The annual App State wrestling media day came and went on Tuesday, October 27. Featured with this year’s Mountaineer squad is head coach JohnMark Bentley and wrestlers Tomas Brooker, Jerry Price, Kaden Keiser and Stephan Monchery.
We’ll chat with each as they look forward to another season of SoCon wrestling with some starters to replace and some new goals to reach.
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Short Time Wrestling Podcast: Episode 793 –Recorded October 27, 2025.
We’ll chat with each as they look forward to another season of SoCon wrestling with some starters to replace and some new goals to reach.
Save $20 on an annual BTN+ subscription! Sign up by going to mattalkonline.com/btnplus and entering promo code MATTALK20 at checkout!
Want an ad-free version of the show AND the best in wrestling news from around the world? Sign up for the Daily Wrestling Newsletter presented by Resilite on Substack at https://www.mattalkonline.com/news
Links to Follow
Join the Discord: https://www.mattalkonline.com/discord
Daily Wrestling Newsletter: https://www.mattalkonline.com/news
Contribute: https://www.mattalkonline.com/contribute
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattalkonline
The Short Time Time Wrestling Podcast is proudly supported by Compound Sportswear: https://www.mattalkonline.com/compound
Quick Subscribe: https://www.Podfollow.com/shorttime
Short Time Wrestling Podcast: Episode 793 –Recorded October 27, 2025.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
WHOA back again. It's the Short Time Wrestling podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I'm your host.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hall of Fame wrestling writer, broadcaster and announcer Jason Bryant
doubled up this week. Had Tony Mellinson, the filmmaker behind
Iron Maidens Wrestling for Glory, the women's and girls wrestling
documentary based out in Western Pennsylvania, on the previous episode
of Short Time, I encourage you to go out and
listen to that. Today on the show, it's a return
to app State media Day. Yet we go down to Boone,
(00:45):
North Carolina and coach John Mark Bentley has a number
of his wrestlers here. This has been a recurring theme
the last couple of years here on Short Time app
State and their sid Breads Free logo, they reach out
and said, hey, we got media day.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
When are you available? Yep, I'm available.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I love jumping on and focusing on things that are
just outside of the power programs. You know, I came
from a mid major. I always have a you know,
a place in my mind in my heart for small
college programs and the schools that I don't want to
say have nots because you make a lot with what
you're giving, but you know, the group of six. If
(01:21):
you're looking at football and the D two, the D three,
the ANI. I really like to focus attention on those
programs and app state. You know, they've knocked off some
giants over the years. So coach John Mark Bentley, they
do this media day and that's what we got. So
a couple athletes. I got five athletes out here. Some
are in Savor Qualifier Summer names. You don't know summer names.
You are going to find out who they are. So
(01:42):
we'll sit back relaxed. There's also some folks you might
recognize on the call. But before we get to that,
I am going to talk about the P four or
the Power four for just a minute because Big ten Plus,
the Big ten Network reached out and has an offer
for you the Matt Talk listener. So if you get
a Matt Talk on line dot com slash btn plus,
that's going to take you right to the Big ten
(02:04):
Network page if you need a annual subscription and you
have not signed up. Because wrestling season starts this week
as we record this October twenty ninth, wrestling season is
here for Division one of course, California and junior colleges.
We know they've been going on since September. Don't want
to exclude them. Went to their championships last year, which
was pretty cool. But the duel meets and the Division
(02:25):
one stuff starts November first. I think we even have
an October thirty one day. I got to check the
newsletter for the calendar regardless if you don't have it yet,
Save twenty dollars on the annual fee. By when you
go to mattok online dot com slash btn plus and
you subscribe, you click order for a year, enter promo
code coupon code matt Talk twenty m a t talk
(02:49):
two zero into the coupon code. You're gonna save twenty
bucks on the annual subscription.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah. So it's like normally like eighty nine, you're gonna get.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
It for sixty nine. Boom, it's it's savings. Hey, and
I get a little kickback off of it. Full disclosure
here too, not a ton, but enough to uh, you
know you want to thank me by getting a product.
There you go. So that's what I got. Sales pitch
is enough again. You can get the newsletter at mattalk
online dot com slash news that is going to be
ramping up here very very soon.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I mean it's been going all year. You know, we
had some cool stuff going on. Claw kicked off. That
was a fun watch. I tell you that was a
real fun watch.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Shane Sparks, Mike mcmull and Mike Malinconico on the call there.
That was that was fun. I had no idea what
to expect, but Claw that was. That was a good watch.
So check that out. That was on uh. I watched
that on Flow and then there was also a Claw
All Access which they have a subscription for too. Don't
know much about that, but yeah, Claw was fun.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
That's what I got.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So anyway to Appstate Boone, North Carolina here on the
Short Time Wrestling Podcast, and as always, I'd like to
thank you for spending your time with me because you've
always got time for SURET Time.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Good morning, Thank you to everyone that's that's on the call.
I'm excited to talk a little bit about the upcoming
season and app State Wrestling and our outlook for the
twenty five twenty sixth season.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
You know, there's a lot of.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Things that I've kind of noticed about this team throughout
the preseason. I feel like that we've got a lot
of young, energetic competitors in our room that are trying
to make a name for themselves, trying to make a mark,
and I think that's kind of been the theme this preseason,
is a little bit of youth and energy, and that's
been honestly refreshing for me. We return, we lost five
(04:38):
of our starters out of last year's team and three
national qualifiers, so we do have some holes to feel
and some positions to kind of figure out what, you know,
who we're going with and that kind of thing.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
But I'm excited about this team.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
You know, I think this team has put in a
tremendous amount of work in the off season, and I
do believe there's a lot of potential in this team.
I think we got a a lot of young guys
that are looking to make a mark and looking to
make a name for themselves. And uh, you know, so
far that this season has been a real pleasure to
train them, to be in the practice environment with them
and watch how they work, how positive their attitude has been,
(05:15):
both in the rest room and the locker room, and
you know, kind of out in the community. And I
do believe this team has some good potential. Uh you know,
I know, we got a lot of unproven guys and
a lot of young guys that you know, new faces
that might be in the lineup this year.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
But I but I'm encouraged.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I think that they've definitely put in the work and
I think that, uh, you know, we have a group
that's capable of competing at a high level and we
just need a little bit of experience. And obviously I
think this group's coming in with a lot of energy
and hopefully that will you know, develop into confidence and uh,
you know, and then eventually hope some experience and maturity.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Coach, when we look at this preseason going in to
what you've got building up for the opening weekend a
year ago, it was a vastly different scenario at app
State and in the region where you guys were helping
out the area clean up from a hurricane, and that
type of adversity through the area and team building kind
(06:17):
of carried through. And what did your team really learn
from all that and how has this preseason kind of
been more normalized after what happened last year And what
are some things that you learned from that whole process
about your team?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Well, I think both from you know, my standpoint and
from our team standpoint, it taught us a lot about resilience,
you know. I mean last year, we had the devastation
of the hurricane that happened right in the middle of
preseason and we had to pause our preseason schedule for
several weeks, and our focus turned from at that point
(06:51):
not only you know, kind of taking a minute from
preparing for the upcoming season, but to reach out and
to help our fellow people in the commun unity that
were in desperate need. And the devastation that the hurricane
brought really, uh, you know, I think showed us the
need for gratitude and to be thankful for all the
things you do have and when things you know are
(07:14):
going well. I think our guys, you know, it taught
them a little bit of resilience last year. I mean,
we spent the majority of last season without a locker room.
Our training environment was was very different, especially the first
couple of months, and we were out of the wrestling
room and having to move mats and get rid of
mats and and that kind of thing. And it took
a little bit of an adjustment, you know, the first
(07:37):
semester especially to kind of get into a normal feel,
so to speak. And I do think our guys had,
you know, showed a lot of resilience last year. Nothing
came easy. We had a lot of adversity throughout the year,
not only the hurricane, but with key injuries and things
like that, and and we still were able to come
away with a regular season and a tournament championship. And
(08:00):
you know, it wasn't pretty. I think that we you know,
we had a lot of adversity, We had a battle,
but I think our.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Guys learned a lot about.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Resilience and just staying committed to the process and the
culture of this program. And then this preseason has been
much more normal. As you said, Jason, we've had a
lot more uh you know, we've got great facilities now.
Our locker room was renovated during the the clean.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Up from the hurricanes. We have a really nice locker room.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's got you know, it's even more amenities to it
now than it had before the hurricane. And our wrestling
room is back to normal. We've added some new cardio
equipment and some weight equipment.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
At the end.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
We've got new mats that are gonna be installed tomorrow.
