Yes, Gopher Wrestling fans the season is almost upon us...with our first action at the Daktronics Invitational on Sunday Nov. 4th in South Dakota!! This tournament will be broadcast live on FloWrestling.com/BTN+.
Every year Gophersports.com does interviews with our new incoming freshmen, so far four of them have been posted online, so I've included them here. They are elite/near elite recruits and they all have lofty goals of being multi-year All Americans (AA's) and Natty Champs/multi-year Natty Champs! I hope they all get close to reaching their goals, that would be great for us!!!
Here are the profile interviews followed by my discussion of Carson Kharchla's commitment to OSU (yes, ouch!!!!!):
Freshman Focus: Kasper McIntosh
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/8/2018
Kasper McIntosh from Portage, Ind.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to move to Minnesota and join the Gophers. Why did you decide to become a Gopher?
Kasper McIntosh: I wanted to become a gopher because I knew it was the best place for wrestling and academics.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
KM: I was welcomed by the team right away and everyone is really cool to hang out with. The practices are really tough, but my coaches and teammates are helping me to get better at an extremely fast rate every day.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
KM: My style of wrestling is relaxed. I just go out there excited to compete and show people all the hard work I put in.
GS: What was your experience being coached by former Gopher Leroy Vega?
KM: Coach Vega is a tough coach, he has taught me everything I need to know about being disciplined on and off the mat and to wrestle hard. Being coached by a Minnesota alumni has made the transition to the "U" a lot easier because the practices and expectations of the coaches are similar; to wrestle hard and stay on top of my academics.
GS: What are you expectations this season?
KM: My expectations for this are to get bigger stronger and train hard every day, then go back home and whoop on my high school coaches Leroy Vega, Sean McMurray, and Eric Keith.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have like to have accomplished?
KM: I plan to be a multiple NCAA champion, to graduate with a degree, and to be remembered as one of the greatest wrestlers to step on a wrestling mat.
GS: What do you like to do off of the wrestling mat? What are your hobbies?
KM: Off of the mat I like to hang out with my teammates and transition the grind of wrestling to Fortnite. I also like to play some video games, read, watching movies, and writing poems.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would it be and why?
KM: I honestly can't see myself in any other sport, wrestling has opened so many doors for me and turned me into the man I am today. I owe a lot to this sport.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
KM: When I was little my dad took me to my first wrestling meet at a local high school where we lived and I instantly fell in love with the competitiveness of the sport.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
KM: My first memory is the same memory that made me start wrestling. When my dad and I went to the local high school wrestling meet I remember telling him that I really liked the sport and that I wanted to wrestle and seeing how happy he was that I was beginning to have the same passion for the sport that he loved was the greatest feeling ever.
GS: Do you have any pre match routines?
KM: I don't have any match rituals, I just like to stay calm and relaxed and excited to go out and compete my hardest to show people how hard I train.
GS: When did you decide/realize that you could become a collegiate wrestler?
KM: When I started beating ranked guys in high school and guys that were already committing to schools.
GS: How do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
KM: By just telling myself that this is the reason I train hard every day, and thinking forward to my goals and where they will take me.
GS: What is the biggest difference between Indiana and Minnesota that you have noticed so far?
KM: All the lakes! The temperature isn't that much different from northwest Indiana, but being in a big city is a huge difference. I am always meeting new people and I love it.
Freshman Focus: Jake Gliva
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/11/2018
Jake Gliva. A Minnesota native from Inver Grove Heights, Gliva is a three-time individual state champion from Simley High School, a Junior Folkstyle National Champion and Fargo All-American.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to stay in Minnesota and Join the Gophers. Why did you decide to become a Gopher?
Jake Gliva: I loved the coaches and the guys on the team and it seemed like a great atmosphere. I also love Minnesota and wanted to stay close to home.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
JG: I felt like I have been here for years. The team was really welcoming and cool. I am starting to adjust to the college level of wrestling with the help of the whole team.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
JG: My style is relaxed but I'm constantly going forward and looking to score.
