Sophomore heavyweight Jarod Trice uses 2010 to refocus
Jarod Trice did not meet his expectations last year.
Trice said he knew he was better than people he was losing to and, after a season of double-digit loses, he realized he needed more help than he thought.
The coaching staff told him it knew where Trice could capitalize on other heavyweights and, this year, Trice started listening.
“I really started to listen to my coaches more,” he said. “Now, I notice the guys I am wrestling are strong and big, but they get tired. I use a lot of my quickness now, which isn’t what I did last year because I wasn’t in the right mindset ... I wasn’t listening to my coaches.”
Trice has started the 2009-10 season 17-1 with wins over 2007 NCAA runner-up Aaron Anspach (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), two-time All-American David Zabriskie (Iowa State) and No. 14 Clayton Jack (Oregon State), who is tied for fifth in the nation with 30 wins.
A year after going 7-8 in matches decided by two points or less, Trice sits at 6-1 in those same matches this year.
“I’m faster and in better shape than everyone I wrestle,” he said. Trice’s attitude toward wrestling and getting better is something coach Tom Borrelli has noticed a difference in, he said.
“He has matured some and he is getting better at wrestling skill-wise,” Borrelli said. “He has always been a very good athlete and has had a lot of passion for what he has done but, now, he has been able to focus some of that more.”
Part of that attitude is Trice’s knowledge of when he needs to turn his focus on. Last year, Trice said he too often would not put forth the effort at practice that an All-American hopeful should, and the results showed on the mat.
This year is all about getting focused at the start of the week and staying that way until the weekend is over, he said.
“I turn that switch on at the beginning of the week when I know I have to compete,” Trice said. “I walk into the wrestling room and turn that switch on and keep it going. You can’t just come up to match without training hard and just sitting around at practice.”
No longer is winning a match enough for Trice. He said he wants his opponent to know who controls the match.
“I don’t care about a pin,” he said. “I care about beating you until you can’t stand on your feet anymore.”
The smile ends at the mat
Still, there are those who see Trice’s smile before the matches and wonder if he truly is ready for his match.
Trice smiles because he is happy, he said, especially to be in front of crowds that cheer him on.
“I like to smile,” he said. “Ask anyone on campus, they see me and I might have a bad day, sometimes, but I got a smile on my face, because you can’t let stuff knock you down. You have to go in with a positive attitude.”
Borrelli said while Trice may be smiling, it does not deter his confidence in his abilities once the match starts.
“Some people have a hard time dealing with that he is kind of a goofy guy,” Borrelli said. “He likes to have a good time and stay loose. Once he steps on the mat, everything changes.”
