Hitting the Road with F&M Wrestling

I knew nothing of wrestling when I first arrived at F&M. My small high school of just over 300 kids didn’t have enough interest to support a wrestling program. It had been disbanded in the 1980s when the team couldn’t field one wrestler in every weight class. When the “thirds” soccer team fields three times as many players as the varsity wrestling squad, that’s when it is clear the time has come.

Because of this rather unfortunate state of affairs, I was eager to learn more about this sport. As far as I knew, the sport was more or less what my best friend and I did on “play dates” when we were six and seven years old. Any strategy, planning, or training that went into the preparation for a wrestling match was lost on me. It was a sport I would oftentimes hear about, but could never see.

To make a long story short, when I saw my first wrestling match as a sophomore at F&M, I was hooked. Unfortunately, I had chosen the final home match that year to be my first, so I had to wait quite awhile before I had the opportunity to watch another one. I went to every home match junior year, and it did nothing but increase the my interest in the sport. I started writing articles for The College Reporter, F&M’s student newspaper, and that eventually landed me this gig with the wrestling team at the start of my senior year. I had never seen a wrestling match two and a half years ago. Now I can’t get enough of it.

Still, something was missing. Because of F&M’s size, it cannot host any tournaments. There just is not enough space in the Mayser Gymnasium. When I agreed to write articles for the wrestling team throughout the 2011-2012 season, there was one article I really wanted to write. I wanted to chronicle the wrestling experience of being on the road and going to a tournament. Yes, I figured this would be an interesting article, but at the same time, I really wanted to hit the road and experience a wrestling tournament for the first time.

Below is a running diary. A blow-by-blow account of what happened on my first ever trip to a wrestling tournament when I tagged along with the wrestling program on their trip to the Navy Classic. I learned a lot about the sport and I hope that is reflected in my notes below.

Friday, 6:30 p.m.: I arrive at the Mayser Center, having sprinted from the library after printing out 75 pages of reading for the paper I have due Monday. I make it down the wrestling room and then move on out to the vans with the rest of the team. I hop on the second van in line, driven by Coach Greennberg. Matt Latessa, Matt Fullowan, Austin Glessner, Alex Henry, and Eric Norgard were in the van as well.

7:00 p.m.: We’re off! In two hours, we’ll be in Annapolis, Maryland for the Navy Classic. Having never seen the campus or the city of Annapolis, having the opportunity to see both was an added bonus for me. Prior to the trip, everyone kept telling me how beautiful both were, which only served to heighten my anticipation a little more.

9:00 p.m.: The team arrives at the O’Callaghan hotel. This being the first overnight trip I have ever taken with a sports team at F&M, I was a little unsure about what the accommodations would be like. I was definitely pleasantly surprised. Very nice hotel right in the center of the city. Couldn’t ask for much more.

Side note: Latessa made the interesting observation that, in general, the nicer the hotel, the worse the TV. Not that I was really watching any TV on this trip, but he’s right. Thinking back to my hotel experiences, the only time I have ever had a plasma screen TV in my room was when I stayed in a La Quinta in Andover, Massachusetts. Latessa is on to something here.

9:30 p.m.: I realize I have forgotten my phone charger. Surprisingly, this will end up being noteworthy.

10:30 p.m.: Lights out. With a 6 a.m. wake up call just around the corner, I wanted to hit the sack early. The only people in college I know who can wake up this early and not complain about it are the wrestlers. They work out this early almost every day. Thankfully, my 5:45 a.m. wake up calls for my summer job prepared me for this.

Saturday, 1:15 a.m.: Wake up call number one. Glessner, my roommate, instinctively wakes up and starts getting dressed. He is utterly shocked when I tell him that it’s only 1:15, and that he should probably go back to sleep.

3:30 a.m.: Wake up call number two. I answer the phone, and no one responds. Glessner never woke up for this one, and it’s a good thing I looked at the clock before waking him up. Back to sleep.

6:45 a.m.: After receiving no wake up call when we actually were supposed to, Glessner and I fly out of bed and race downstairs only to realize we have missed the team bus. Normally, I don’t trust wake up calls, so I always set my phone alarm just to be safe. I would have done so this time around, however, since I forgot my phone charger, my phone did not have enough battery to last through the night. If I learned one thing on this trip, it’s that all my skepticism when it comes to wake up calls is true.

7:15 a.m.: Glessner and I realize we’ll have to wait for the shuttle bus to get us to Navy. The first one is at 9:30, which will get us there just in time for the start of the tournament.

9:30 a.m.: No shuttle.

9:40 a.m.: Still no shuttle.

9:50 a.m.: No shuttle, but by now we have hailed a cab and are on our way down to the tournament.

10:10 a.m.: We arrive just after the national anthem. After finding the F&M wrestling crew, I finally have an opportunity to take in my surroundings. The Naval Academy truly is an awesome campus. The athletic center where the tournament is located has a glass wall overlooking the river and the colorful trees on the other side. Walking to the athletic center, I notice the beautiful stone buildings and the well-manicured grounds. It met the expectations I had set prior to the trip, based solely on the reviews of the wrestlers who had been there before. I’m just disappointed I didn’t get to see more of it. It really was the only disappointing thing for me the entire trip. I’d love to go back and take a tour of the campus, just so I can see everything.