And uh so there's a lot of great things, but
our PRECIN has been very normal this year.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
You know, we've had a normal fall.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Schedule with our training and our facilities, and our guys
have really done a great job in this all season
of putting in the work. So you know, everything has
been very different from a year ago.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
As we move forward to your preparation looking at the schedule,
I'm a schedule guy. I love looking at attendance figures
and things like that, and you've kind of created that
rabid environment there. Look at the schedule this year. Not
a heavy non conference homeload this year. A lot of
travel this year with the non conference your home schedule
really heavy in the SOACON. SO contracts being what they are,
(09:22):
What are you looking at this year's schedule. Where do
you think it benefits your guys? The way your lineup
is set up this year, well, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
The lineup looks very different than it has I mean,
the schedule looks very different than it has in previous years.
I mean we're going to some new events. I mean,
obviously we added the Journeyman to our schedule this year.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
I think the National Duels.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
And kind of how all that's fill in the timeline
of the season probably affected a little bit of our schedule,
and so we've got a couple of new events. We
owed West Virginia dates, and we're going up there for
a quad, and we're on the road at Duke and
Virginia Tech for our non conference matches, and then the
(10:03):
only non conference home match we have is n C State, which.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Will be a big one. But it's just kind of
the way the schedule fell this year. I do think
it provides a lot of opportunity for our guys.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
I mean, we've got, like I mentioned before, a lot
of young guys that are looking to make a name
for themselves. They're going to be battle tested early. We're
going to see a lot of national competition right out
of the gate, and I think it will give some
very young guys an opportunity to maybe make a name.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
For themselves, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
And you know, we'll be on the road the first
three weekends in November, which will be very challenging, to
say the least with this young team, but I also
think it'll help hopefully grow up our lineup and our
young guys by the time we get back at home
for our open and the first dual home duel against INC.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
State later in November.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Well, coach, good to see you again. I just wanted
to ask you about these coaches and updates. You've added
Hunter's Shot as an assistant and brought back Will Miller
and Sean Carter as grad assistant to the program. Tell
me what that's been like in the room and what
it's been like for the guys to get to you know,
train with their their former teammates in the in the
coaching capacity.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Yeah, it's been it's been phenomenal. You know.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Adding Hunter Shot to our our coaching staff was a
really great pick up.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
The more I've gotten to know Hunter and be around him,
I think his philosophy and and uh, you know, kind
of his whole core beliefs and core values fit well
in our program. He's very hard working, blue collar type mentality.
He loves to train, so he's been on the mat
with our guys, you know, NonStop, which has been very
beneficial to our middle and middle upper weights. And he
(11:48):
just brings a positive vibe to the to the room,
you know, and someone with a little bit different perspective,
you know, wrestling at different programs, uh, you know, coming
from Buffalo, University of Buffalo and just some different perspectives.
But he's been a great addition. And I think adding
Will and Sean as returners as as grad assistants has
(12:08):
been really good just because obviously it's providing a lot
of great mentorship and experience for our Our team, which
I've mentioned is younger than it has been. I don't
I don't know that we'll have one senior. You know,
we might not have one senior in our lineup this year.
And I think that speaks to, you know, trying to
(12:29):
develop these young guys, and and I think having Sewn
and Will in our room to mentor them and to
train with them is going to really help them, uh,
you know, develop and uh you know, they'll probably gain
some confidence and draw some confidence from training with those
guys on a daily basis.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
So it's really been great.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I think that as far as the coaching staff goes,
I've got the most help that I've ever had in
the room, and a lot of our staff is able
to work out and be on the match with our
guys training with them daily. I think that's been very
beneficial to this young group.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Coach to piggyback off that coaching thing. This is a
situation where when people say they get coaching job, or
they see new coaches hired, and then they see them
leave after a year or two. In the way the
mid major programs work a lot of them, it's like
this is this is career building. I mean, you've got
you've got to build your program and create your culture.
But at the same point, you're also grooming young coaches
to come through, preparing them for life, preparing him for
(13:25):
your next job. So what are some of the beneficial
things you get about bringing in a young coach to
your program each year and then seeing them off to
bigger and better things. Perhaps maybe not better in some cases,
but for different things for them.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Sure, I mean, obviously, you know, is every young coach
gets into this profession, it's you know, the goal for
them is to grow in the profession and hopefully become
a head coach on their own someday. And fortunately I've
had a lot of my assistants have had opportunities to
become head coaches, And you know, I think that's been
the thing that although it's something that you know, you're
(13:59):
a little bit you hate to see uh coaches go
come and go and and that kind of thing, you
definitely are happy for them and the opportunity. And I
also think it's a compliment to our program that we've got,
you know, the quality of program that a lot of
other universities are looking to hire our assistant coaches. And
(14:21):
I think that speaks volumes for the culture we've built
here to Appalachian State, and uh, you know, some guys
you know come and and uh you know obviously are
trying to learn and to grow in their career and
have better opportunities. And I think the good thing, the
positive thing that I've been able to especially in that
like volunteer position or now it's called the third assistant position.
(14:44):
It's kind of hard to keep that position sustained for
a long time just because of you know, the way
the position is and and obviously young guys wanting to
move up in the profession. But I think it has
been good because it brings some different perspective to the
to the program. You know, we got some young guys
usually that feel that position that are able to train
with their guys as of recent a lot of them
(15:07):
have came from different universities, so they kind of give
you a little bit of a different take on things.
And maybe you hear a little bit about you know,
some of the things that they did in their uh
collegiate career and some of the training methods and things
like that, and so I'm always trying to soak some
of that stuff up, you know, learn learn from these
young guys. I mean I've I've seen almost every assistant
(15:28):
I've had, I've learned something from them, and uh, you
know that's that's part of the game too, is trying
to continue to evolve and learn new things and grow
as a coach as well.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I also want to want to highlight he's been there
for quite a while now. I lost count because you know,
time flies when you're having fun, But coach gave been
there since he graduated and also a North Carolina guy,
so that's just really awesome that you were You've been
there to watch him develop as a college athlete into
(16:00):
a college coach and you know that growth and development
and mentorship. So what's that like for you to watch
your athletes become your colleagues and kind of you just
watch us or I say us, because you know I
was on on your within your program at one point,
But what is it like to watch your athletes kind
(16:21):
of grow up and then enter this space with you.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Well, there's a lot of pride involved, you know. I mean,
I think you know you're speaking about Randall. Randall, I
think is starting his sixth season here as a coach now,
which seems like time flies. It's hard to believe it's
been that long. And then he was an athlete here
before that.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
And I think it's the great.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Thing is as you see him, you know, from the
time that I recruited him as a high school athlete,
going through the experience of being a college athlete and
now being a college coach, it just makes you you're
real proud to see the growth and development of him
as a person, as a young man, and obviously growing
as a coach. And you know, him and I have
become very close over the year years. Obviously been through
(17:01):
a lot of battles together and a lot of adversities
and successes and championships, and you.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Know, had a lot of highs and a lot of lows,
and you kind.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Of grow close to someone when you spend that much
time with them.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
But I think it's been really good.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I mean, I like having uh, you know, I mentioned
I like bringing in some coaches from different programs, but
I also like keeping some of my own guys here
that have been through the program from start to finish
and have bought into it, and I think they have
a little bit of pride in the in the the
Appalachian A and the Black.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And Gold, and so I think that's been good.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
And you know, I'm really proud of Randall and the
man he's become, and and.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Uh, you know, the growth he's made as a coach,
and uh, you know, he's getting ready to be a father.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
You know, he'll be a father here probably, you know,
later next month, and uh, you know, obviously going to
be excited for him and Jasmine as they welcome a
new born.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
So all right, we got Toomas Brooker.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I'm going to just start him with like an opening question,
and then once that gets done with that, you guys
can can fire away.
Speaker 7 (18:01):
Eason starting, how excited are you to get going, especially
just being able to be back on the mat this year.
Speaker 8 (18:07):
I'm really excited. It was hard being off the matt
for such a long time as the longest I've been
with that wrestling, So I'm ready to get the season going.
See what i can do.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Tom.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
I was following up on that, you know, that that
freshman year you had, you came into your own you
were really you're really moving, and then again you had
that season cut short last year. With that time off
the mat, What did you learn about yourself and what
did you you put in your training your recovery to
come back this year stronger than you did prior to
last year's preseason.
