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D3 Coach Q&A - Anthony Bonaventura (Stevens Wrestling) · The Student Athlete Sessions

0:00
SPEAKER_01: We're joined by the Stevens Institute of Technology,
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SPEAKER_01: Fighting Ducks,
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SPEAKER_01: head wrestling coach,
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SPEAKER_01: Anthony Bonaventura.
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SPEAKER_01: How's it going?
0:10
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, everything's good.
0:11
Definitely a lot of excitement right now as we get ready for
0:15
another school year.
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SPEAKER_02: We are actually on the later schedule.
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So we had our move in with our first years and we'll kick up
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classes after Labor Day.
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SPEAKER_02: So campus is getting more lively.
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SPEAKER_02: Preseason is around the corner, wrestling season around the corner.
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SPEAKER_02: So a lot of good stuff happening right now.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: Just for the, for everyone who's going to listen to this, help us out.
0:37
SPEAKER_01: Wrestling is a,
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does it fall into a bucket like fall or winter sports or does
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it really stretch
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SPEAKER_01: throughout the entire year?
0:44
SPEAKER_02: No,
0:45
SPEAKER_02: it's definitely considered,
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SPEAKER_02: if you talk to anyone,
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SPEAKER_02: it's considered a winter sport,
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SPEAKER_02: but we are one of the longest seasons for college athletics.
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SPEAKER_02: We stretch over both semesters, which I think is good.
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SPEAKER_02: We don't have a non-traditional season,
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SPEAKER_02: like some sports,
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SPEAKER_02: but I think it's good to have the structure,
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SPEAKER_02: especially at a school like us,
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SPEAKER_02: to have that structure of the academics and the wrestling.
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SPEAKER_02: For six months out of the year, the guys are getting going, and
1:12
our national championships will and again for the listeners
1:15
obviously just learning
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college wrestling for all ncaa levels starts october 10th
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that's like the official
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start of the playing season and it goes to the second weekend
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in march that's the
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national championships um so october to march pre-launch season
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and um so yeah we
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SPEAKER_02: keep you guys busy that's for sure
1:34
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no kidding.
1:36
SPEAKER_01: I feel like preseason starting right when you get on campus,
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that is one of those things that a lot of high schoolers don't
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really understand
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SPEAKER_01: about division through athletics,
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SPEAKER_01: especially when comparing it to other levels,
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SPEAKER_01: is the level of commitment.
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SPEAKER_01: It's not just that October to March timeframe,
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SPEAKER_01: which is already long,
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SPEAKER_01: but it's the pre-work,
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SPEAKER_01: it's the captain's practices,
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SPEAKER_01: it's all the training that leads up to that season.
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And you're more qualified than most to understand that because
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you also played
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SPEAKER_01: Division III sports yourself.
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SPEAKER_01: You wrestled at Waynesburg University, if I have my notes here correct.
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SPEAKER_01: What was your student athlete experience like at Waynesburg?
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SPEAKER_01: And yeah, I guess, how'd you end up there?
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SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's a great question.
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SPEAKER_02: It gets asked a lot,
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SPEAKER_02: especially growing,
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SPEAKER_02: being a native of Long Island,
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SPEAKER_02: New York,
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SPEAKER_02: definitely a long way from home.
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SPEAKER_02: But,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: grew up in a family of all boys,
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SPEAKER_02: all on athletics,
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SPEAKER_02: blessed to all have college athletic careers.
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SPEAKER_02: So we were all
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SPEAKER_02: In wrestling,
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SPEAKER_02: in football,
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when my brother Danny committed to play football at Robert
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Morris University,
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SPEAKER_02: a smaller Division I school outside of Pittsburgh.
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SPEAKER_02: Me and my twin brother,
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SPEAKER_02: who's also a college wrestling coach,
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SPEAKER_02: he coaches in West Virginia for D2.
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SPEAKER_02: We both went to Waynesburg.
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We looked at the schools that had our major and the sport we
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wanted to do.
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So we looked at a lot of schools in that Whippeal area,
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is what they call Western Pennsylvania.
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SPEAKER_02: And really just fell in love with Waynesburg.
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SPEAKER_02: Coach Ron Headley, who's now retired.
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SPEAKER_02: Coach John Yates, now retired.
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SPEAKER_02: Just legends of the sport.
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SPEAKER_02: They were really revamping the Waynesburg wrestling program.
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SPEAKER_02: I wanted to be a part of that and easy to help it grow and,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: be a very,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: perennial power in the conference.
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SPEAKER_02: regional and at the national level.
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SPEAKER_02: And, uh, so just, it's all something to be powerful and really special.
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SPEAKER_02: It was a really good small community,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: with talent set down for football games,
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SPEAKER_02: um,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: in the fall and,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: my twin brother,
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SPEAKER_02: he was a two sport athlete.
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SPEAKER_02: He played football.
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SPEAKER_02: So I was really close with the football team and the football guys.
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SPEAKER_02: Um,
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SPEAKER_02: Um, and it was just, it was just perfect.
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You know,
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I mean,
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growing up in like suburbs,
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Long Island,
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it was something that I seeked.
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SPEAKER_02: I want, I want to get away from that.
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SPEAKER_02: I want to go to a rural area, um, explored in part of the country.
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SPEAKER_02: And, um,
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You know,
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it was really the best decision that kind of set me up for my
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career.
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SPEAKER_02: And, you know, blessed to, you know, found my wife there.
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SPEAKER_02: We have a great family now.
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SPEAKER_02: She's in athletics.