Inside the building, a constant buzz is present. Four mats are set up next to one another, and there are four matches going on simultaneously. This is more or less how the entire afternoon went. Matches were going off in rapid-fire succession, with little time being wasted between them. Along with F&M, Navy, West Virginia, Bucknell, Gardner-Webb, George Mason, and The Citadel were all represented. I find a place to drop my stuff, and begin walking up and down the mats, taking everything in.

10:45 p.m.: I’m watching a match between the 125-pounders. One is from Navy and the other is from West Virginia. At school, when I am at wrestling matches, I am almost always with friends. While not a bad thing, most of them are there for friends and not for the match itself. As a result, when their friend isn’t actually on the mat, they spend more time talking than watching, which makes it a little tough to focus on the wrestling.

With nobody around to distract me, I notice for the first time just how much thought goes into each move. Disregarding the preparation that goes into every match before a wrestler even steps foot on the mat, I was impressed with how calculated each move was. It truly is a thinking man’s sport. Regardless of whether or not I was watching an F&M wrestler, I was enthralled by what I was taking in.

11:30 p.m.: Perhaps in part because I am naturally attracted to anything competitive, by this point in the morning I was enthralled by just about every match I saw. However, this wrestling thing is without a doubt leaving its impression on me. I have always been a football and basketball kind of guy, rarely missing any New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, or Duke Blue Devils basketball game. This is something I could definitely see myself following for the rest of my life.

12 p.m.: Admittedly, I am not sure if this is the exact time this event occurred, but it’s close enough. As I am wandering back and forth between mats, I always tried to keep an eye out for when an F&M wrestler is about to start wrestling. I noticed David Pucci is about a minute into his match. I squeeze myself in between two Bucknell parents, making the experience of watching Pucci wrestle Bucknell’s Doug Kellermeyer somewhat interesting.

Now, I am not one to feel embarrassed about who I am rooting for. After all, I have worn Red Sox jerseys in Yankee Stadium, Duke shirts at North Carolina Chapel Hill, and went to a Philadelphia 76ers-Oklahoma City Thunder game completely decked out in Celtics gear. I plan on wearing a Patriots jersey to the New England-Philadelphia game next week. With all this in mind, I had little trouble showing some excitement when Pucci won his first career match, despite standing amidst a throng of Bucknell fans.

Not only was it a good match, but also the look on Pucci’s face was priceless. Not in the really funny way, but in the that’s what is awesome about sports kind of way. It was raw emotion. I remember when Adam Vinatieri kicked the game winning field goal to beat the Rams in the Super Bowl in 2001 and I remember when Keith Foulke and the 2004 Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino. Seeing Pucci’s face was like that. For the people who know him, have talked with him, and understand what he is all about, this was a truly special moment.

1:30 p.m.: Break time. This was about the only ten or 15 minutes where the wrestling action stopped all afternoon. I’m sure everyone needed a bit of a breather, but I was personally itching to see some more wrestling.

2:45 p.m.: Colin Ely really is exciting to watch. He did lose in this particular match, but even when he was down with 30 seconds remaining in his match, I was convinced he was going to pull some magical move out from his arsenal and pin his opponent. I have seen him do it before, and although it didn’t happen this time around, he does it enough that you have to at least think it’s possible every time he steps on the mat. While the coaching staff may wish he was a bit more conservative at times, Ely is a fan favorite. Watching Ely wrestle is like watching Justin Verlander pitch or Aaron Rodgers play quarterback. At any give moment, something memorable might happen.

3:15 p.m.: Standing along the guardrail separating the fans from the mats, I realize I am suddenly surrounded by heavyweights. George Mason’s heavyweight is about five feet away, F&M’s Henry is standing right behind me, and Bucknell’s heavyweight is talking to his coach right next to me. At six feet two inches and over two hundred pounds, I generally consider myself to be a big guy. I’m not.

4:00 p.m.: Talking to Pucci about the tournament, he tells me he has wrestled three times within two hours. For starters, there has been so much going on all at once that I barely noticed he wrestled two other times. But, more importantly, I am very impressed with how well conditioned these athletes are. It’s one thing to wrestle once a night during a dual match. But to wrestle at least three times in one afternoon? I’ve run multiple marathons in my life and even I cannot think about how well conditioned one has to be to have sustained success in a tournament like this.

4:15 p.m.: F&M has four wrestlers in the fifth/sixth place finals matches, and they’re all on the same mat. How convenient.

5:30 p.m.: Although every wrestler in the finals had some memorable moments, watching Latessa was particularly thrilling for me. I noticed he likes to pick people up and throw them to the mat. George Mason’s Coriston Smith looked like the green bean bag chair in my room. To make it comfortable, I always pick it up and throw it to the ground, and then I just jump on it, usually ending up on my stomach. If it ever gets uncomfortable, I just repeat the process. Latessa’s match went something like that.

