The relationships that I forged while wrestling at PSU are what I remember most fondly. I have my closest friends in the world from that wrestling room. I always say to myself, “If I can get up at 6 AM to go to wrestling practice and wrestle on those colds mats, I can do anything.”
To me, PSU wrestling makes “men” out of boys. And that started with Coach Lorenzo, who taught us that there are no “gray areas”—only black and white—and to do what’s right. Coach also led by example. That was evident from watching him while we were cleaning the stadium after a football game. There was Coach Lorenzo, bending his big body down (afro and all), going to some far off corner under the bleachers to pick up a lone cigarette butt. That taught me that the devil is in the details, and if you are going to do something, do it right—all the way—and show some pride in your work.
I also take great pride in the all the other PSU wrestling alumni and how successful the group as a whole is in their respective fields. I challenge anybody to point to a program that has produced as many quality people in their careers and communities.
