Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Wrestling Previews NCAA Tournament
March 17, 2014 | Cowboy Wrestling
March 17, 2014
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith, as well as select athletes, met with the media on Monday to preview the NCAA Championships, held in Oklahoma City on March 20-22. Below is transcript of Smith and senior 174 pounder Chris Perry:
Coach John Smith
On the excitement of wrestling in OKC
"Yeah, it's nice. We've traveled all over this country this year. This whole month we've been able to stay home, with the Big 12 being down in Norman and of course the championships being in Oklahoma City. It's an exciting time. Having it right here in our backyard is nothing but a benefit."
On the difference having fans at tournament makes
"It's like a home and away wrestling match or basketball game. There's benefits to it if you embrace it. You have to put yourself in the mindset that it is an opportunity. For us, that's what we've got to look at. We have to embrace the championship. We're a little behind. Penn State, Minnesota, Iowa I'd say have a little bit of a lead on us, but we were behind last year and we closed the gap, and that's what we're going to have to do this year."
On how excited he is about the team's chances
"Yeah, I'm excited. I'm just excited about the tournament. I think our guys are excited and we look forward to it. We've kind of embraced these big matches, and we've been in a lot of them throughout the season. Of course, we lost five matches this year. That's a lot of matches for us to lose. All of them were in big, big matches. Towards the end of the year and our big events, we did well, we wrestled well. Some of our best wrestling I think is still ahead of us. We're going to have a great tournament. There isn't question for us to be considered a real threat at the championship, but we've been known to do it. We've got to recognize that we have to do a lot better than we're seeded."
On guys needing to step up to capture a team title
"When you're taking 10, any of them, we need seven or eight of these guys to step up. When you step up, then you're really in the picture. We're projected with, I think, only four All-Americans. If we do that, we're not going to be in the picture. We have to have upsets, and we have to have guys wrestling over their head and wrestling some of their best matches at the end of the year at the national tournament."
Chris Perry, 174 pounds
On NCAAs being held in OKC
“They choose the locations a couple years in advance so it's something we've kind of been waiting on for a couple of years. Getting to wrestle in Oklahoma City is a special thing. We only have a one-hour drive, which is nice. We're used to driving six or seven hours or flying somewhere. It's awesome, and I hope we have a big crowd like we did in 2006 when they had nationals here. We're going to use that to our advantage.”
On the level of excitement
“If you're not excited right now, then I don't know what is going to get you excited. This is what it's all about. This is what we work toward. We're ready. I have no regrets with my training or anything. I feel better than I've ever felt, and I'm ready to go. I already got what I came for, which is a national title, and I'm ready to add on. I'm more relaxed than I've ever been. I have a lot of experience in this game. I'm excited about it and no pressure at all.”
On this being his final NCAA tournament
“I grew up watching this and just thinking that I couldn't wait to get there, and now it's over. Next Monday, I'm done. This time next week, I'll be sitting at my house with no more wrestling in college. It's tough to realize, but at the same time, it's exciting that I still have one more opportunity at this.”
On what it takes to win another individual title
“It's going to take focus. It will have to be just one match at a time, not just for me but for my team as well. It's going to take a war every time we go out there. Every guy at this tournament is tough. I had grind matches all year last year at this tournament, and I won a lot of tight ones. I understand what I'm getting myself into.”