Later on, Henry pinned Hunter Manspile of George Mason to come in fifth. I was down on the floor to watch his match, and when the combined weight of Henry and Manspile hit the floor, I could’ve sworn a small earthquake hit Annapolis.

6:00 p.m.: We’re off. I had an awesome experience, and the tournament was everything I thought it was going to be. Even a little more, in some respects. I’m already eager to hit the road again, and I can’t wait until F&M starts wrestling at home so I can start going to matches on a regular basis again.

6:30 p.m.: For what seems like the umpteenth time since the trip started, Fullowan pulls out the, “You’re a wizard, Harry” line. I’m not sure how this fits in with everything, but he said it a lot, so it must.

7:00 p.m.: Most expensive Burger King trip ever.

9:00 p.m.: Back on campus. It’s been quite a trip. I loved every minute of it, and I cannot wait to go back. I’m already going over my schedule to find another road trip that works.

I may have never seen a wrestling match before I arrived at F&M, but I now feel like I’ve seen almost everything there is to see. I love what I see and, while I loved every moment of my high school experience, I can’t help but wish that I went to there back in the 80s. Then I wouldn’t have had to wait so long.

Working on an Island

“Sometimes, we’re on an island.”

Both head wrestling coach Mike Rogers and assistant coach Matt Greenberg face something of a unique challenge when they go to work every day. While the F&M wrestling program may be on the rise and may be gaining attention from others around the EIWA, the bottom line is, F&M isn’t like all those other schools.

As a primarily division three school, F&M’s wrestling program can sometimes be on an island when it comes to the unique challenges and requirements that come with competing at the division one level. There are advantages and disadvantages to being in such a situation, but the bottom line is F&M wrestling operates a little differently from not only the other athletic programs at F&M, but other division one programs as well.

“The benefits are, recruiting wise, we can offer the best of both worlds,” Rogers said. “We can offer a small school atmosphere and we can offer top of the line competition.”

“The downsides are, sometimes we’re on an island in terms of the issues we face,” he continued. “We have fewer resources, in all aspects. Sometimes we have justify why we’re division one. Sometimes we have to answer those questions.”

The wrestling programs at Cornell, Princeton, Navy, or Maryland never have to justify their status as a division one program. Being the lone division one program at a college is a one of a kind challenge that few coaches have to face, primarily because their programs lines up with the other programs at the school in terms of what division they’re in.

Unlike bigger schools, which can raise millions of dollars, build state of the art wrestling specific facilities, and hire an entire staff of full-time coaches, F&M doesn’t have that luxury. Perhaps it was for this reason, when Greenberg first arrived, he noticed the program needed a lot of work to catch up with the other wrestling programs around the EIWA.

“When I first got here, the whole [program] needed to be overhauled,” Greenberg said. “In the last two years, we have caught up or gotten back on track with the other schools. To do as well as F&M has with all of its sports is impressive.”

One of the biggest challenges facing Rogers and Greenberg was taking F&M wrestling and turning it into a year-round sport. Before they arrived, F&M wrestling was more of a part-time commitment, which made it difficult to keep up with the other bigger schools in the conference.

“We had to take [the program] from a six-month program and turn it into a 12-month program,” Greenberg said. “They can’t take the summers off.”

In order to keep tabs on what some of the bigger schools are doing, Greenberg said both he and Rogers ask recruits what they like about the other schools in the conference and what they’re attracted to at other institutions.

When it comes time to sell F&M to recruits who may be looking at bigger schools, Rogers says he almost always comes back to F&M.

“What we sell is the school,” Rogers said. “The advantages of a small school such as the academics. What I can’t do is sell them a big time experience. But some kids don’t want that, so we try and sell them on F&M being a smaller school with a smaller campus.”

Unlike some of the other major division one programs around the country, Rogers doesn’t have the same staff or economic support they do. While some division one schools have their own compliance officers and academic support staff, Rogers and Greenberg have to be versatile in the sense that, at F&M, all of those jobs fall into their laps.

“We have to look at what resources we do have,” Rogers said. “Coaches who are at schools like ours have to wear many different hats. Coaches at schools like F&M tend to be hard workers. Coaches who go from a situation with tons of resources to a school like F&M sometimes struggle. It’s a challenge [to make the switch].”

What is both unique and exciting about division one wrestling is, unlike other sports, there is no major professional league wrestlers can go to once their college careers are over. With the exception of Olympic wrestlers, division one wrestling is as high as the vast majority of wrestlers can hope to reach.

“Division one wrestling is basically the pros,” Greenberg said. “For 99 percent of wrestlers, this is their pros.”

Ever since Rogers arrived, the F&M wrestling program has been on the upswing. What has helped is that, in Greenberg’s eyes, Rogers could coach at any major division one program in the nation.

“I love working for Mike,” Greenberg said. “He’s a division one coach. When he came on board, it made me believe [we could turn the program around].”

Although there are certainly some unique challenges coaching at a primarily division three school, Rogers has focused more on the opportunity F&M has given him to mold what was once a struggling program into a winner.