Speaker 8 (18:41):
I learned I can persevere through a lot, a lot
of adversity, a lot of doubt, the negative thoughts.
Speaker 9 (18:49):
And.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
Skill wise, I learned a lot. I'm gonna come back
better this year and I'm ready to do more.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Sometimes a long layoff when you're you're healthy, you're an athlete,
can lead to a little bit of a little atrophy
there where where you're like, oh, the weight's falling off,
or the other way you can go the wake too big?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
How did you manage your way through all that?
Speaker 8 (19:13):
Immediately after surgery, I lost a decent amount of weight,
but as soon as I was able to start getting
active and start working out, it came back on. And
I'm probably the strongest and biggest I've been since that college.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Tell me, Tamas, what are you most excited about for
this season? Getting back on the mat, getting after it, Like,
what's what are you most looking forward to.
Speaker 8 (19:41):
I'm looking forward to just being able to compete again.
You know, this is the long as I've been fout
any actual competition, and it's it's exciting to be able
to come back.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Awesome.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
I remember watching you last season really cheering on your
cheering on your teammates, and you were you were right
there in it with them. So just what kind of
things were you thinking about or what was running through
your head watching matches or tournament footage or anything like that,
Because I feel when you're when you're actually wrestling, you
(20:18):
see it differently than when you're watching and you can go, oh,
well that's what that looks like, or you know, your
brain kind of puts it together differently. So what how
has maybe your mindset was wrestling changed since you've had
a lot of gotten a lot of kind of observation
study time, if that makes sense.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
I think I've been able to, you know, become more
of a student of the sport with this time off,
being able to watch all my teammates and teammates compete
and just being able to watch other wrestlers. I've been
able to grow in that way kind of tactically.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
When looking at the program as a whole. You're a
North Carolina guy. You represent a school in North Carolina.
What's that mean to you to like, you know, as
coach said to that big block a, what's that mean
to you to represent not just the school but your
home state?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Every time you step out on the map, it means
a lot.
Speaker 8 (21:13):
Uh. North Carolina wrestling isn't highly valued, especially from you know,
coming up through wrestling as a North Carolinian, But I
think it's good for me to say example on what's
possible as a wrestler from North Carolina.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
I like to always ask a fun question to athletes.
What has been maybe your favorite like workout or post
workout shake up at app fuel or you know, your
favorite pre workout snack when you're getting a lift in
or about to hit hit practice.
Speaker 8 (21:55):
I like the chocolate milks that they have in the
weight room the lift.
Speaker 6 (22:02):
Well, we've gotten Jeremiah Price and everybody just called him Jerry,
but uh, we just started last year at one fifty seven,
took third in SoCon back this year, So I'll ast
Jerry one question, then you guys can fire away.
Speaker 7 (22:14):
You're just being back for another year. Just what excites
you about the season, And.
Speaker 10 (22:19):
I'm just excited to wrestle again. I mean, the team's
looking good. I think we're practicing hard. We've got a
good dynamic going. I think it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Jerry, you know, last year's your first year up at
one fifty seven. You're back at the weight this year,
you settled into it. What's gonna be the biggest difference
from you this year in the lineup than last year
in the lineup?
Speaker 10 (22:37):
For me, I put a lot of time in the
weight room and I kind of fell into the weight
class a little better. Last year, I was small and
didn't have a big understanding of kind of how undersized
I was. But now I kind of understand, and I've
worked out and tried to get bigger in order to
fill this weight class and properly.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Also, same question I kind of asked Tomas about representing
North Carolina out there.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I mean, state school. You're a state kid.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
The opportunity to wrestle in state, you know, within a
reasonable drive of friends and family. How much does that
help you when it comes home to preparing for a
home duel or preparing for other duels in the SoCon
where you know you've got your support system prior to
get NAP State there with you.
Speaker 10 (23:17):
It means a lot and it helps a lot. I mean,
my whole goal growing up has to be able to
show the younger generation of North Carolina that you can
compete at the highest level coming from North Carolina. And
I'm still on that same path. I'm trying to show
them anything as possible if you work hard, and I
want to kind of improve and help this younger generation
North Carolina and so then that anything's possible.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
So, coming off of last season's third place conference finish,
where do you think you've made your biggest adjustments? And
I know that you know you're not wrestling just for
one result and for one tournament, but you know, looking
at your whole season and where you started, where you finished,
and where you're starting now. I hope that made sense
(23:57):
because my brain's moving faster than my mouth. But like
your growth and development as a wrestler, just from last
year to now, I.
Speaker 10 (24:07):
Put a lot of time focusing on kind of wrestling
all positions and only that, but wrestling hard and picking
up my offense and really able to score and score
and score and put up a high pace on people.
I think that's really gonna help, especially maybe if I
am under sized compared to some of these kids. If
I could put more of pace on them and put
them in my wheelhouse which I've been working, it's really
gonna help kind of level of the playing field, if
(24:28):
not put me ahead of advantage.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
And what are the things that you think because you
mentioned getting into the weight room a big part of that. Also,
you know, nutrition, getting your getting your calories in eating right,
So tell me what kind of things have you been
working on in those aspects to really fit into that
one fifty seven pound weight class.
Speaker 10 (24:50):
For me, it was a lot focusing on nutrition. I
met with Tess a lot, eating lots of calories and
making sure I got my weight up the right way
and not jumping up too fast. Too quick I get
like a pound and all that maybe by week, and
then as the camps kind of rolled around and we
got done with those, losing it slowly getting a pound
off a week, making sure I kept most of that
(25:11):
muscle that I put on and didn't just crash it
and lose all that muscle. So it come a lot,
which is doing the small thing making sure I was
sleeping eating everything that went into my body, tracking it,
making sure the right stuff went in there, really making
sure that I was focused every left and every workout.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
And do you feel like this has positively impacted your
performance as a student.
Speaker 10 (25:31):
I do, because you feel better. And then focusing on
all the small things, even if it's nutrition, it really
kind of plays over and everything like focusing on all
the small things and assignments and classrooms, you're more like
attentive and it's just better.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
It's really awesome. I'm glad to hear that. I'm also
a dietician, so it's really awesome to watch, like to
see these stories. And people usually see wrestling, they think,
oh wait, cutting and it's so unhealthy. But you know,
thank you for the so and you can do this
well and you do well in the room and in
the classroom. And is there any competition that you're most
(26:08):
looking forward to this season or any one particular date
on the calendar that really sticks out to you this year?
Speaker 10 (26:14):
For me, it is around the first month. I think
it is. We got some of our hardest matches, we
got that Journeyman coming up, that one's going to be exciting.
We got Virginia Tech, I believe in NC State in
West Virginia, they always have good kids. I'm just excited
to go out there and wrestle and see you where
line up and not prove myself.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
And what do you have to say to other North
Carolina high school wrestlers that you know want to wrestle
in college. What's your words of wisdom to them?
Speaker 10 (26:43):
For me, it's work hard and believe in yourself and
just go out there to prove everybody in North Carolina
is a wrestling state, all.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
Right, not an in stake A Sodaker Katon Keezer back
at one forty nine. He was a SoCon finalist last year.
I'll start them off with one. Then you guys can
our ways.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
He being back at one for you nine and now
kind of betterround this team? What gets you excited and
hope for the start of this season? Storying this weekend.
Speaker 9 (27:09):
I'm just excited to wrestle someone that's not my teammate, honestly,
you know, and just see the growth that we've made
through off season, pre season. You know, we haven't competed
for a while, so I just want to see the
growth we made as a team as a whole and
or a tight knit team.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
So I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Came.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
We look at last year so close to making the show,
so close, and then you know a guy behind you
in the conference term it gets an that large bid.
How much does that drive your off season? How much
did that try to you know, fire you up to
come into this season and make the big show.
Speaker 9 (27:41):
I mean it fires me up a lot. I mean
I remember losing that match and then you know, I
think it was Coach Bentley or Coach Diabe said to me,
they said, remember this feeling, because you know, that's the
worst feeling I've ever had in my life. And he's like,
you never want to make have this feeling again. So
you know, I don't want to have that feeling again.
(28:02):
So that's what pushes me every single day to get
just go out there and get better.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
You know, there's a level of toughness. I live in Minnesota,
so I know about these harsh Upper Midwest winners and
Rachel complaining about the cold in Carolina. It ain't the same.
So you come in from South Dakota a little more
battle tested. When it comes to that that that grit,
the desire to live through the hard stuff, translates over
to wrestling. And then yeah, you've been down there a
couple of years now, So how does that that that
(28:29):
South Dakota upbringing kind of play into the uh almost
a blue collar work ethic of Appstate wrestling?