GS: What are your expectations this season?
JG: It is definitely going to be tough and different from before but I'm going to be looking to improve every match and every practice.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have like to have accomplished?
JG: My goal is to be a national champ, multiple All-American and also graduate with a degree from Minnesota.
GS: Do you have any pre-match routines?
JG: I always just try to stay calm, relaxed and loose. I try staying away from being tense and scared.
GS: When did you realize you wanted become a collegiate wrestler?
JG: It was always a dream to be able to wrestle DI since I was young. It was around my sophomore year in high school where I realized I wouldn't know what to do without wrestling.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches. How do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
JG: I try to stay as calm as possible and just focus on feeling good and wrestling well.
GS: What is it like being able to celebrate a state title with your teammates?
JG: It was an awesome experience. We put in a lot of work the years we run and it was awesome to see it pay off.
GS: Describe your relationship with your brother Kyle, who wrestled at NDSU.
JG: Kyle is one of my closest friends and one of my biggest influences. He has helped a lot with the mental part of wrestling and just always staying positive.
GS: What do you like to do off of the wrestling mat?
JG: Outside of wrestling I like spending my time with family and friends, playing videos, or golfing with my brother.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would that be and why?
JG: I would play baseball. I grew up playing it and loved it. Baseball was definitely my favorite sport after wrestling.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
JG: My dad wrestled in High school and college and he got both my brother and me into the sport when we were young. I have loved wrestling since the first time I started.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
JG: My favorite memory in wrestling was winning state for the very first time. My cousin won state the weight below me that year so it was really cool for the both of us winning back to back.
GS: What is your earliest wrestling memory?
JG: My earliest wrestling memory goes back to when I was about 5 years old taking 2nd in my very first tournament.
Freshman Focus: Garrett Joles
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/15/2018
As the Gopher wrestling season nears and practice has begun, Gophersports.com will bring in the 2018 freshmen class and get to know them as they begin their wrestling careers at the University of Minnesota. Today we sat down with Garrett Joles. A Boyceville, Wis., native, Joles was a two-time Wisconsin State Champion and two-time state runner-up. He was awarded All-American honors from USA Wrestling and the NHSCA and was a four-time Wrestling All-State Academic award winner.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to move to Minnesota and join the Gophers.
GJ: I decided to become a Gopher because I knew that the support, knowledge and guidance of the Minnesota coaches were second to none. I knew that I wouldn't be able to find other coaches that were as down to earth as the coaches here. The academic and athletic support provided by the University of Minnesota is amazing and provides me with many opportunities to succeed, not only as an athlete but as a student. After some thinking it was obvious that Minnesota was the way to go.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches, how do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
GJ: Prior to big matches I realize how much I enjoy the challenge and am excited to test myself. Big matches are what I look forward to the most and are what make the sport exciting for me. I mentally prepare for these matches by telling myself to be confident in myself and of my will. I smile and enjoy the moment. This helps me kill the nerves and enjoy the moment.
GS: Do you have any pre match routines?
GJ: I'm not a huge fan of music, or haven't been in the past anyway. In the past I usually just throw on my head gear, hit my head gear a few times, just zone in, think of a game plan and what scores I am going to work for during the match.
GS: What goes into winning a state championship that others might not see?
GJ: By loving the sport and making wrestling more of a fun activity, more so than making it a job. Also by surrounding yourself with the right people who want the best for you, and will push you to become the best you are capable of. Many people probably don't see this.
GS: Describe your style of wrestling?
GJ: I would describe my style of wrestling as relaxed and explosive.
GS: What are you expectations this season?
GJ: My main goal is to better my knowledge in wrestling, improve my skills on the mat and to get stronger.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have liked to have accomplished?
GJ: In the end I want to be an NCAA Champion and be on a NCAA Championship team. Simple as that.
GS: What do you like to do off the wrestling mat?
