Making his mark on the mats
MARY ALBL
Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Sports
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"The transition, I think I was more ready for it," Smith said. "I was looking forward to it. The better competition, the better matches, I was kind of preparing myself for it. It's a lot tougher mentally, a lot more training, a lot faster paced, so I think I was ready for it."
What helped Smith prepare for this season and the challenge of college wrestling was the fact that he trained and worked out with the Bronco Wrestling Club during last spring. Smith said that was one of the biggest factors in helping him have a smooth transition.
Currently Smith is 17-1 with the Broncos and having an incredible year on the mat. One of the highlights of the season was his first official match with the team when he faced the Pacific Athletic Conference No.1 wrestler Ian Murphy of Cal State Fullerton. Smith ended up winning the match 3-2.
"It was pretty nerve wracking," Smith said. "But I've been in bigger and tougher matches. It was still never-wracking, it was my first match in a Bronco singlet on, you always remember your first match."
Before that match, Smith was wrestling unattached for the team as a red-shirt. He said that the coaches had him start off that way to see were he was at and how he was going to be against the rest of the nation.
"I went around under the Bronco Wrestling Club, which allowed me to go to open tournaments," Smith said. "I still wrestled big name guys and kind of used that as a landmark to see if I wanted to come out."
Before Smith started his assault on collegiate opponents, he was one of the top wrestlers in the nation in high school.
While wrestling for Centennial High School, Smith won four national championships, 15 All-American honors, numerous state and district titles and was the top wrestler in the nation at 171 pounds.
With such a lofty resume, Smith decided to stick at home and wrestle for the Broncos.
"I've know (Assistant Coach) Chris Owens for a long time," Smith said. "Here I had a long history, I could feel comfortable around them. They're always looking out for the best in the individual. I like that in a program."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
K.C. McGregor
posted 1/25/08 @ 5:59 PM MST
Nice article. Great job. Nice to see the BSU wrestling team getting SOME coverage.
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