“What’s unique here is that Matt and I can start fresh,” Rogers said. “We can look back and say we [turned the program around]. I look at Matt as a co-head coach. We complement each other well. We stay here because it’s our stamp. We believe it’s going to be something special.”

Beyond the Mat - Dave Pucci

I sat down with senior Dave Pucci on Veterans Day and, in light of our conversation, I probably could not have picked a better day to do it. While he has aspirations to work in Washington D.C. for the government, Pucci is currently studying for the Pilot Test to get into the United States Marine Corps.

“I don’t really want to sit in an office as a 22-year old,” Pucci said. “I want to develop my leadership skills. I want to do something that separates me from the norm. I can work in an office and make money later.”

Seeing as most kids from F&M do not include the military in their prospective careers list, my conversation with Pucci was one of the most interesting I have had in quite awhile. Students from colleges and universities cast in the mold of F&M rarely consider the military as a viable option for after college. However, because of his physical and mental makeup, it seems right that Pucci would want to separate himself from the norm.

“He’s tough,” assistant coach Matt Greenberg said. “He never complains. Sometimes guys lay it on him pretty good [on the mat], but he’s always looking to get better. If I need someone to be with me in a dark alley, it’s him. He’s a good friend. He does the right thing when nobody is watching or listening.”

Unlike the other three seniors on the wrestling squad, Pucci is not a captain. While many people would struggle and complain if they were in his position, Pucci has elected to respect it and contribute to the program in any way he can.

“I think I have a leadership role,” Pucci said. “I think my role is to be a leader. I’ve seen a lot of guys quit. I show up to everything and never complain. I’m always on time. I just try to lead by example and leave the vocal stuff to [the captains].”

Although Pucci is not listed as a captain on the roster, he is treated like one by both his coaches and his peers.

“He’s one of the people I go to when I need to get a read on the team,” Greenberg said. “Even more so than some of the captains. I still look at him as a captain. From my perspective, he is one.”

Pucci has never been the flashiest or most successful wrestler on the squad. He joined the team as a walk-on, and he rarely starts a meet. Despite this, when he does get a chance to wrestle, those in the stands will be hard pressed to find a wrestler on either team that works and wrestles harder than Pucci does.

He respects the sport. When asked about what wrestling had taught him over the course of his life, it was obvious Pucci possesses a deep affinity and respect for it. It has taught him how to conduct himself in life, and he knows how to make each and every chance he receives count.

“There’s a tremendous value in getting the crap beat out of you and having to come back the next day,” Pucci said. “There’s a lot of focus on details. Details, the small details are what allow the big things to come out. They aren’t hard, but you have to do them. They all need to be performed in order to succeed. I can relate that to everything I do. If you put in the details, you’ll generally do pretty well.”

“While he may not get the results athletically, we still hold him up as a guy who will be successful in life,” Greenberg said. “I would bet on him any day of the week. It’s important to us that it’s not just what you do on the mat [that counts].”

By appreciating the details and the finer rewards that come with the sport, Pucci has developed an ability to simply love wrestling for what it is, and not the awards and praise that comes with winning matches.

“Wrestling has been a really interesting experience for me because I haven’t had tons of success on the mat,” Pucci said. “That hasn’t happened for me for one reason or another. I’m beyond trying to be a national champion or All-American now, and I’m truly just trying to enjoy it. I have taken so much from wrestling and none of it has to do with the wins and losses.”

Even though he doesn’t start and doesn’t receive the accolades and attention some of his teammates do, Pucci is genuinely happy and excited about the role he has with the team and is doing everything he can to help propel F&M wrestling to the next level. He does not seem to care whether or not he gets credit for helping turn the team around, and he approaches his role and duty with the team with a sense of urgency and dedication unmatched by just about everyone.

By working so hard to boost the profile of the program, Pucci has improved himself more than many people thought he would.

“When I got here, he was one of the guys who put the most time in and made the most gains to where he is today,” Greenberg said. “He has been one of the people who has grown the most. He wanted to be competitive in our room and go out and compete whenever he could.”

Pucci is not just unique on the mat, but he is distinctive off it as well. Over the summer, he traveled down to Ecuador, where he spent his break working for a start up company.

“I was working for a start up and they make different types of green teas,” Pucci said. “I was doing economic research and looking into the cost benefits of mass producing the product. The company is also a social entrepreneurship, so they want to avoid exploiting the people.”

Working in Ecuador for the summer only further supports Pucci’s desire and aspiration to separate himself from the rest of the pack. Simply sitting still and letting time and opportunities pass by are not in his DNA. He is always striving to be different while also meeting his own high standards and seeking to be the best he can.

As a senior, Pucci’s remaining time at F&M is short. During his three years at the school thus far, he has left a distinctive mark on the program as he seeks to improve both it and himself. He approaches everything he does with a sense of urgency and a drive to always complete his task to the best of his ability.

Through all the trials he has endured during his collegiate wrestling career, it would have been easy for him to just quit and move on. Few would have blamed him. But Pucci gets the sense he is a part of something special, and he can’t stand the thought of turning his back on his teammates and coaches. His experiences in wrestling to this point have given him an appreciation for whatever opportunities he receives now.