GJ: Aside from wrestling, I like to fish during the summer and hunt during the fall. Every week in the fall I usually try to run home so I can bow hunt and spend time with my family. I also enjoy watching my younger brother play baseball during the summer and fall.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
GJ: After being at the University of Minnesota I have come to the conclusion that life here is as easy as it was at home. The practices have challenged me but have also given me something to look forward to every day. They are a lot of fun and have brought me closer to my coaches and teammates. Life here is as easy as it would be if I were still at home because I am surrounded by my best friends and my wrestling family, which is something that I am very glad to have and keeps me from being homesick.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
GJ: I started wrestling at the age of three. My dad was in charge of the youth wrestling program at the time so he always brought me with and I have been involved in wrestling ever since.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
GJ: My favorite wrestling memory was winning my first state championship my junior year, just after watching two of my teammates win their state championship matches only moments before I stepped on the mat. The positive energy and excitement that I got while watching my teammates succeed transferred over into my match and I had one of most dominating performances that I had ever had. This match really helped me realize how much I loved the sport of wrestling. It was truly something special sharing that moment with two of my other teammates.
GS: When did you decide or realize that you could become a collegiate wrestler?
GJ: My sophomore year I lost my state finals match in the final seconds of the match. I was devastated and the loss left me extremely hungry to get better. Later that spring I quit baseball and decided to only train for wrestling. At that point I knew that wrestling was the sport I wanted to give my all in.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would that be and why?
GJ: If I were to compete in a different sport I would choose baseball because I played it in high school and I really enjoyed it, and it is a pretty easy going sport compared to wrestling.
Freshman Focus: Brayton Lee
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/19/2018
Brayton Lee. Lee travels to Minnesota as a three-time Indiana State Champion, a three-time Fargo All-American and a 2018 Junior Fargo National Champion.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to move to Minnesota and join the Gophers.
Brayton Lee: I moved to Minnesota because I feel like this is the greatest place on earth to become my best self. I feel that my coaches here at the University of Minnesota are beyond capable of helping me achieve my goals. These coaches are also men I aspire to be like, coach Eggum, Sanders, Becker, Brandvold, and Schlatter are all incredible men who can help me in all aspects of life. I decided to become a Gopher because this place is special.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
BL: The practices have been great. I've been pushed in all areas of my wrestling. I'm starting to feel things that I have never felt before because of all my amazing teammates. The coaches have been very encouraging and helpful in my first month. My teammates are becoming my brothers. Waking up with Patrick McKee at 5:30 will never be easy, but every day I'm proud of the way we are working. The bond we are all building is very unique.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
BL: If I was to describe my wrestling I would use the word exciting. I want to score the most points in NCAA wrestling. I want to be able to put on a show and share with everyone how much fun I'm having out there.
GS: What are you expectations this season?
BL: My goals and expectations for this season are to continue to grow in all areas of my wrestling, having fun, and keep trying to score as many points as possible.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you like to have accomplished?
BL: I want to be a four-time NCAA Champion, and Olympic Champion.
GS: What are your hobbies off of the mat?
BL: When I'm off the wrestling mat I love being around friends, family and getting to know new people. I like watching football quite a bit. I also am really bad at video games, but it's usually a way I interact with my buddies back home.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
BL: My first, and longtime, coach Chad Red deserves all the credit in the world for pushing me every day and was invested in my development. My dad had me practicing with Coach Red at an early age. Those two put me on the right path early on.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
BL: These two memories are both recent, but I do think that I will remember them for a long time. The first memory is the Dream Team Classic. It was my last match at my high school gym and I was able to wrestle one of the best kids in the country. I enjoyed wrestling in my hometown with my parents, friends and family there. It was an emotional weekend and I was so grateful I was able to be with my friends and family. It was the best of both worlds. I also really enjoyed winning Fargo this past summer. I think it's a great memory because so many people have invested time into me, and it was a good way to end my high school wrestling career.
GS: Describe your experience becoming a Junior Fargo National Champion.
