A few memories from Penn State days. There are soooo many. My first encounter…the recruiting trip. I stayed with Tim Flynn and Glen Koser. I believe both those guys were red-shirting that year. They seemed to be having the best time. We ate like kings, went to the Nickelodeon for a movie, among other things. It just seemed like nonstop fun. I couldn’t figure out when those guys fit in their classes. I think we had the number one recruiting class that year, and I think these guys had a lot to do with it: Gearhart, Chertow, Voit, Sidorick, Arena, Meloy, and others.
Freshman memories.
I remember orientation week. I have never been so bored. There were a couple days of activities without any classes. I went to a couple parties and realized that was definitely not for me. I couldn’t and still can’t understand why people stand around screaming in each others’ ears over loud music and drinking until they start doing stupid things and making bad decisions. I think I got more workouts that week than any other week the rest of the year.
I still remember our first team meeting in the wrestling room that year. I weighed all of about 115 lbs. at the time. Carl DeStefanis (NCAA champ the year before) grabbed a hold of me and just thrashed me for 15 minutes—it seemed like two hours. I didn’t even get close to a takedown.
I took many beatings in the practice room that year at the hands of Carl, Scott Lynch (also an NCAA champ), and others. However, I realized what a good decision I made coming to PSU at the East Stroudsburg Tournament when I just dominated a kid, 16–1, a kid that I had had many 1-point dogfights with in high school. By the end or the year, I won the US Open and the National Espoir Championships. What progress! I couldn’t believe it myself. I may not have been able to beat the guys in the practice room, but I could give just about everyone else a run for their money. I am forever grateful to those guys and those beatings as it was a turning point in my wresting career as I made huge strides into maturing into a successful college wrestler.
Sophomore memories.
My sophomore year I lost in overtime in the finals of the Penn State Invitational (or whatever it was called). I got a phone call in the wee hours of the morning, I think 2 or 3 AM, from Hachiro [Oishi], instructing me that it was time to practice and to meet him in the wrestling room. Good thing I didn’t have caller ID as I am sure I would have screened that call. On the other hand, if I did, he probably would have just come by and picked me up.
I struggled with my weight a little that year (sophomore). I remember letting things get a little out of control over Christmas break. I remember stepping on the scale and weighing 142 lbs. (I was supposed to be wrestling 118). I called Hachiro to let him know that I wouldn’t be going to the Midlands as there was no way I was going to be able to make weight. His response went something like, “That’s OK, Jimmy, you go win it at 126.” I did go and had a little trouble making 126. I took second that year in a tough tournament, beating several ranked 126-pounders. I realized at that time that I could wrestle with anybody.
Junior memories.
My junior year… a National Championship? In high school, I would have never believed that was even a remote possibility. Coaches Lorenzo, Fritz, and Oishi brainwashed me into thinking this was possible. The coaches and my teammates made it physically possible. When I think of that championship, I don’t think of anything that I did, but all the effort that these guys and many others put into me and made this possible. When I think of my education at PSU, my teachers were Lorenzo, Fritz, and Oishi. I learned far more about life, struggles, overcoming adversity, etc. in the wrestling room than I did in the classroom. I will be forever indebted to those guys for molding me into what I am today.
Senior memories.
A year of devastating disappointment, losing in overtime in the semifinals of the NCAAs. I still think about that loss on a fairly regular basis. Not nearly as devastating anymore since my view of the important things in life has changed slightly. The hardest thing I ever had to do on the wrestling mat was go through the wrestle-backs that senior year. As disappointed as I was at the time, I am just as proud of the fact that I battled back to third place, beating two guys (Tom Brands and Jason Kelber) who would go on to win national championships as well. I am so glad the coaches pushed me not to give up and battle back.
There are many more, but enough for now. I hope this will help you out.