“I blew my knee out on [head coach Mike] Rogers’ third day on the job,” Pucci said. “Last year, I sat out and had the pleasure of watching the initial transition period. I’m just happy to be back and to help the new guys along. I’m excited to help us improve.”

There’s something special about Pucci. His dedication and love for the team and the sport itself shine through in every word he says. In all likelihood, you won’t see his name in any kind of record book when his career is over. However, he will have left his mark. Just like Pucci himself, that mark will be distinctive and profound, and it will resonate throughout the F&M wrestling community.

Beyond the Mat - Colin Ely

He has a complexion and an appearance that is both appealing and inviting. When you speak with him, everything is important and worthwhile. If it’s important to you, it will be important to him. If you leave your conversation with him and you are not happier than you were when you began, he feels like he’s failed you in some way.

Senior Colin Ely is one of the few people who are genuinely interested in whatever you have to say. By extension, that makes him one of the most interesting people you will ever meet. Awkward silences don’t exist in his world, because he can always find something to keep the conversation flowing in a seemingly effortless and natural way. Despite his talent on the mat, perhaps his greatest gift is his ability to entertain, listen, and make you feel like you’re the most important thing going on in his life at that moment.

“Off the mat, I’m a positive person,” Ely said. “I try to be nice to everyone and I try to meet as many people as I can.”

Not surprisingly, his caring nature and his natural inclination leads him to treat every wrestler on the team as his best friend. Ely is rewarded with the respect and admiration of all those who look up to him.

“He has a very big heart,” head coach Mike Rogers said of Ely. “He is passionate about all the guys on the team, even the new guys. He gains respect by giving [respect]. That’s a hard thing to replace.”

What will likely be the most difficult thing to replace when Ely graduates in about five months is not his intensity, creativity, or performance on the mat. It will be the comforting and respectful presence he brings to the locker room every day. What Ely does for the F&M wrestling program cannot be measured in statistics, and those characteristics typically are the most challenging ones to find.

Dual Personalities

If Ely is calm, respectful, and good-natured off the mat, he is unrelenting, intense, and creative on it. Generally the most exciting wrestler on the mat every week, Ely has a habit of getting himself in trouble, and then getting himself out of it. While it provides excitement and suspense for those watching him, the coaching staff tends to hold its breath when Ely begins to experiment with different techniques and strategies in the middle of a match.

“He doesn’t mind taking risks, I just wish they were a little more calculated,” Rogers said. “His matches are always wide open. He can sometimes get lost in the match. As a coach, it’s a good problem to have. It’s better to have to bring a guy back than to have to push him on. As a coach, you don’t want to restrict creativity. He’s exciting to watch. It’s not going to be slow and methodical.”

“With Colin, he’s that example of a guy who is always one move away from winning,” assistant coach Matt Greenberg added. “He’s also one move away from getting into trouble.”

Ely admits he can sometimes be a little too adventurous on the mat. However, to ask him to restrict that creativity would be to place a limit on his ability. He thrives on the freedom he has on the mat, and it all goes towards making his opponent uneasy and guessing as to what Ely might do next.

“When I’m on the mat I’m a totally different person,” Ely said. “The energy I bring is all about trying to pressure [my opponent]. Sometimes I get carried away. I wrestle, it’s funky a little bit and I do some stuff people have never seen. I do try to go back the coach’s gameplan though.”

Expecting Ely to comply completely with any specific routine is unrealistic. He leaves his own unique mark on every match, and you cannot expect him to wrestle the same way every time. In fact, it’s safe to say that you will see a slightly different wrestling style every time you watch him.

But that’s what makes him special. His emotion and creativity are what make him so, and, while the coaching staff may wish he would be a bit more conservative at times, they are the reasons why fans are drawn to him when he steps onto the mat.

“The Emotional Leader”

Not surprisingly, as someone who thrives on creativity and the ability to express himself, Ely is considered by his coaches to be the emotional leader in the locker room. Where other seniors rely on the standard they set through their actions, according to the coaching staff, Ely is more likely to be the vocal presence.

“He’s the emotional leader of the team,” Greenberg said. “Everything he does, people take notice. If he sees you losing focus, he’ll grab you and tell you. It took him two years to grow into that. Our biggest loss [when he graduates] is that emotion he brings every day to the program.”

Ely recognizes the pivotal role is has on the team. Not everybody can be an emotional leader; it’s something a person grows into. Even those who want to be the vocal presence in a locker don’t always work out, as many struggle to be heard in a way that does not sound like they’re talking down to those around him. For Ely, his vocal nature comes from sacrificing so much and putting so much into the program, and, when he does get vocal, it stems from his sacrifices rather than his superiority, which resonates with those around him.

“Being an emotional leader comes from being so into the team,” Ely said. “Everything means more. Losses hurt more and wins mean a thousand times more than they would otherwise.”

“As a senior and as a captain, I view all the guys as my friends,” he added. “From my perspective, we’re all together. I don’t have a conscious realization of my impact on the [team]. But I realize they look up to the seniors.”