BL: It was a really fun weekend. Overall I was just grateful to be there one last time to hopefully achieve one of my biggest goal. I had taken third twice, so to be able to keep going, and get better felt great. I felt like I earned that one, I had to work for it and it was definitely not given. It was so much fun being with my family and girlfriend and I was just trying to enjoy the moment because I knew this was my last time going.
GS: Do you think experiences like that will help you as a Gopher?
BL: I do think this experience will help me as a Gopher. I had to keep working for this goal year after year and being a college wrestler I think you need to stay positive and just keep growing.
GS: Do you have any pre match routines?
BL: My pre match routines mostly consist of listening to music, trying to stay calm, and keeping positive thoughts going.
GS: When did you realize that you could become a collegiate wrestler?
BL: I'm not quite sure when I realized I could be a college wrestler. It was always a goal of mine but I have to thank all the people who were so positive in my life and filled me with kind words growing up. There have been so many great people who have been so supportive, and eventually one thing led to another.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches, how do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
BL: I mentally prepare by reminding myself of all the extra workouts I've had, all the times I have given everything in a workout, and reminding myself that god is good and I just want to glorify him, win or lose. I also like to remind myself that everyone has nerves, Kyle Snyder, Jordan Burroughs, and David Taylor they all have nerves. But it just shows that I care and I try to turn those nerves into being excited.
GS: What is the biggest difference between Indiana and Minnesota that you have noticed so far?
BL: A difference between Indiana and Minnesota that I have noticed is that people pronounce "talk" very differently. Back home in Indy we pronounce talk by saying "talk" here people sound like there saying "TOCK". Another word Minnesotans say differently here is bag. We say bag in Indy but I can't even explain how they say it here. Last but not least, Minnesotans say cabin for any house that is located on the edge of a lake, even if it isn't a cabin made out of wood. In Indiana we say Lake House unless you own a legit cabin.
Ohio State receives commitment from No. 5 Kharchla
Carson Kharchla won a Fargo freestyle title this past summer (Photo/Jim Thrall)
InterMat Staff
10/19/2018
On Friday, Ohio State added to an already strong recruiting class with the addition of Carson Kharchla (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), one of the nation's top seniors.
He announced his commitment to Ohio State on Twitter.
Kharchla is ranked as the nation's No. 5 overall senior recruit. He becomes the fifth top-100 commit for the Buckeyes in the Class of 2019, joining Greg Kerkvliet, Dylan D'Emilio, as well as Jordan and Jacob Decatur. Ohio State has now landed three of the nation's top five recruits in the Class of 2019.
Kharchla won a state title this past season and carried the momentum into the summer as he won a Junior National freestyle title in Fargo.
We were likely in the final two for Kharchla, and it seemed like it should go our way, but it did not.
Yes, it's always hard to take a truly elite wrestler out of Ohio, Pennsylvania, or even Iowa when they have elite wrestling programs like OSU, PSU and IA (in those states) who also want that wrestler. And, it looked like we were (logically) the better choice for CK, as we had a clear opening in our line-up at 174#s, where OSU is already stacked with elite level wrestlers at 165, 174 and 184#s. So Kharchla may not even get a chance to start for 3-4 years like he would have at MN.
CK's decision is quite disappointing to me. But this is part of a big trend where elite recruits end up committed to OSU and PSU, even though both teams are completely stacked at and around their projected weight class. We were in the running last year for both Roman Bravo-Young and Jarod Veerkleeren, and we lost both of them to PSU in this exact same situation.
We are still likely in the top 2 (vs VA Tech) for #15 Carter Starocci of PA, and it's not clear what will happen here.
While CK's commitment is very disappointing, we will still have a much improved team this year over last year. And if our 2018 class (of 10!!) really maximizes their potential, we can still be competitive near the top of the B1G and in D1 overall. Eggum and his coaches have done well in stabilizing the program from the disastrous JRob drug scandal, and they have put recruiting on the right track. But, we still need more.
Annoying, disappointing, and a major gut punch...but life goes on. We are still on the rise!!