Speaker 9 (28:35):
Yeah, well app State is blue collar mentality, and you know,
coming from South Dakota, I grew up on a farm,
cattle you know, we hay in the summertime, you know,
cold winters, you know, and it kind of kind of
fit in perfectly. And I can tell just from like
my recruitment coming in that that's the type of program
that's going to translate directly to my wrestling into my lifestyle.
(28:56):
And so you know, I just fit in perfectly, and
uh yeah, perfect.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Yeah, taking the chance to that's a long way from home.
I know that the I'm originally from Virginia, so those
getting back and forth and seeing family is not ideal
a lot of places. And then wrestling season, you know
these off seasons, have you you spend time going home?
Do you stay around campus? Like what's changed since you
first arrived to I tell you handle yourself in an
off season and pre season.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Now.
Speaker 9 (29:20):
Yeah, so when I remember my first Christmas, I flew
back home and of course, got delayed, delayed flight, you know,
couldn't come back for a few days, you know, and
from South Dakota couldn't get back to fly into Charlotte
for a little while. So then after that, you know,
I decided I'm just going to stay here. I'm just
going to train, you know, and then I do go
(29:41):
home during the summertimes for about a month or so
and just let my body recover, you know, see some
family everything like that. But you know, it's still all go.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
You know.
Speaker 9 (29:52):
I try to wrestle when I can back at home,
a bunch of the high school guys, a bunch of
my club guys, and yeah, so I don't get to
see family very much. But but you know, I only
get a wrestle at this level for a short period
of time, so it's well worth four or five years.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
I have here.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
What's been the best part about assimilating to the South
from South Dakota.
Speaker 9 (30:15):
You know, they got good food down here. I'm not
gonna like good barbecue, pretty good barbie, not as good steaks,
so but yeah, you know, they got good food down here.
It's a little different being from South Dakota. Then you
come here and you see all the trees and you're like,
what in the world is going on? You know, But
you know, I like the South, I like the views,
I like going outside, I like hiking, I like everything
like that. So it's pretty awesome.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I know.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
I've asked John Carter plenty of times about where to
get a good slice of pizza or a good bagel,
and he's like, you can't. You can't find it in
North Carolina. But I also went to APP So yes, gorgeous, beautiful,
especially this time of year, Peak week, I think was
a couple of weeks ago, right, yep, so just absolutely gorgeous.
But tell me, talking about how close yard to your teammates,
(31:01):
what are some things that you found that has been
the most impactful with team building and team bonding and
like really establishing that brotherhood.
Speaker 9 (31:13):
Well, I feel like, just like I get to even
tell from my recruitment that being here, it's like you're
just a family.
Speaker 11 (31:19):
You know, we're a.
Speaker 9 (31:20):
Very tight knit community, like as app State as a whole,
but even the team is just so close, you know,
like we can go out and hang out with anyone
on the team. You know, we're just friends. Everyone's buddies,
you know, and I think that also comes from, you know,
just working so hard together in the wrestling room kind
of builds that up. You know, if we can go
and we can you know, put our bodies on the
(31:42):
line and we can go and sweat work really hard
in the wrestling room, you know, that just brings us
so close together that just everything outside is just fun.
You know, we enjoy it awesome.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
And tell me what it's like having a couple of
your former teammates in a coaching position and you know,
you go so from wrestling with them and training with
them every day to now you're learning from them. So
what's that transition felt like? And how do you feel
like you're learning from them?
Speaker 9 (32:11):
Yeah, So, like Will Miller and Sean Carter teammates the
last couple of years, and now they're in this coaching
role and they've been.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
They've been helping me a lot.
Speaker 9 (32:21):
You know, they've seen me a lot more on the outside,
not just in the wrestling room, and so they know
me more personally everything like that, and so they've directed
like everything like from outside into the wrestling room and
it's just helping me a lot. And you know, I
respect those guys and it's great to still wrestle with
them and have them as an asset to just learn from.
Speaker 6 (32:44):
All Right, last, but not least, we've got heavyweight Stephan
Muncherie so con champion last year as a true freshman.
Speaker 7 (32:51):
I'll throw one his way and then you guys can
take over. Yeah, Stephan, just being a sophomore, what's it
like coming into this year to last year or year
college and your govern and not going through with the
frials like that for a year.
Speaker 11 (33:05):
Yeah, I feel like coming in the sophomore year, I
feel a lot more seasoned. I feel like I'm coming
in a lot more better shape, better mindset. I feel
like I'm a lot less homesick. Definitely, I'm getting used
to being here in Dune.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Stevey, you were one of three true freshman heavyweights to
make the national tournament last year in a weight class
that was obviously senior dominated, a lot of experience. Obviously,
what happened at the end was was headline making for
everybody that was a wrestling fan.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
What did you get out of your.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Experience at the National Championships again, first time out there,
It's like, this is the big lights, this is what
it's about.
Speaker 11 (33:42):
I feel like being out there for the first time,
really gave me perspective on how big that tournament really is,
and like watching it versus being in it is a
huge difference. And then seeing that finals match makes me
realize that who you're wrestling, what they've done, doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Are on the mat.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
We look at your performance last year, are real streaky?
You'd get on hot streaks, you get on cold streaks,
you get You ended the year the regular season on
a hot streak, closing out with seven straight winning a
conference title. So how do you get yourself to be
more consistent now that you've gone through a full college
wrestling season knowing, okay, I know what it's like to
get there, how do you go about making yourself again
(34:24):
more consistent with those wins and losses.
Speaker 11 (34:26):
I think what I learned from last year is definitely
being more consistent training. So I didn't really get too
much extra stuff going on training wise early in the season,
and then I realized that that's what makes the jumps,
those extra training sessions, those extra little workouts you do.
This has to be anything crazy, just getting in the room,
(34:47):
working at a little more and then definitely having more
confidence in myself. That's what I really account to my
success leader in the season.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
You know, so many times when freshmen come to a
wrestling room and they're they're they're not seeing they're not
seeing the success they dated me. I'm like, whoa this is?
This is a whole different level. How did you see
yourself get better as a wrestler from that first day
of preseason to that first day at the National Championships?
I mean, maybe compare how do you think you to
compete it against yourself in March than you were in
(35:17):
you know, day one and November and October.
Speaker 11 (35:20):
Yeah, I feel like I think thinking back to the
beginning of that freshman year, was I was wrestling like
a high schooler? Who was I wasn't setting up my attacks,
wasn't really doing good at the top bottom. Then working
to like keep working on those those flaws in my
wrestling towards like throughout the year with Bailey coastiabe working
(35:41):
on getting up the bottom, working on setting up my attacks.
I really would think if I went back and wrestled
myself from the beginning, it wouldn't even be close. It
was a complete, completely different wrestler.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Is there any point last season where you know something
just clicking, like, aha, this is how it's done.
Speaker 11 (36:00):
It was definitely when they were telling me about hand fighting,
it was not a big hand fighter in high school.
I would really just break a tie and then shoot
a double and that would be That would really are
I would need and realizing that sending the hand fight
and being more intentional with my hands, really it's going
to open up my attacks.
Speaker 5 (36:24):
So, Stefan, you come from New York, so they were
talking about previously, was trying to find a decent slice
of pizza in Boone or a decent bagel? So tell
me have you been able to find a decent slice
of pizza or a decent bagel in Boone?
Speaker 11 (36:42):
I would say, there are good spots around here, but
I wouldn't compare them to New York really, all right?
Speaker 5 (36:52):
And then circling back, I believe your sister also wrestles
in New York, correct, So tell me what that's been
like to be a big brother to to a woman
in wrestling or a woman who wrestles, And like, how
maybe do you guys train together? Do you coach her some?
You know, what does that family dynamic look like?
Speaker 11 (37:14):
I mean, I love it. I love that she's starting
to get into it. Uh, you know she started last
year and she's coming back this year. Them a lot
more excited about it. And whenever I go home, or
I'll train with her, or so she'll have a match,
she'll called me acting for a pointers, I will watch
her matches. It's a I think it's really brought us
(37:34):
closer together and give us some the talk about.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
And then again, something Cayden was talking about is the
brotherhood and like how close the whole team is. What
are some things that you found have been important to
developing that brotherhood and that tightness as a team.
Speaker 11 (37:57):
I think just going through the grind together is we're
just gonna bring you closer than aust earlier. I mean,
we all go through the same practice as, the same
early runs, some early lifts. We've all been together, you know,
we go through the ups and downs of the team.