Ely believes every wrestler has an impact on how the team performs over the course of the season. It’s cliché, but the team is only as strong as its weakest link, and, because of that, Ely sees value in every wrestler and in everything his teammates brings to the team dynamic. For this reason, his vocal nature is perceived as caring rather than condescending.

Connected to his ability to make every conversation he has important, he has the capability to make every teammate feel like he has a place on the roster. There are certain qualities that make a man a true leader, and one of them is the ability to make every person he runs into feel needed. Ely possesses that gift, and it shines through in everything he does.

Branching Out

As an outgoing, charismatic individual, Ely is not afraid to experience something new. It’s what makes him so interesting: while wrestling is a major part of his life, it by no means defines him exclusively.

Over the summer, in between his job at F&M and training for his senior season, Ely carved out two weeks to travel north to Williamsport, PA to work with Professor Levine on an archaeological dig in a cornfield. Despite the rural nature of his surroundings, Ely found a way to reach out and connect with those around him.

“We were excavating a Native American site from the 18^th century,” Ely said. “We were in a cornfield for most of it. We had a good time and we learned a lot. I got to hang out with all my friends and make a bunch of new ones too.”

As a tribute to his goofy and outgoing nature, Ely found a way to connect with the people around him.

“We looked up things to do in Williamsport online when we got there,” Ely said. “Number 24 was going to Dunkin’ Donuts. It made Lancaster look like New York City. We were always going to Rita’s when we were up there, and brought that up with two girls working there. They actually said they were planning on going to Dunkin’ Donuts later that day. We shared a pretty good laugh together.”

At F&M, Ely has had the opportunity to branch out and explore countless opportunities. For this reason, the prospect of not being a student next year is one that he doesn’t choose to think about all that much.

“I’m going to miss pretty much everything,” Ely said. “I’ll miss the competition, the team, and most of all, the people. That’s the biggest thing. Just the general feeling [of F&M].”

When Ely accepts his diploma in five months, the wrestling program will be losing a vocal leader who has carved out a critical role within the program. But, perhaps more importantly, the entire F&M community will be losing one of its most charismatic and outgoing members. It is difficult to replace someone with the uncanny ability to make every person he talks to feel important.

There’s a reason everyone likes being around him. When talking to him, you know you’re with someone who is genuinely interested in what you have to say. While it is always possible that you could leave that conversation in a bad mood, chances are you won’t, and, more likely, you will leave feeling the best you’ve felt all day.

Beyond the Mat - Matt Latessa

Commitment and leadership. Two words most everyone strives for, but few people attain. Oftentimes the weak spot for an athletic program, coaches and athletes alike generally struggle to string together good performances and develop a program built on consistency. That’s why, whenever an athlete comes along who inherits the qualities that make up consistency, a coach oftentimes develops and affinity for him.

“One thing with Matt [Latessa], he’s very consistent,” said head coach Mike Rogers. “He wrestles so hard. He never takes a step backwards. He’s always moving forward. He’s the type of guy you like watching because he’s always the fan favorite. He’s always fighting in his matches, even if he’s behind. He’s always wrestled hard.”

Matt Latessa, now a senior, has not always been the flashiest wrestler on the mat. He has not always been the headliner either. Despite this, it’s easy to consider Latessa to be the most consistent, and he embodies all the traits and attributes that, together, make a person consistent, dependable, and trustworthy.

Tradition

Wrestling is not something new to Latessa. Growing up in Ohio, wrestling has been in his family for a long time. One could say the sport is in his blood.

“It’s generational with Matt,” Rogers said. “Matt has a coach’s son’s type of mentality. He knows what it’s all about. There are no surprises with him. He knows it’s all about the team. He’s always making the sacrifices, and it’s nice having someone like that on the team.”

Talking to Matt, one can tell wrestling is something he lives for. He approaches it like he would approach a final exam or a job interview. He takes everything seriously, and if he doesn’t give everything he has every day, it means, in one way or another, he has let his teammates down. At the same time, Latessa manages to strike a healthy balance, knowing when to take something very seriously and when to let an issue slide.

“I’ve always liked to think of myself as a hard worker,” Latessa said. “Not just in wrestling, but in academics and life, I suppose.  At the same time, you can’t take everything too seriously. Whether it’s sports, classes or anything, you just want to take everything one day at a time, every day’s a good day.”

“I take that attitude to everything I do in life,” Latessa added. “You can wake up a six o’clock in the morning for a workout and think ‘I’m not getting out of bed today.’ But then you have in the back of your mind, ‘Well, I gotta do it to get better.’ There’s a hundred reasons not to wake up but there’s always one good reason to wake up and that’s what you have to do to be successful.”

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Latessa was that, as a senior in college, he has already figured out the key to separating oneself from the pack. What takes most people years of professional experience to fully grasp, Latessa has seemingly mastered before his graduation. He’s always looking for the one good reason to do something, and ignores the countless bad reasons not to follow through with a commitment. It’s what’s special about him. You never have to worry about whether or not he’s going to show up on time.