C'mon Carter Starocci...join us and help us get to the top!!!
Every year Gophersports.com does interviews with our new incoming freshmen, so far four of them have been posted online, so I've included them here. They are elite/near elite recruits and they all have lofty goals of being multi-year All Americans (AA's) and Natty Champs/multi-year Natty Champs! I hope they all get close to reaching their goals, that would be great for us!!!
Here are the profile interviews followed by my discussion of Carson Kharchla's commitment to OSU (yes, ouch!!!!!):
Freshman Focus: Kasper McIntosh
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/8/2018
Kasper McIntosh from Portage, Ind.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to move to Minnesota and join the Gophers. Why did you decide to become a Gopher?
Kasper McIntosh: I wanted to become a gopher because I knew it was the best place for wrestling and academics.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
KM: I was welcomed by the team right away and everyone is really cool to hang out with. The practices are really tough, but my coaches and teammates are helping me to get better at an extremely fast rate every day.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
KM: My style of wrestling is relaxed. I just go out there excited to compete and show people all the hard work I put in.
GS: What was your experience being coached by former Gopher Leroy Vega?
KM: Coach Vega is a tough coach, he has taught me everything I need to know about being disciplined on and off the mat and to wrestle hard. Being coached by a Minnesota alumni has made the transition to the "U" a lot easier because the practices and expectations of the coaches are similar; to wrestle hard and stay on top of my academics.
GS: What are you expectations this season?
KM: My expectations for this are to get bigger stronger and train hard every day, then go back home and whoop on my high school coaches Leroy Vega, Sean McMurray, and Eric Keith.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have like to have accomplished?
KM: I plan to be a multiple NCAA champion, to graduate with a degree, and to be remembered as one of the greatest wrestlers to step on a wrestling mat.
GS: What do you like to do off of the wrestling mat? What are your hobbies?
KM: Off of the mat I like to hang out with my teammates and transition the grind of wrestling to Fortnite. I also like to play some video games, read, watching movies, and writing poems.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would it be and why?
KM: I honestly can't see myself in any other sport, wrestling has opened so many doors for me and turned me into the man I am today. I owe a lot to this sport.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
KM: When I was little my dad took me to my first wrestling meet at a local high school where we lived and I instantly fell in love with the competitiveness of the sport.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
KM: My first memory is the same memory that made me start wrestling. When my dad and I went to the local high school wrestling meet I remember telling him that I really liked the sport and that I wanted to wrestle and seeing how happy he was that I was beginning to have the same passion for the sport that he loved was the greatest feeling ever.
GS: Do you have any pre match routines?
KM: I don't have any match rituals, I just like to stay calm and relaxed and excited to go out and compete my hardest to show people how hard I train.
GS: When did you decide/realize that you could become a collegiate wrestler?
KM: When I started beating ranked guys in high school and guys that were already committing to schools.
GS: How do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
KM: By just telling myself that this is the reason I train hard every day, and thinking forward to my goals and where they will take me.
GS: What is the biggest difference between Indiana and Minnesota that you have noticed so far?
KM: All the lakes! The temperature isn't that much different from northwest Indiana, but being in a big city is a huge difference. I am always meeting new people and I love it.
Freshman Focus: Jake Gliva
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/11/2018
Jake Gliva. A Minnesota native from Inver Grove Heights, Gliva is a three-time individual state champion from Simley High School, a Junior Folkstyle National Champion and Fargo All-American.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to stay in Minnesota and Join the Gophers. Why did you decide to become a Gopher?
Jake Gliva: I loved the coaches and the guys on the team and it seemed like a great atmosphere. I also love Minnesota and wanted to stay close to home.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
JG: I felt like I have been here for years. The team was really welcoming and cool. I am starting to adjust to the college level of wrestling with the help of the whole team.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
JG: My style is relaxed but I'm constantly going forward and looking to score.
GS: What are your expectations this season?