We win as the team as the team. So I
think we just brings us att closer together.
Speaker 5 (38:15):
And what do you think maybe the biggest change from
last year to now? What do you think is like
your biggest change has been maybe mindset, training, squat max,
you know, anything like that. You know what's been your
biggest your biggest change.
Speaker 11 (38:32):
I think the biggest change came from a mindset. I
think coming off of last year, I know now that
I have the ability to compete at a high level.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
On this level, The Short Time Wrestling podcast has been
outfitted by Compound Sports where since ever since you need something, shirts, hats, gear,
team where you need it, They've got it. Call up
Cliff and the crew at CMP sportswear dot com.
WHOA back again. It's the Short Time Wrestling podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I'm your host.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hall of Fame wrestling writer, broadcaster and announcer Jason Bryant
doubled up this week. Had Tony Mellinson, the filmmaker behind
Iron Maidens Wrestling for Glory, the women's and girls wrestling
documentary based out in Western Pennsylvania, on the previous episode
of Short Time, I encourage you to go out and
listen to that. Today on the show, it's a return
to app State media Day. Yet we go down to Boone,
(00:45):
North Carolina and coach John Mark Bentley has a number
of his wrestlers here. This has been a recurring theme
the last couple of years here on Short Time app
State and their sid Breads Free logo, they reach out
and said, hey, we got media day.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
When are you available? Yep, I'm available.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I love jumping on and focusing on things that are
just outside of the power programs. You know, I came
from a mid major. I always have a you know,
a place in my mind in my heart for small
college programs and the schools that I don't want to
say have nots because you make a lot with what
you're giving, but you know, the group of six. If
(01:21):
you're looking at football and the D two, the D three,
the ANI. I really like to focus attention on those
programs and app state. You know, they've knocked off some
giants over the years. So coach John Mark Bentley, they
do this media day and that's what we got. So
a couple athletes. I got five athletes out here. Some
are in Savor Qualifier Summer names. You don't know summer names.
You are going to find out who they are. So
(01:42):
we'll sit back relaxed. There's also some folks you might
recognize on the call. But before we get to that,
I am going to talk about the P four or
the Power four for just a minute because Big ten Plus,
the Big ten Network reached out and has an offer
for you the Matt Talk listener. So if you get
a Matt Talk on line dot com slash btn plus,
that's going to take you right to the Big ten
(02:04):
Network page if you need a annual subscription and you
have not signed up. Because wrestling season starts this week
as we record this October twenty ninth, wrestling season is
here for Division one of course, California and junior colleges.
We know they've been going on since September. Don't want
to exclude them. Went to their championships last year, which
was pretty cool. But the duel meets and the Division
(02:25):
one stuff starts November first. I think we even have
an October thirty one day. I got to check the
newsletter for the calendar regardless if you don't have it yet,
Save twenty dollars on the annual fee. By when you
go to mattok online dot com slash btn plus and
you subscribe, you click order for a year, enter promo
code coupon code matt Talk twenty m a t talk
(02:49):
two zero into the coupon code. You're gonna save twenty
bucks on the annual subscription.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah. So it's like normally like eighty nine, you're gonna get.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
It for sixty nine. Boom, it's it's savings. Hey, and
I get a little kickback off of it. Full disclosure
here too, not a ton, but enough to uh, you
know you want to thank me by getting a product.
There you go. So that's what I got. Sales pitch
is enough again. You can get the newsletter at mattalk
online dot com slash news that is going to be
ramping up here very very soon.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I mean it's been going all year. You know, we
had some cool stuff going on. Claw kicked off. That
was a fun watch. I tell you that was a
real fun watch.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Shane Sparks, Mike mcmull and Mike Malinconico on the call there.
That was that was fun. I had no idea what
to expect, but Claw that was. That was a good watch.
So check that out. That was on uh. I watched
that on Flow and then there was also a Claw
All Access which they have a subscription for too. Don't
know much about that, but yeah, Claw was fun.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
That's what I got.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So anyway to Appstate Boone, North Carolina here on the
Short Time Wrestling Podcast, and as always, I'd like to
thank you for spending your time with me because you've
always got time for SURET Time.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Good morning, Thank you to everyone that's that's on the call.
I'm excited to talk a little bit about the upcoming
season and app State Wrestling and our outlook for the
twenty five twenty sixth season.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
You know, there's a lot of.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Things that I've kind of noticed about this team throughout
the preseason. I feel like that we've got a lot
of young, energetic competitors in our room that are trying
to make a name for themselves, trying to make a mark,
and I think that's kind of been the theme this preseason,
is a little bit of youth and energy, and that's
been honestly refreshing for me. We return, we lost five
(04:38):
of our starters out of last year's team and three
national qualifiers, so we do have some holes to feel
and some positions to kind of figure out what, you know,
who we're going with and that kind of thing.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
But I'm excited about this team.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
You know, I think this team has put in a
tremendous amount of work in the off season, and I
do believe there's a lot of potential in this team.
I think we got a a lot of young guys
that are looking to make a mark and looking to
make a name for themselves. And uh, you know, so
far that this season has been a real pleasure to
train them, to be in the practice environment with them
and watch how they work, how positive their attitude has been,
(05:15):
both in the rest room and the locker room, and
you know, kind of out in the community. And I
do believe this team has some good potential. Uh you know,
I know, we got a lot of unproven guys and
a lot of young guys that you know, new faces
that might be in the lineup this year.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
But I but I'm encouraged.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I think that they've definitely put in the work and
I think that, uh, you know, we have a group
that's capable of competing at a high level and we
just need a little bit of experience. And obviously I
think this group's coming in with a lot of energy
and hopefully that will you know, develop into confidence and uh,
you know, and then eventually hope some experience and maturity.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Coach, when we look at this preseason going in to
what you've got building up for the opening weekend a
year ago, it was a vastly different scenario at app
State and in the region where you guys were helping
out the area clean up from a hurricane, and that
type of adversity through the area and team building kind
(06:17):
of carried through. And what did your team really learn
from all that and how has this preseason kind of
been more normalized after what happened last year And what
are some things that you learned from that whole process
about your team?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Well, I think both from you know, my standpoint and
from our team standpoint, it taught us a lot about resilience,
you know. I mean last year, we had the devastation
of the hurricane that happened right in the middle of
preseason and we had to pause our preseason schedule for
several weeks, and our focus turned from at that point
(06:51):
not only you know, kind of taking a minute from
preparing for the upcoming season, but to reach out and
to help our fellow people in the commun unity that
were in desperate need. And the devastation that the hurricane
brought really, uh, you know, I think showed us the
need for gratitude and to be thankful for all the
things you do have and when things you know are
(07:14):
going well. I think our guys, you know, it taught
them a little bit of resilience last year. I mean,
we spent the majority of last season without a locker room.
Our training environment was was very different, especially the first
couple of months, and we were out of the wrestling
room and having to move mats and get rid of
mats and and that kind of thing. And it took
a little bit of an adjustment, you know, the first
(07:37):
semester especially to kind of get into a normal feel,
so to speak. And I do think our guys had,
you know, showed a lot of resilience last year. Nothing
came easy. We had a lot of adversity throughout the year,
not only the hurricane, but with key injuries and things
like that, and and we still were able to come
away with a regular season and a tournament championship. And
(08:00):
you know, it wasn't pretty. I think that we you know,
we had a lot of adversity, We had a battle,
but I think our.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Guys learned a lot about.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Resilience and just staying committed to the process and the
culture of this program. And then this preseason has been
much more normal. As you said, Jason, we've had a
lot more uh you know, we've got great facilities now.
Our locker room was renovated during the the clean.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Up from the hurricanes. We have a really nice locker room.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's got you know, it's even more amenities to it
now than it had before the hurricane. And our wrestling
room is back to normal. We've added some new cardio
equipment and some weight equipment.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
At the end.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
We've got new mats that are gonna be installed tomorrow.
And uh so there's a lot of great things, but
our PRECIN has been very normal this year.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
You know, we've had a normal fall.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Schedule with our training and our facilities, and our guys
have really done a great job in this all season
of putting in the work. So you know, everything has
been very different from a year ago.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
As we move forward to your preparation looking at the schedule,
I'm a schedule guy. I love looking at attendance figures
and things like that, and you've kind of created that
rabid environment there. Look at the schedule this year. Not
a heavy non conference homeload this year. A lot of
travel this year with the non conference your home schedule
really heavy in the SOACON. SO contracts being what they are,
(09:22):
What are you looking at this year's schedule. Where do
you think it benefits your guys? The way your lineup
is set up this year, well, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
The lineup looks very different than it has I mean,
the schedule looks very different than it has in previous years.
