of wrestling-hard work, dedication and perseverance are a must. This is only heightened when you compete at the collegiate level and wrestle for an elite program like Penn State. I credit my Penn State wrestling experience greatly with the success I have had in my career and for my approaching every aspect of my life with a positive attitude. I remember the advice Coach Lorenzo gave me when he saw me struggling in the beginning of my senior year. I was wrestling tentatively due to the self-inflicted pressure I felt because it was my last shot at winning a national title. He told me that as long as I worked hard and made the sacrifices that I always had, that I would never look back years later with any regret. This made sense to me then and always will. It is very unfortunate to look back on a situation and say “if only I worked harder, I could have” or “if I took it more seriously, I would have…”. My experience at Penn State reinforced my belief that a strong work ethic, dedication and persistence always pay off in the long run. You just have to be patient sometimes.
Do you still follow wrestling?
I try to follow Penn State’s progress through each year by calling the wrestling office to get an update. Now that I am hooked up to the Internet I will also be able to get updates there. I also try to make it up to State College for a match each year, which has always been fun. I am really looking forward to the Nationals at Penn State next year. See you there!
What advice do you have for collegiate wrestlers today?
Evaluate your performance honestly-look for areas that you need to work on and then seek out the advice of your coaches. Next, practice these skills everyday in the wrestling room after practice has ended. This type of focus and commitment will help a wrestler as much mentally as it will physically.
Thanks Carl!