JG: It is definitely going to be tough and different from before but I'm going to be looking to improve every match and every practice.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have like to have accomplished?
JG: My goal is to be a national champ, multiple All-American and also graduate with a degree from Minnesota.
GS: Do you have any pre-match routines?
JG: I always just try to stay calm, relaxed and loose. I try staying away from being tense and scared.
GS: When did you realize you wanted become a collegiate wrestler?
JG: It was always a dream to be able to wrestle DI since I was young. It was around my sophomore year in high school where I realized I wouldn't know what to do without wrestling.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches. How do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
JG: I try to stay as calm as possible and just focus on feeling good and wrestling well.
GS: What is it like being able to celebrate a state title with your teammates?
JG: It was an awesome experience. We put in a lot of work the years we run and it was awesome to see it pay off.
GS: Describe your relationship with your brother Kyle, who wrestled at NDSU.
JG: Kyle is one of my closest friends and one of my biggest influences. He has helped a lot with the mental part of wrestling and just always staying positive.
GS: What do you like to do off of the wrestling mat?
JG: Outside of wrestling I like spending my time with family and friends, playing videos, or golfing with my brother.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would that be and why?
JG: I would play baseball. I grew up playing it and loved it. Baseball was definitely my favorite sport after wrestling.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
JG: My dad wrestled in High school and college and he got both my brother and me into the sport when we were young. I have loved wrestling since the first time I started.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
JG: My favorite memory in wrestling was winning state for the very first time. My cousin won state the weight below me that year so it was really cool for the both of us winning back to back.
GS: What is your earliest wrestling memory?
JG: My earliest wrestling memory goes back to when I was about 5 years old taking 2nd in my very first tournament.
Freshman Focus: Garrett Joles
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/15/2018
As the Gopher wrestling season nears and practice has begun, Gophersports.com will bring in the 2018 freshmen class and get to know them as they begin their wrestling careers at the University of Minnesota. Today we sat down with Garrett Joles. A Boyceville, Wis., native, Joles was a two-time Wisconsin State Champion and two-time state runner-up. He was awarded All-American honors from USA Wrestling and the NHSCA and was a four-time Wrestling All-State Academic award winner.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to move to Minnesota and join the Gophers.
GJ: I decided to become a Gopher because I knew that the support, knowledge and guidance of the Minnesota coaches were second to none. I knew that I wouldn't be able to find other coaches that were as down to earth as the coaches here. The academic and athletic support provided by the University of Minnesota is amazing and provides me with many opportunities to succeed, not only as an athlete but as a student. After some thinking it was obvious that Minnesota was the way to go.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches, how do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
GJ: Prior to big matches I realize how much I enjoy the challenge and am excited to test myself. Big matches are what I look forward to the most and are what make the sport exciting for me. I mentally prepare for these matches by telling myself to be confident in myself and of my will. I smile and enjoy the moment. This helps me kill the nerves and enjoy the moment.
GS: Do you have any pre match routines?
GJ: I'm not a huge fan of music, or haven't been in the past anyway. In the past I usually just throw on my head gear, hit my head gear a few times, just zone in, think of a game plan and what scores I am going to work for during the match.
GS: What goes into winning a state championship that others might not see?
GJ: By loving the sport and making wrestling more of a fun activity, more so than making it a job. Also by surrounding yourself with the right people who want the best for you, and will push you to become the best you are capable of. Many people probably don't see this.
GS: Describe your style of wrestling?
GJ: I would describe my style of wrestling as relaxed and explosive.
GS: What are you expectations this season?
GJ: My main goal is to better my knowledge in wrestling, improve my skills on the mat and to get stronger.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have liked to have accomplished?
GJ: In the end I want to be an NCAA Champion and be on a NCAA Championship team. Simple as that.
GS: What do you like to do off the wrestling mat?
