Oklahoma State University Athletics
Senior Salute: Chris Perry
April 23, 2014 | Cowboy Wrestling
April 23, 2014
STILLWATER – “Senior Salute” is a weekly feature that asks 2014 Cowboy seniors what their careers meant to them, providing commentary from each senior wrestler, as well as coach John Smith. The first edition features Chris Perry, who wrapped up his OSU career with his second-consecutive national championship. Their comments:
What did your time at Oklahoma State mean to you?
“It was something special because I accomplished a lot of goals that I wanted to do. At the same time, the people that I met and became associated with can take me farther in my life and can take me where I want to get to.”
How has OSU prepared you for your future?
“It helped me in the business aspect and in building my work ethic. I work with people really well, and I've learned to relate to people really well. I've also had a strong work ethic thanks to wrestling. And I understand what it takes to get to the top of, not only school, but also school and every other aspect of life.”
What is your favorite memory of your time as a Cowboy?
“Nationals this year. It was awesome because I had a big challenge ahead of me and I was able to do it. That was what I wanted to get done.”
What would you tell someone who is thinking about being a Cowboy?
“There's no better place to be. We have great fans, great support and great coaches. I couldn't ask for anything more. We have great facilities. You're basically getting brought into another family and you have that support system there at all times.”
What will you miss most about OSU?
“The challenges. There are always challenges down the road, but the college grind is a different kind of grind. You'll never get to see it again. During season it might be hard on people, but you learn to appreciate it when you're done. It's made me a better person and a better wrestler. Now, I understand what it takes to really succeed at a college level.”
What do you think about what you've added to your family's legacy?
“It's good because I also created my own legacy. I feel like the first national title helped me to be a part of my family's legacy, but I think this year also helped me create my own. There's more to come, I feel like. I just have to stay focused and continue to do what I do. I think good things will come.”
What is next for you?
“I'm wrestling in the World Team Trials in Wisconsin at the end of May and also the University Trials a week before that.”
Coach John Smith
What has Chris Perry meant to OSU?
“First off, he's a great athlete to coach – everything you want, from passion to drive to hunger. There isn't any question we made some nice runs at championships because of Chris and his leadership. He'll go down as one of the great, great wrestlers of Oklahoma State.”
What do you expect from Chris moving forward?
“I think Chris is going to continue to wrestler well and look toward 2016. He's got an uphill battle because he's going to have to move to 189 pounds. He's got a tough road that works against him because of the weight class, but it's definitely not something in the long run that will hold him back.”
What will you miss most about coaching Chris at the collegiate level?
“I think one thing that he gave the team is that he's very unselfish. He helped a lot of guys on the team get things right both mentally and physically. Sometimes there's a tendency just to focus on yourself, but great leaders also focus on helping others get better, and that's what he did.”