I mean we're going to some new events. I mean,
obviously we added the Journeyman to our schedule this year.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
I think the National Duels.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
And kind of how all that's fill in the timeline
of the season probably affected a little bit of our schedule,
and so we've got a couple of new events. We
owed West Virginia dates, and we're going up there for
a quad, and we're on the road at Duke and
Virginia Tech for our non conference matches, and then the
(10:03):
only non conference home match we have is n C State, which.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Will be a big one. But it's just kind of
the way the schedule fell this year. I do think
it provides a lot of opportunity for our guys.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
I mean, we've got, like I mentioned before, a lot
of young guys that are looking to make a name
for themselves. They're going to be battle tested early. We're
going to see a lot of national competition right out
of the gate, and I think it will give some
very young guys an opportunity to maybe make a name.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
For themselves, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
And you know, we'll be on the road the first
three weekends in November, which will be very challenging, to
say the least with this young team, but I also
think it'll help hopefully grow up our lineup and our
young guys by the time we get back at home
for our open and the first dual home duel against INC.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
State later in November.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Well, coach, good to see you again. I just wanted
to ask you about these coaches and updates. You've added
Hunter's Shot as an assistant and brought back Will Miller
and Sean Carter as grad assistant to the program. Tell
me what that's been like in the room and what
it's been like for the guys to get to you know,
train with their their former teammates in the in the
coaching capacity.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Yeah, it's been it's been phenomenal. You know.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Adding Hunter Shot to our our coaching staff was a
really great pick up.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
The more I've gotten to know Hunter and be around him,
I think his philosophy and and uh, you know, kind
of his whole core beliefs and core values fit well
in our program. He's very hard working, blue collar type mentality.
He loves to train, so he's been on the mat
with our guys, you know, NonStop, which has been very
beneficial to our middle and middle upper weights. And he
(11:48):
just brings a positive vibe to the to the room,
you know, and someone with a little bit different perspective,
you know, wrestling at different programs, uh, you know, coming
from Buffalo, University of Buffalo and just some different perspectives.
But he's been a great addition. And I think adding
Will and Sean as returners as as grad assistants has
(12:08):
been really good just because obviously it's providing a lot
of great mentorship and experience for our Our team, which
I've mentioned is younger than it has been. I don't
I don't know that we'll have one senior. You know,
we might not have one senior in our lineup this year.
And I think that speaks to, you know, trying to
(12:29):
develop these young guys, and and I think having Sewn
and Will in our room to mentor them and to
train with them is going to really help them, uh,
you know, develop and uh you know, they'll probably gain
some confidence and draw some confidence from training with those
guys on a daily basis.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
So it's really been great.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I think that as far as the coaching staff goes,
I've got the most help that I've ever had in
the room, and a lot of our staff is able
to work out and be on the match with our
guys training with them daily. I think that's been very
beneficial to this young group.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Coach to piggyback off that coaching thing. This is a
situation where when people say they get coaching job, or
they see new coaches hired, and then they see them
leave after a year or two. In the way the
mid major programs work a lot of them, it's like
this is this is career building. I mean, you've got
you've got to build your program and create your culture.
But at the same point, you're also grooming young coaches
to come through, preparing them for life, preparing him for
(13:25):
your next job. So what are some of the beneficial
things you get about bringing in a young coach to
your program each year and then seeing them off to
bigger and better things. Perhaps maybe not better in some cases,
but for different things for them.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Sure, I mean, obviously, you know, is every young coach
gets into this profession, it's you know, the goal for
them is to grow in the profession and hopefully become
a head coach on their own someday. And fortunately I've
had a lot of my assistants have had opportunities to
become head coaches, And you know, I think that's been
the thing that although it's something that you know, you're
(13:59):
a little bit you hate to see uh coaches go
come and go and and that kind of thing, you
definitely are happy for them and the opportunity. And I
also think it's a compliment to our program that we've got,
you know, the quality of program that a lot of
other universities are looking to hire our assistant coaches. And
(14:21):
I think that speaks volumes for the culture we've built
here to Appalachian State, and uh, you know, some guys
you know come and and uh you know obviously are
trying to learn and to grow in their career and
have better opportunities. And I think the good thing, the
positive thing that I've been able to especially in that
like volunteer position or now it's called the third assistant position.
(14:44):
It's kind of hard to keep that position sustained for
a long time just because of you know, the way
the position is and and obviously young guys wanting to
move up in the profession. But I think it has
been good because it brings some different perspective to the
to the program. You know, we got some young guys
usually that feel that position that are able to train
with their guys as of recent a lot of them
(15:07):
have came from different universities, so they kind of give
you a little bit of a different take on things.
And maybe you hear a little bit about you know,
some of the things that they did in their uh
collegiate career and some of the training methods and things
like that, and so I'm always trying to soak some
of that stuff up, you know, learn learn from these
young guys. I mean I've I've seen almost every assistant
(15:28):
I've had, I've learned something from them, and uh, you
know that's that's part of the game too, is trying
to continue to evolve and learn new things and grow
as a coach as well.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I also want to want to highlight he's been there
for quite a while now. I lost count because you know,
time flies when you're having fun, But coach gave been
there since he graduated and also a North Carolina guy,
so that's just really awesome that you were You've been
there to watch him develop as a college athlete into
(16:00):
a college coach and you know that growth and development
and mentorship. So what's that like for you to watch
your athletes become your colleagues and kind of you just
watch us or I say us, because you know I
was on on your within your program at one point,
But what is it like to watch your athletes kind
(16:21):
of grow up and then enter this space with you.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Well, there's a lot of pride involved, you know. I mean,
I think you know you're speaking about Randall. Randall, I
think is starting his sixth season here as a coach now,
which seems like time flies. It's hard to believe it's
been that long. And then he was an athlete here
before that.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
And I think it's the great.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Thing is as you see him, you know, from the
time that I recruited him as a high school athlete,
going through the experience of being a college athlete and
now being a college coach, it just makes you you're
real proud to see the growth and development of him
as a person, as a young man, and obviously growing
as a coach. And you know, him and I have
become very close over the year years. Obviously been through
(17:01):
a lot of battles together and a lot of adversities
and successes and championships, and you.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Know, had a lot of highs and a lot of lows,
and you kind.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Of grow close to someone when you spend that much
time with them.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
But I think it's been really good.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I mean, I like having uh, you know, I mentioned
I like bringing in some coaches from different programs, but
I also like keeping some of my own guys here
that have been through the program from start to finish
and have bought into it, and I think they have
a little bit of pride in the in the the
Appalachian A and the Black.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And Gold, and so I think that's been good.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
And you know, I'm really proud of Randall and the
man he's become, and and.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Uh, you know, the growth he's made as a coach,
and uh, you know, he's getting ready to be a father.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
You know, he'll be a father here probably, you know,
later next month, and uh, you know, obviously going to
be excited for him and Jasmine as they welcome a
new born.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
So all right, we got Toomas Brooker.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I'm going to just start him with like an opening question,
and then once that gets done with that, you guys
can can fire away.
Speaker 7 (18:01):
Eason starting, how excited are you to get going, especially
just being able to be back on the mat this year.
Speaker 8 (18:07):
I'm really excited. It was hard being off the matt
for such a long time as the longest I've been
with that wrestling, So I'm ready to get the season going.
See what i can do.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Tom.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
I was following up on that, you know, that that
freshman year you had, you came into your own you
were really you're really moving, and then again you had
that season cut short last year. With that time off
the mat, What did you learn about yourself and what
did you you put in your training your recovery to
come back this year stronger than you did prior to
last year's preseason.
Speaker 8 (18:41):
I learned I can persevere through a lot, a lot
of adversity, a lot of doubt, the negative thoughts.
Speaker 9 (18:49):
And.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
Skill wise, I learned a lot. I'm gonna come back
better this year and I'm ready to do more.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Sometimes a long layoff when you're you're healthy, you're an athlete,
can lead to a little bit of a little atrophy
there where where you're like, oh, the weight's falling off,
or the other way you can go the wake too big?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
How did you manage your way through all that?
Speaker 8 (19:13):
Immediately after surgery, I lost a decent amount of weight,
but as soon as I was able to start getting
active and start working out, it came back on. And
I'm probably the strongest and biggest I've been since that college.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Tell me, Tamas, what are you most excited about for
this season? Getting back on the mat, getting after it, Like,
what's what are you most looking forward to.