GJ: Aside from wrestling, I like to fish during the summer and hunt during the fall. Every week in the fall I usually try to run home so I can bow hunt and spend time with my family. I also enjoy watching my younger brother play baseball during the summer and fall.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
GJ: After being at the University of Minnesota I have come to the conclusion that life here is as easy as it was at home. The practices have challenged me but have also given me something to look forward to every day. They are a lot of fun and have brought me closer to my coaches and teammates. Life here is as easy as it would be if I were still at home because I am surrounded by my best friends and my wrestling family, which is something that I am very glad to have and keeps me from being homesick.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
GJ: I started wrestling at the age of three. My dad was in charge of the youth wrestling program at the time so he always brought me with and I have been involved in wrestling ever since.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
GJ: My favorite wrestling memory was winning my first state championship my junior year, just after watching two of my teammates win their state championship matches only moments before I stepped on the mat. The positive energy and excitement that I got while watching my teammates succeed transferred over into my match and I had one of most dominating performances that I had ever had. This match really helped me realize how much I loved the sport of wrestling. It was truly something special sharing that moment with two of my other teammates.
GS: When did you decide or realize that you could become a collegiate wrestler?
GJ: My sophomore year I lost my state finals match in the final seconds of the match. I was devastated and the loss left me extremely hungry to get better. Later that spring I quit baseball and decided to only train for wrestling. At that point I knew that wrestling was the sport I wanted to give my all in.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would that be and why?
GJ: If I were to compete in a different sport I would choose baseball because I played it in high school and I really enjoyed it, and it is a pretty easy going sport compared to wrestling.
Freshman Focus: Brayton Lee
Gophersports.com
Wrestling
10/19/2018
Brayton Lee. Lee travels to Minnesota as a three-time Indiana State Champion, a three-time Fargo All-American and a 2018 Junior Fargo National Champion.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to move to Minnesota and join the Gophers.
Brayton Lee: I moved to Minnesota because I feel like this is the greatest place on earth to become my best self. I feel that my coaches here at the University of Minnesota are beyond capable of helping me achieve my goals. These coaches are also men I aspire to be like, coach Eggum, Sanders, Becker, Brandvold, and Schlatter are all incredible men who can help me in all aspects of life. I decided to become a Gopher because this place is special.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
BL: The practices have been great. I've been pushed in all areas of my wrestling. I'm starting to feel things that I have never felt before because of all my amazing teammates. The coaches have been very encouraging and helpful in my first month. My teammates are becoming my brothers. Waking up with Patrick McKee at 5:30 will never be easy, but every day I'm proud of the way we are working. The bond we are all building is very unique.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
BL: If I was to describe my wrestling I would use the word exciting. I want to score the most points in NCAA wrestling. I want to be able to put on a show and share with everyone how much fun I'm having out there.
GS: What are you expectations this season?
BL: My goals and expectations for this season are to continue to grow in all areas of my wrestling, having fun, and keep trying to score as many points as possible.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you like to have accomplished?
BL: I want to be a four-time NCAA Champion, and Olympic Champion.
GS: What are your hobbies off of the mat?
BL: When I'm off the wrestling mat I love being around friends, family and getting to know new people. I like watching football quite a bit. I also am really bad at video games, but it's usually a way I interact with my buddies back home.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
BL: My first, and longtime, coach Chad Red deserves all the credit in the world for pushing me every day and was invested in my development. My dad had me practicing with Coach Red at an early age. Those two put me on the right path early on.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
BL: These two memories are both recent, but I do think that I will remember them for a long time. The first memory is the Dream Team Classic. It was my last match at my high school gym and I was able to wrestle one of the best kids in the country. I enjoyed wrestling in my hometown with my parents, friends and family there. It was an emotional weekend and I was so grateful I was able to be with my friends and family. It was the best of both worlds. I also really enjoyed winning Fargo this past summer. I think it's a great memory because so many people have invested time into me, and it was a good way to end my high school wrestling career.
GS: Describe your experience becoming a Junior Fargo National Champion.