Commitment

The truly impressive thing about Latessa has been the level of commitment he has shown the team over the course of his four years. His mother, who has dealt with cancer on and off throughout her life, and the rest of his family have been a primary focus for Latessa, as he has shuttled back and forth between F&M and his home in Ohio, tending to the needs of his family, the wrestling program, and any other academic or social commitments he may have without missing a beat. Although it has been tough, the maturity and dedication Latessa possesses is remarkable.

“In the past couple years, of the people in my life I respect the most, my Mom is right up there, she is probably number one,” Latessa said. “She got dealt a pretty rough hand. She’s had cancer four different times in her life. She always keeps a good attitude and is always looking on the bright side. She has been someone I have always looked up to in my life, just because of how brave and tough she has been throughout her entire life.”

“Balancing this with wrestling, there are some times when you just have to be there,” he added. “I’ve been on flights home to see my mom and then the next day be back here wrestling. Which is fine for me. I just have so much support from the guys on the team. They’re always there for me if I need them to be.”

Latessa’s ability to always find a way to come through for both his family and his team has left its mark on those in the program. While it would be easy for him to simply take off and spend his time focused entirely on his family, Latessa has somehow managed to, at the very least, make it seem like his team is of equal importance to him. He has not missed a match, and, despite pleas from his coaching staff and fellow wrestlers, refuses to let his team down.

“When he was going back and forth from Ohio, he never missed a match,” Rogers added. “Even when I said, ‘Don’t, don’t come back,’ he would always say, ‘No, I need to be there for the team.’ That just gave me another example to use. How can you be complaining when you know what this kid is dealing with? Deal with what he is dealing with and then still show up. Even for me personally, when I start feeling sorry for myself, it really puts things in perspective.”

It is an old cliché that is oftentimes misused, but, in this case, it is appropriate. The sun is guaranteed to rise every day. In terms of consistency, there is no better example. But Latessa comes close, and to say he is dedicated to the team would be to sell both him, and his commitment, short.

Leadership

Perhaps the most impressive thing Latessa has going for him is not his wrestling ability, his academic prowess, or the dedication he shows to both his family and his team. Rather, the most impressive thing is how he handles himself. When presented with the compliments and praise he received from his peers, Latessa was appreciative, but, at the same time, humble and understanding of the fact that, in the end, what he is being praised for is simply in the job description.

“For me, I like to think that’s just being dependable,” Latessa said when presented with things his peers said about him. “All those adjectives … that’s just doing your job. Being there at every practice, that’s expected. Being able to answer the phone when Coach calls you or being able to help out with recruits. I think that’s all part of being a team member and I don’t necessarily think that’s atypical of any other guy on the team.”

“At a certain point, you make a commitment to the team and at that point it’s just being there, it’s your duty to be there,” he added. “It’s not anything that’s too special. Not to say that it’s a bad thing, but it’s just expected.”

With those comments, Latessa revealed his true character. Latessa is not about being the flashiest, most popular, or being the wrestler grabbing all the headlines. Rather, Latessa is about being a leader to those around him, remaining committed to those he made a promise to, and upholding what is a proud wrestling tradition, both at F&M and within his own family.

Those three characteristics are what best describe Latessa. With them, he has cultivated success on the mat and received respect and admiration from the people surrounding him. Unfortunately, these traits are becoming uncommon in today’s world, and by seeking to do what he believes should be ordinary, he has made himself extraordinary. Latessa has uncovered the secrets of being truly successful.

In the process, Latessa has molded himself into what just about every coach in America is searching for: a model of consistency. Not every athlete has it, but when one comes around who does, it’s safe to say he will leave his mark and those around him will respect him for it.

Latessa is no exception.

Beyond the Mat - Matt Fullowan

Sitting across the desk from Matt Fullowan, I couldn’t tell I was speaking with the top-ranked 174-pounder in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. With his F&M baseball cap, wrestling sweatshirt and blue jeans, neither his physical appearance nor his attitude lent itself to that of a two-time captain.

His humble nature was apparent as he answered every question in a thoughtful, reasoned manner. It resembled more of a conversation with another student than an interview with a premier athlete.

“Loyal, dedicated, and he’s also one of the toughest kids I know,” assistant coach Matt Greenberg said of Fullowan. “He’s one of the guys [the coaches] always go to, and he leads by example. That’s how I would describe Matt Fullowan.”

UNCERTAIN BEGINNINGS

It’s easy to look back and tab Fullowan as one of the better wrestlers in the EIWA. Hindsight is always perfect, and the list of accomplishments Fullowan has assembled is both long and impressive. However, coming out of high school, one never would have predicted the trajectory Fullowan’s career has taken.

As an unheralded high school wrestler, many of the big division one programs along the east coast looked past Fullowan in favor of what they considered to be the sure thing. Fullowan received little attention, and even fewer offers, from the major wrestling programs in the region. In fact, for a while, Fullowan was not entirely sure wrestling was even in his future, as he grappled with the decision to play football or wrestle in college.

“I was mixed up about whether to play football or wrestle,” Fullowan said. “I wasn’t sure which one I was going to do. I decided whichever one was going to get me into the better school, that was the one I was going to do. It came down to a last minute decision with my parents, and we decided on Franklin and Marshall for wrestling, and I don’t regret it at all.”

