Episodit
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Mark Branch, a four-time finalist and two-time national champion, discusses his wrestling journey with Shane Sparks. Branch recalls his first meeting with John Smith, who convinced him to join Oklahoma State over the University of Oklahoma. He describes the initial challenges of transitioning from high school to college wrestling, feeling inadequate and overmatched.
Branch emphasizes the importance of perseverance, citing his freshman season where he won the national championship despite entering the tournament with a losing record. He also shares the emotional impact of overcoming a serious knee injury and the support from his mother's cancer battle. Branch highlights the shift in his coaching philosophy to prioritize relationships and emotional support for his athletes.
Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Mark Branch on Episode 38 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Current Edinboro assistant coach AJ Schopp joins Shane Sparks on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast. Schopp was a three-time All-American for the Fighting Scots and recently returned after spending a number of years on staff at Purdue. School discusses his wrestling journey, emphasizing the importance of hard work and mental resilience. He recalls his time at Young Guns, highlighting the impact of the club on his development. Schopp shares his decision to attend Edinboro for its low-key environment and strong academic focus.
He reflects on his 2015 NCAA Championships experience, where he overcame a first-round loss to place third, and the significance of team success. Schopp also discusses his competitive nature, particularly his pinning techniques and rivalries with wrestlers like Tony Ramos and Chris Dardanes.
Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with A.J. Schopp on Episode 37 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Darian Cruz, a three-time All-American, NCAA champion and Olympian, reflects on his career, particularly his 2017 NCAA championship win against Thomas Gilman. He recalls the emotional preparation and the pivotal moments in the match, including a crucial takedown in regulation and overtime. Cruz also discusses the impact of his coach, Pat Santoro, and the importance of mental preparation. He shares his Olympic experience, highlighting the excitement and pressure of competing at that level. Cruz emphasizes the significance of representing Puerto Rico and the lessons learned from both victories and defeats.
Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Darian Cruz on Episode 36 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Teague Moore, a three-time All-American and national champion at Oklahoma State, discussed his wrestling journey. He recalled losing to Jeremy Hunter in high school and finally winning a high school state championship. Moore highlighted his pivotal meeting with John Smith at Fargo, which led to his commitment to Oklahoma State. He detailed his national championship win in 1998 over David Morgan and the emotional impact of his father's passing. Moore also reflected on his international career, including his silver at the World Cup and the influence of Coach Smith and other mentors. He emphasized the importance of embracing challenges and the potential for rule changes to enhance dual meets.
Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Teague Moore on Episode 35 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Cody Brewer, a national champion and four-time All-American wrestler, discussed his wrestling journey and coaching career. He highlighted his mentor, Mike Lightner, and his best wrestling IQs. Brewer shared his early wrestling experiences, including his first state championship and his high school losses. He recounted his 2014 national title win and the 2015 loss to Nahshon Garrett. Brewer emphasized the importance of chasing competition and building relationships with athletes. He also reflected on his transition to coaching and the significance of his Punisher skull tattoo, symbolizing his grandmother's memory.
Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Cody Brewer on Episode 34 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Daton Fix, a five-time Big 12 champion, five-time NCAA Division I All-American and Junior World Champion, discussed his wrestling journey. He highlighted his experiences at Gallagher-Iba Arena, including his final match against Iowa, and his high school career, where he won four state titles. Fix recounted his recruitment process, choosing Oklahoma State over other top colleges.
He reflected on his dedication, mentions of his favorite Cowboy growing up, Steve Mocco, and his first meeting with John Smith. Fix also discussed his faith, the impact of setbacks, and his future goals, including becoming an Olympic gold medalist.
Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Daton Fix on Episode 33 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Virginia Tech associate head coach and 2012 Olympian Jared Frayer on Episode 28 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Wisconsin assistant coach and past NCAA Division I champion Jon Reader on Episode 26 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Shane Sparks needs little reason to get fired up when talking wrestling, but when he's talking with Jon Reader, the fire just burns a bit brighter. Join Sparks on Episode 25 of the Go Earn It Podcast as he talks with the current Wisconsin assistant and 2011 NCAA Division I champion.
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Shane Sparks joins New York native and current Cornell assistant coach Nick Gwiazdowski, a two-time World bronze medalist, four-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Gwiazdowski started his college career at Binghamton for head coach Pat Popolizio and followed his coach to NC State where he'd win two NCAA titles and wrestle in the finals three times.
Sparks tracks Gwiazdowski’s path from growing up in the Capital Region of New York to his numerous U.S. Open championships to go along with his stellar college career. -
Shane Sparks returns for Part 2 of the Go Earn It Podcast with Matt McDonough, a three-time NCAA Division I finalist and two-time champion from the University of Iowa.
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Brian Smith has been the architect of the Missouri wrestling program. On the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast with host Shane Sparks, Smith talks about his philosophy on coaching and developing wrestlers, coming from Florida and wrestling at Michigan State and how he's shaped Missouri into one of the top programs in the country.
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In this episode of the Go Earn It Podcast, host Shane Sparks sits down with David Carr, a five-time NCAA Division I All-American and two-time NCAA champion from Iowa State. The conversation delves into the intense rivalry between Carr and fellow wrestler Keegan O'Toole, which has captivated audiences with its fierce competition and strategic maneuvers (0:00). Carr opens up about dealing with disappointment in wrestling and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset despite setbacks, drawing on personal experiences and insights from literature to build mental toughness (5:15). Reflecting on his journey starting wrestling at the age of 5, Carr emphasizes the role of determination and hard work in his progression through the sport (17:48).
Additionally, he shares the profound impact of his father's Olympic wrestling career on his own life and athletic pursuits (24:07). The discussion also touches on the influence of coaching and the factors that led Carr to choose his college (26:31). Throughout the episode, Carr underscores the significance of faith and perseverance in his life and career, highlighting the mental preparation and trust in God before high-stakes wrestling matches (15:16, 45:03).
The conversation concludes with insights into the mindset of a football player during a game, as well as the strategies and emotions involved in wrestling matches (48:11, 51:19). Sparks wraps up the episode by thanking David Carr for sharing his experiences and insights, inviting listeners to tune in next time for more discussions on wrestling, sportsmanship, and personal growth on the Go Earn It Podcast. - Näytä enemmän