BL: It was a really fun weekend. Overall I was just grateful to be there one last time to hopefully achieve one of my biggest goal. I had taken third twice, so to be able to keep going, and get better felt great. I felt like I earned that one, I had to work for it and it was definitely not given. It was so much fun being with my family and girlfriend and I was just trying to enjoy the moment because I knew this was my last time going.
GS: Do you think experiences like that will help you as a Gopher?
BL: I do think this experience will help me as a Gopher. I had to keep working for this goal year after year and being a college wrestler I think you need to stay positive and just keep growing.
GS: Do you have any pre match routines?
BL: My pre match routines mostly consist of listening to music, trying to stay calm, and keeping positive thoughts going.
GS: When did you realize that you could become a collegiate wrestler?
BL: I'm not quite sure when I realized I could be a college wrestler. It was always a goal of mine but I have to thank all the people who were so positive in my life and filled me with kind words growing up. There have been so many great people who have been so supportive, and eventually one thing led to another.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches, how do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
BL: I mentally prepare by reminding myself of all the extra workouts I've had, all the times I have given everything in a workout, and reminding myself that god is good and I just want to glorify him, win or lose. I also like to remind myself that everyone has nerves, Kyle Snyder, Jordan Burroughs, and David Taylor they all have nerves. But it just shows that I care and I try to turn those nerves into being excited.
GS: What is the biggest difference between Indiana and Minnesota that you have noticed so far?
BL: A difference between Indiana and Minnesota that I have noticed is that people pronounce "talk" very differently. Back home in Indy we pronounce talk by saying "talk" here people sound like there saying "TOCK". Another word Minnesotans say differently here is bag. We say bag in Indy but I can't even explain how they say it here. Last but not least, Minnesotans say cabin for any house that is located on the edge of a lake, even if it isn't a cabin made out of wood. In Indiana we say Lake House unless you own a legit cabin.
Ohio State receives commitment from No. 5 Kharchla
Carson Kharchla won a Fargo freestyle title this past summer (Photo/Jim Thrall)
InterMat Staff
10/19/2018
On Friday, Ohio State added to an already strong recruiting class with the addition of Carson Kharchla (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), one of the nation's top seniors.
He announced his commitment to Ohio State on Twitter.
Kharchla is ranked as the nation's No. 5 overall senior recruit. He becomes the fifth top-100 commit for the Buckeyes in the Class of 2019, joining Greg Kerkvliet, Dylan D'Emilio, as well as Jordan and Jacob Decatur. Ohio State has now landed three of the nation's top five recruits in the Class of 2019.
Kharchla won a state title this past season and carried the momentum into the summer as he won a Junior National freestyle title in Fargo.
We were likely in the final two for Kharchla, and it seemed like it should go our way, but it did not.
Yes, it's always hard to take a truly elite wrestler out of Ohio, Pennsylvania, or even Iowa when they have elite wrestling programs like OSU, PSU and IA (in those states) who also want that wrestler. And, it looked like we were (logically) the better choice for CK, as we had a clear opening in our line-up at 174#s, where OSU is already stacked with elite level wrestlers at 165, 174 and 184#s. So Kharchla may not even get a chance to start for 3-4 years like he would have at MN.
CK's decision is quite disappointing to me. But this is part of a big trend where elite recruits end up committed to OSU and PSU, even though both teams are completely stacked at and around their projected weight class. We were in the running last year for both Roman Bravo-Young and Jarod Veerkleeren, and we lost both of them to PSU in this exact same situation.
We are still likely in the top 2 (vs VA Tech) for #15 Carter Starocci of PA, and it's not clear what will happen here.
While CK's commitment is very disappointing, we will still have a much improved team this year over last year. And if our 2018 class (of 10!!) really maximizes their potential, we can still be competitive near the top of the B1G and in D1 overall. Eggum and his coaches have done well in stabilizing the program from the disastrous JRob drug scandal, and they have put recruiting on the right track. But, we still need more.
Annoying, disappointing, and a major gut punch...but life goes on. We are still on the rise!!
C'mon Carter Starocci...join us and help us get to the top!!!