Perhaps recognizing his status as an unheralded recruit at the beginning his wrestling career, Fullowan has been willing to work with his coaching staff ever since he set foot on campus. His respect both for head coach Mike Rogers and Greenberg was obvious throughout the conversation, as he credited them with making him the wrestler he is today. Although his journey is not yet complete, the smile on his face indicated Fullowan couldn’t be happier with where he is in his wrestling career.

“[This process] has taught me a lot,” Fullowan said. “It’s nice to be able to go out now and beat those kids I lost to in high school and kids that placed above me, it’s really great. That’s one of the reasons I’m doing it, and I love it.”

LEAVING A MARK

Although Fullowan has left his mark on the mat, he has certainly made his mark off it as well. While he is a special wrestler, talking to both Fullowan and his coaches revealed that he is even more special as a human being, something that cannot be said about every athlete in America these days.

“If Matt wasn’t good at wrestling, I would still love him and I would still talk about him the same way,” Greenberg said. “The fact that he’s really good at wrestling and is really good at what he does doesn’t factor in to what I say about him as far as him as a person. We have developed good human beings on this team, and I think it started with him.”

As an active member of Lancaster Alliance Wrestling (LAW), Fullowan has made his presence felt in the larger community as well. As a wrestling camp for the local community, many of Lancaster’s young, aspiring wrestlers participate in the program.

What’s truly interesting and special about his involvement is that, for as much as he gives to LAW and those he works with, he is truly appreciative of his role with the organization and claims to have received just as much from the program as he has brought to it.

“Whenever Coach Rogers and Coach Greenberg can’t run it, I’m always willing to go and help out,” Fullowan said. “I love teaching the little kids and just being around them. It also helps me develop my teaching skills and really makes me think about what I need work on and what I need to focus on … and that really helps me out on the mat when I’m wrestling.”

“LAW has really helped Fullowan as a person,” head coach Mike Rogers said. “He’s a great teacher and the kids love him. He knows how to relate to them from the six and seven year olds to the high school kids, and he keeps them all involved and engaged. The kids really enjoy having him as an instructor. He’s kind of developing his own fan base through that club.”

For all his wrestling and community accomplishments, Fullowan has not forgotten about his role in the classroom either. Rarely in division one athletics does one come across a student-athlete who truly personifies the term. But, then again, Fullowan’s career thus far has not necessarily been about conforming to the status quo.

After learning of all his accomplishments and his workmanlike approach to both wrestling and his life outside the sport, it should not come as a surprise that he has placed himself in a position to potentially receive a dream job right out of college. What may surprise most people, however, is how he went about doing it. Consistently training and working at an internship with Logan Circle, a fixed-asset management firm in Philadelphia, Fullowan

“I worked on the high-yield bond trading desk,” Fullowan said. “I took a train from Lancaster, I think I caught the 5:30 a.m. train, and I got [to Philadelphia] by 7:30, and they would let me leave by three to get a train to get back [to F&M] so I could wrestle by five.”

Many college students would consider either training for a division one sport or working at Logan Circle to be a full summer. While the long hours and dedication has not turned into a direct job offer yet, Fullowan is still confident.

“I’m still waiting on that phone call,” he said with a grin.

GIVING BACK

By working with his coaches and always maintaining a level of work ethic unfamiliar to most, Fullowan has transformed from an unheralded high school wrestler into a top-tier collegiate athlete. Although he won’t talk about it, Fullowan has a silent confidence about him. It’s the same confidence every elite athlete has, although, unlike Fullowan, many cannot seem to carry it with humility.

This is perhaps what has made Fullowan truly special over the course of his journey. He has handled his responsibilities and success with class and, for as great an impact his coaches have had on him, he has undoubtedly impacted them in ways he may never fully appreciate.

“When I first got here, things were kind of in disarray,” Greenberg said. “Matt was the only reason I stayed with it. It would have been very easy to say [F&M] is not the place I need to be, this is not going to work. But Matt came to me and said, ‘Make me better.’ We were basically duct-taped together for the rest of the year.”

In just 15 minutes with Fullowan, it became so easy to appreciate the kind of person he is. As one of the prominent faces of the program, Fullowan has handled himself in a way many people would not. His wrestling accomplishments aside, Fullowan has demonstrated he is one of the better human beings you could possibly hope to meet.

Fullowan is confident without being cocky, humble, and demonstrates himself as a true leader without being overbearing. He has struck a perfect balance.

As his final season as a Diplomat commences, it seems as if Fullowan has little left to prove. But, knowing him, Fullowan is not satisfied with where he is. It’s a never-ending process, and if his senior year is anything like the first three, then Fullowan will make the most of it.

When I firs sat down with him, it was difficult to tell he was one of the best wrestlers in the EIWA. But, after talking to him, it wasn’t hard to figure it out. It’s his humble, reserved nature that makes Fullowan truly great. While he may wreak havoc on the mat, his demeanor off it would never suggest it.

People like Fullowan don’t always come around. Who knows when F&M will get someone else like him. Regardless, he has left his mark, and F&M wrestling would never have been the same without it.