Speaker 8 (19:41):
I'm looking forward to just being able to compete again.
You know, this is the long as I've been fout
any actual competition, and it's it's exciting to be able
to come back.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Awesome.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
I remember watching you last season really cheering on your
cheering on your teammates, and you were you were right
there in it with them. So just what kind of
things were you thinking about or what was running through
your head watching matches or tournament footage or anything like that,
Because I feel when you're when you're actually wrestling, you
(20:18):
see it differently than when you're watching and you can go, oh,
well that's what that looks like, or you know, your
brain kind of puts it together differently. So what how
has maybe your mindset was wrestling changed since you've had
a lot of gotten a lot of kind of observation
study time, if that makes sense.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
I think I've been able to, you know, become more
of a student of the sport with this time off,
being able to watch all my teammates and teammates compete
and just being able to watch other wrestlers. I've been
able to grow in that way kind of tactically.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
When looking at the program as a whole. You're a
North Carolina guy. You represent a school in North Carolina.
What's that mean to you to like, you know, as
coach said to that big block a, what's that mean
to you to represent not just the school but your
home state?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Every time you step out on the map, it means
a lot.
Speaker 8 (21:13):
Uh. North Carolina wrestling isn't highly valued, especially from you know,
coming up through wrestling as a North Carolinian, But I
think it's good for me to say example on what's
possible as a wrestler from North Carolina.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
I like to always ask a fun question to athletes.
What has been maybe your favorite like workout or post
workout shake up at app fuel or you know, your
favorite pre workout snack when you're getting a lift in
or about to hit hit practice.
Speaker 8 (21:55):
I like the chocolate milks that they have in the
weight room the lift.
Speaker 6 (22:02):
Well, we've gotten Jeremiah Price and everybody just called him Jerry,
but uh, we just started last year at one fifty seven,
took third in SoCon back this year, So I'll ast
Jerry one question, then you guys can fire away.
Speaker 7 (22:14):
You're just being back for another year. Just what excites
you about the season, And.
Speaker 10 (22:19):
I'm just excited to wrestle again. I mean, the team's
looking good. I think we're practicing hard. We've got a
good dynamic going. I think it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Jerry, you know, last year's your first year up at
one fifty seven. You're back at the weight this year,
you settled into it. What's gonna be the biggest difference
from you this year in the lineup than last year
in the lineup?
Speaker 10 (22:37):
For me, I put a lot of time in the
weight room and I kind of fell into the weight
class a little better. Last year, I was small and
didn't have a big understanding of kind of how undersized
I was. But now I kind of understand, and I've
worked out and tried to get bigger in order to
fill this weight class and properly.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Also, same question I kind of asked Tomas about representing
North Carolina out there.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I mean, state school. You're a state kid.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
The opportunity to wrestle in state, you know, within a
reasonable drive of friends and family. How much does that
help you when it comes home to preparing for a
home duel or preparing for other duels in the SoCon
where you know you've got your support system prior to
get NAP State there with you.
Speaker 10 (23:17):
It means a lot and it helps a lot. I mean,
my whole goal growing up has to be able to
show the younger generation of North Carolina that you can
compete at the highest level coming from North Carolina. And
I'm still on that same path. I'm trying to show
them anything as possible if you work hard, and I
want to kind of improve and help this younger generation
North Carolina and so then that anything's possible.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
So, coming off of last season's third place conference finish,
where do you think you've made your biggest adjustments? And
I know that you know you're not wrestling just for
one result and for one tournament, but you know, looking
at your whole season and where you started, where you finished,
and where you're starting now. I hope that made sense
(23:57):
because my brain's moving faster than my mouth. But like
your growth and development as a wrestler, just from last
year to now, I.
Speaker 10 (24:07):
Put a lot of time focusing on kind of wrestling
all positions and only that, but wrestling hard and picking
up my offense and really able to score and score
and score and put up a high pace on people.
I think that's really gonna help, especially maybe if I
am under sized compared to some of these kids. If
I could put more of pace on them and put
them in my wheelhouse which I've been working, it's really
gonna help kind of level of the playing field, if
(24:28):
not put me ahead of advantage.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
And what are the things that you think because you
mentioned getting into the weight room a big part of that. Also,
you know, nutrition, getting your getting your calories in eating right,
So tell me what kind of things have you been
working on in those aspects to really fit into that
one fifty seven pound weight class.
Speaker 10 (24:50):
For me, it was a lot focusing on nutrition. I
met with Tess a lot, eating lots of calories and
making sure I got my weight up the right way
and not jumping up too fast. Too quick I get
like a pound and all that maybe by week, and
then as the camps kind of rolled around and we
got done with those, losing it slowly getting a pound
off a week, making sure I kept most of that
(25:11):
muscle that I put on and didn't just crash it
and lose all that muscle. So it come a lot,
which is doing the small thing making sure I was
sleeping eating everything that went into my body, tracking it,
making sure the right stuff went in there, really making
sure that I was focused every left and every workout.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
And do you feel like this has positively impacted your
performance as a student.
Speaker 10 (25:31):
I do, because you feel better. And then focusing on
all the small things, even if it's nutrition, it really
kind of plays over and everything like focusing on all
the small things and assignments and classrooms, you're more like
attentive and it's just better.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
It's really awesome. I'm glad to hear that. I'm also
a dietician, so it's really awesome to watch, like to
see these stories. And people usually see wrestling, they think,
oh wait, cutting and it's so unhealthy. But you know,
thank you for the so and you can do this
well and you do well in the room and in
the classroom. And is there any competition that you're most
(26:08):
looking forward to this season or any one particular date
on the calendar that really sticks out to you this year?
Speaker 10 (26:14):
For me, it is around the first month. I think
it is. We got some of our hardest matches, we
got that Journeyman coming up, that one's going to be exciting.
We got Virginia Tech, I believe in NC State in
West Virginia, they always have good kids. I'm just excited
to go out there and wrestle and see you where
line up and not prove myself.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
And what do you have to say to other North
Carolina high school wrestlers that you know want to wrestle
in college. What's your words of wisdom to them?
Speaker 10 (26:43):
For me, it's work hard and believe in yourself and
just go out there to prove everybody in North Carolina
is a wrestling state, all.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
Right, not an in stake A Sodaker Katon Keezer back
at one forty nine. He was a SoCon finalist last year.
I'll start them off with one. Then you guys can
our ways.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
He being back at one for you nine and now
kind of betterround this team? What gets you excited and
hope for the start of this season? Storying this weekend.
Speaker 9 (27:09):
I'm just excited to wrestle someone that's not my teammate, honestly,
you know, and just see the growth that we've made
through off season, pre season. You know, we haven't competed
for a while, so I just want to see the
growth we made as a team as a whole and
or a tight knit team.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
So I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Came.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
We look at last year so close to making the show,
so close, and then you know a guy behind you
in the conference term it gets an that large bid.
How much does that drive your off season? How much
did that try to you know, fire you up to
come into this season and make the big show.
Speaker 9 (27:41):
I mean it fires me up a lot. I mean
I remember losing that match and then you know, I
think it was Coach Bentley or Coach Diabe said to me,
they said, remember this feeling, because you know, that's the
worst feeling I've ever had in my life. And he's like,
you never want to make have this feeling again. So
you know, I don't want to have that feeling again.
(28:02):
So that's what pushes me every single day to get
just go out there and get better.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
You know, there's a level of toughness. I live in Minnesota,
so I know about these harsh Upper Midwest winners and
Rachel complaining about the cold in Carolina. It ain't the same.
So you come in from South Dakota a little more
battle tested. When it comes to that that that grit,
the desire to live through the hard stuff, translates over
to wrestling. And then yeah, you've been down there a
couple of years now, So how does that that that
(28:29):
South Dakota upbringing kind of play into the uh almost
a blue collar work ethic of Appstate wrestling?
Speaker 9 (28:35):
Yeah, well app State is blue collar mentality, and you know,
coming from South Dakota, I grew up on a farm,
cattle you know, we hay in the summertime, you know,
cold winters, you know, and it kind of kind of
fit in perfectly. And I can tell just from like
my recruitment coming in that that's the type of program
that's going to translate directly to my wrestling into my lifestyle.
(28:56):
And so you know, I just fit in perfectly, and
uh yeah, perfect.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Yeah, taking the chance to that's a long way from home.
I know that the I'm originally from Virginia, so those
getting back and forth and seeing family is not ideal
a lot of places. And then wrestling season, you know
these off seasons, have you you spend time going home?
