Oklahoma State University Athletics
John Smith, Cowboy Wrestlers Preview Iowa Dual
January 16, 2009 | Cowboy Wrestling
Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith and wrestlers Jared Rosholt and Jamal Parks met with the media to preview Sunday's dual vs. No. 1 Iowa. Here are some of the highlights of what they had to say:
On Iowa's team:
“This is the number-one ranked team coming in here. They are pretty much the same team from last year but one year older and one year better. For us, no question it will take our best effort and then some.”
On competing in big duals:
“These are the things you look forward to, even back to when you were a little kid. You want to have good memories of your time as a wrestler and the only way to have those good memories is to win. Big matches like this are why you come to a place like Oklahoma State.”
On Oklahoma State being the underdog in this dual:
“I don't preach the underdog role, even though that may be where we are at this point. We talk to our athletes about high expectations and we are preparing to have our very best effort Sunday. I don't use the word underdog. I tell our guys to be excited for this. This is your chance to be in one of these big meets. If we relax and wrestle like I know we can, we'll do well.”
On how wrestlers prepare when they know they will face the top opponents in the country:
“Being competitive individually in a big match can do wonders for you. You may not necessarily win your match, but you're looking to gain respect, especially at some of the weight classes where it looks on paper like there is no chance.”
Jared Rosholt
Regarding Sunday's dual:
“This dual is going to be a good one. It was good last year and whenever you get two teams like this, you see them rise to the occasion.”
Regarding what it means to be part of the Oklahoma State vs. Iowa rivalry:
“If you go to Oklahoma State or to Iowa to wrestle, people know who you are and what you have done in your career. Oklahoma State and Iowa are the two best.”
On the impact that the home crowd can have:
“The crowd helps you both ways. Whether they are for you or against you, the fans can get you up.”
Jamal Parks
On his probable opponent Sunday, No. 1 Alex Tsirtsis:
“I have watched Tsirtsis his whole career at Iowa so his style is no mystery. If anything, I'm the mystery to him in this match because I redshirted last year. I'm sure we have both seen tape of each other though.”
On how he can improve:
“In each of my losses this year, I was ahead in every one of them. That's one of the chinks in my armor, that people think I can't go the full seven minutes but that is something I am looking to improve on.”
On the Oklahoma State vs. Iowa rivalry:
“Oklahoma State and Iowa is one of the biggest rivalries in the country, maybe even bigger than Bedlam. We went there last year and it was sold out. It can be an ugly rivalry because we hate them and they hate us, but you know that it will always be a good dual."