Do you stay around campus? Like what's changed since you
first arrived to I tell you handle yourself in an
off season and pre season.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Now.
Speaker 9 (29:20):
Yeah, so when I remember my first Christmas, I flew
back home and of course, got delayed, delayed flight, you know,
couldn't come back for a few days, you know, and
from South Dakota couldn't get back to fly into Charlotte
for a little while. So then after that, you know,
I decided I'm just going to stay here. I'm just
going to train, you know, and then I do go
(29:41):
home during the summertimes for about a month or so
and just let my body recover, you know, see some
family everything like that. But you know, it's still all go.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
You know.
Speaker 9 (29:52):
I try to wrestle when I can back at home,
a bunch of the high school guys, a bunch of
my club guys, and yeah, so I don't get to
see family very much. But but you know, I only
get a wrestle at this level for a short period
of time, so it's well worth four or five years.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
I have here.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
What's been the best part about assimilating to the South
from South Dakota.
Speaker 9 (30:15):
You know, they got good food down here. I'm not
gonna like good barbecue, pretty good barbie, not as good steaks,
so but yeah, you know, they got good food down here.
It's a little different being from South Dakota. Then you
come here and you see all the trees and you're like,
what in the world is going on? You know, But
you know, I like the South, I like the views,
I like going outside, I like hiking, I like everything
like that. So it's pretty awesome.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I know.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
I've asked John Carter plenty of times about where to
get a good slice of pizza or a good bagel,
and he's like, you can't. You can't find it in
North Carolina. But I also went to APP So yes, gorgeous, beautiful,
especially this time of year, Peak week, I think was
a couple of weeks ago, right, yep, so just absolutely gorgeous.
But tell me, talking about how close yard to your teammates,
(31:01):
what are some things that you found that has been
the most impactful with team building and team bonding and
like really establishing that brotherhood.
Speaker 9 (31:13):
Well, I feel like, just like I get to even
tell from my recruitment that being here, it's like you're
just a family.
Speaker 11 (31:19):
You know, we're a.
Speaker 9 (31:20):
Very tight knit community, like as app State as a whole,
but even the team is just so close, you know,
like we can go out and hang out with anyone
on the team. You know, we're just friends. Everyone's buddies,
you know, and I think that also comes from, you know,
just working so hard together in the wrestling room kind
of builds that up. You know, if we can go
and we can you know, put our bodies on the
(31:42):
line and we can go and sweat work really hard
in the wrestling room, you know, that just brings us
so close together that just everything outside is just fun.
You know, we enjoy it awesome.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
And tell me what it's like having a couple of
your former teammates in a coaching position and you know,
you go so from wrestling with them and training with
them every day to now you're learning from them. So
what's that transition felt like? And how do you feel
like you're learning from them?
Speaker 9 (32:11):
Yeah, So, like Will Miller and Sean Carter teammates the
last couple of years, and now they're in this coaching
role and they've been.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
They've been helping me a lot.
Speaker 9 (32:21):
You know, they've seen me a lot more on the outside,
not just in the wrestling room, and so they know
me more personally everything like that, and so they've directed
like everything like from outside into the wrestling room and
it's just helping me a lot. And you know, I
respect those guys and it's great to still wrestle with
them and have them as an asset to just learn from.
Speaker 6 (32:44):
All Right, last, but not least, we've got heavyweight Stephan
Muncherie so con champion last year as a true freshman.
Speaker 7 (32:51):
I'll throw one his way and then you guys can
take over. Yeah, Stephan, just being a sophomore, what's it
like coming into this year to last year or year
college and your govern and not going through with the
frials like that for a year.
Speaker 11 (33:05):
Yeah, I feel like coming in the sophomore year, I
feel a lot more seasoned. I feel like I'm coming
in a lot more better shape, better mindset. I feel
like I'm a lot less homesick. Definitely, I'm getting used
to being here in Dune.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Stevey, you were one of three true freshman heavyweights to
make the national tournament last year in a weight class
that was obviously senior dominated, a lot of experience. Obviously,
what happened at the end was was headline making for
everybody that was a wrestling fan.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
What did you get out of your.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Experience at the National Championships again, first time out there,
It's like, this is the big lights, this is what
it's about.
Speaker 11 (33:42):
I feel like being out there for the first time,
really gave me perspective on how big that tournament really is,
and like watching it versus being in it is a
huge difference. And then seeing that finals match makes me
realize that who you're wrestling, what they've done, doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Are on the mat.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
We look at your performance last year, are real streaky?
You'd get on hot streaks, you get on cold streaks,
you get You ended the year the regular season on
a hot streak, closing out with seven straight winning a
conference title. So how do you get yourself to be
more consistent now that you've gone through a full college
wrestling season knowing, okay, I know what it's like to
get there, how do you go about making yourself again
(34:24):
more consistent with those wins and losses.
Speaker 11 (34:26):
I think what I learned from last year is definitely
being more consistent training. So I didn't really get too
much extra stuff going on training wise early in the season,
and then I realized that that's what makes the jumps,
those extra training sessions, those extra little workouts you do.
This has to be anything crazy, just getting in the room,
(34:47):
working at a little more and then definitely having more
confidence in myself. That's what I really account to my
success leader in the season.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
You know, so many times when freshmen come to a
wrestling room and they're they're they're not seeing they're not
seeing the success they dated me. I'm like, whoa this is?
This is a whole different level. How did you see
yourself get better as a wrestler from that first day
of preseason to that first day at the National Championships?
I mean, maybe compare how do you think you to
compete it against yourself in March than you were in
(35:17):
you know, day one and November and October.
Speaker 11 (35:20):
Yeah, I feel like I think thinking back to the
beginning of that freshman year, was I was wrestling like
a high schooler? Who was I wasn't setting up my attacks,
wasn't really doing good at the top bottom. Then working
to like keep working on those those flaws in my
wrestling towards like throughout the year with Bailey coastiabe working
(35:41):
on getting up the bottom, working on setting up my attacks.
I really would think if I went back and wrestled
myself from the beginning, it wouldn't even be close. It
was a complete, completely different wrestler.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Is there any point last season where you know something
just clicking, like, aha, this is how it's done.
Speaker 11 (36:00):
It was definitely when they were telling me about hand fighting,
it was not a big hand fighter in high school.
I would really just break a tie and then shoot
a double and that would be That would really are
I would need and realizing that sending the hand fight
and being more intentional with my hands, really it's going
to open up my attacks.
Speaker 5 (36:24):
So, Stefan, you come from New York, so they were
talking about previously, was trying to find a decent slice
of pizza in Boone or a decent bagel? So tell
me have you been able to find a decent slice
of pizza or a decent bagel in Boone?
Speaker 11 (36:42):
I would say, there are good spots around here, but
I wouldn't compare them to New York really, all right?
Speaker 5 (36:52):
And then circling back, I believe your sister also wrestles
in New York, correct, So tell me what that's been
like to be a big brother to to a woman
in wrestling or a woman who wrestles, And like, how
maybe do you guys train together? Do you coach her some?
You know, what does that family dynamic look like?
Speaker 11 (37:14):
I mean, I love it. I love that she's starting
to get into it. Uh, you know she started last
year and she's coming back this year. Them a lot
more excited about it. And whenever I go home, or
I'll train with her, or so she'll have a match,
she'll called me acting for a pointers, I will watch
her matches. It's a I think it's really brought us
(37:34):
closer together and give us some the talk about.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
And then again, something Cayden was talking about is the
brotherhood and like how close the whole team is. What
are some things that you found have been important to
developing that brotherhood and that tightness as a team.
Speaker 11 (37:57):
I think just going through the grind together is we're
just gonna bring you closer than aust earlier. I mean,
we all go through the same practice as, the same
early runs, some early lifts. We've all been together, you know,
we go through the ups and downs of the team.
We win as the team as the team. So I
think we just brings us att closer together.
Speaker 5 (38:15):
And what do you think maybe the biggest change from
last year to now? What do you think is like
your biggest change has been maybe mindset, training, squat max,
you know, anything like that. You know what's been your
biggest your biggest change.
Speaker 11 (38:32):
I think the biggest change came from a mindset. I
think coming off of last year, I know now that
I have the ability to compete at a high level.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
On this level, The Short Time Wrestling podcast has been
outfitted by Compound Sports where since ever since you need something, shirts, hats, gear,
team where you need it, They've got it. Call up
Cliff and the crew at CMP sportswear dot com.
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