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SPEAKER_02: So, yeah, everything happens for a reason.
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SPEAKER_02: It was a great experience.
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SPEAKER_02: I was there for four years as an athlete.
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SPEAKER_02: I had a great student athlete experience.
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SPEAKER_02: I was there one year as a coach.
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SPEAKER_02: And then I've been in Hoboken, New Jersey at Stevens ever since.
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SPEAKER_01: Wow.
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SPEAKER_01: Wow.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: I mean, hard to argue with that.
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SPEAKER_01: You got to go to school with your brother,
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SPEAKER_01: you got to explore a new area of the country,
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SPEAKER_01: you met your wife,
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SPEAKER_01: you got a grad degree and your coaching start there.
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SPEAKER_01: And it really just teed you up for the rest of your career.
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SPEAKER_01: It seems like,
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SPEAKER_01: um,
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did you always know that you wanted to do coaching after school
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or was that
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SPEAKER_01: something that was kind of new or that you stumbled into maybe?
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SPEAKER_01: So everyone has a different route.
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SPEAKER_01: So what was yours into coaching?
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Yeah,
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so coaching was always something that I knew was going to be a
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part of my life.
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SPEAKER_02: I was an education major at Waynesburg for mathematics,
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so I always thought it was going to be more at the high school
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level because my
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SPEAKER_02: parents were educators.
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SPEAKER_02: They were coaches.
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SPEAKER_02: I really enjoyed the lifestyle that they provided for my brothers and I,
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SPEAKER_02: and it was a really fun,
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SPEAKER_02: busy lifestyle,
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SPEAKER_02: but we were always around sports and sports.
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um you know we were the ball boys my dad's sport was baseball
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he actually was a d3
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athlete at washington and lee he played baseball there and uh
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so that was his sport
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and he coached us and you know so we were ball boys we on the
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football sideline the
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baseball sideline my mom was a gymnastics coach so i always
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thought it would be
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high school coach high school math teacher you know um
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providing that way but
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really fell in love with division three athletics during my
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experience there and
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SPEAKER_02: You know,
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that's kudos to the coaching staff I had there and the people I
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was surrounded with
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and really felt like my calling at the college level and just
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kind of went with
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SPEAKER_02: that trajectory.
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SPEAKER_02: And, you know, here we are now.
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SPEAKER_02: So.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and going well.
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SPEAKER_01: I want to get into your time at Stevens,
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SPEAKER_01: and you are a relatively recent hire,
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SPEAKER_01: but you guys have already done so much,
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SPEAKER_01: so I definitely want to get into that.
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SPEAKER_01: Before I do,
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SPEAKER_01: though,
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SPEAKER_01: just acknowledging the format for everyone who joins,
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SPEAKER_01: this is a live Q&A,
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SPEAKER_01: so David,
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SPEAKER_01: I see you in the chat.
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SPEAKER_01: Feel free to
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ask questions of,
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of both of us tonight,
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if you have them,
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um,
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and we'll get those addressed.
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SPEAKER_01: Um, and Aaron too, in the chat, feel free to ask questions.
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Um,
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when they come up,
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I would say,
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yeah,
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last year,
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24,
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25 was your first season.
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SPEAKER_01: Um,
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SPEAKER_01: You guys did great.
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SPEAKER_01: You had some All-Americans.
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SPEAKER_01: You qualified for the NCAAs.
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SPEAKER_01: You guys won your fifth straight regional championship.
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SPEAKER_01: Where would you put,
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SPEAKER_01: I guess,
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SPEAKER_01: the status of your program at the moment,
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SPEAKER_01: and where are you trying to take the Ducks in 25-26?
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Yeah,
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I mean,
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at this point,
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so I've been associated with the program now for 10 years.
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SPEAKER_02: Also,
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SPEAKER_02: like you mentioned,
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SPEAKER_02: it was my first year as head coach last year,
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SPEAKER_02: and I was definitely handed a great situation.
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SPEAKER_02: Not handed, because me and the head coach kind of built it up together.
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SPEAKER_02: But, you know, he left me a very, very good program, right?
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SPEAKER_02: And something that I was grateful for to kind of land.
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land my feet in that type of position and already be have a
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good relationship with
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SPEAKER_02: the student athletes on the team.
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SPEAKER_02: Um, and we want to just continue the trajectory we have.
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We want to be one of the best programs in the country at the
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division three level
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SPEAKER_02: and really any NCAA level when it comes to high academics and,
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SPEAKER_02: and the high level wrestling.
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SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, I put,
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SPEAKER_02: Steven's now at the destination for high level student athlete,
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SPEAKER_02: high level student athlete,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: seeking a high level education,
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SPEAKER_02: but also seeking an elite level wrestling experience and facilities,
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SPEAKER_02: coaching staff to resources outside of our program that we have and
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mile square city in hoboken you know it's not not pba but
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there's a lot going on
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there i've even had a lot to offer um so we just want to we
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want to continue to put
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ourselves in the conversation being blessed best programs in
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the country on the
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SPEAKER_02: east coast at the ncaa level and you know
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SPEAKER_02: develop our student athletes to,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: reach their full potential,
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SPEAKER_02: whether that's being a national champ,
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SPEAKER_02: like Greg Callen was back in 2022,
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SPEAKER_02: or,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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being an NCAA All-American or Nathan just being an NCAA
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qualifier and being a
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SPEAKER_02: scholar All-American.
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SPEAKER_02: Whatever that potential is, we want to try to get that out.
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SPEAKER_02: You want to please the most out of you in that four to five years.
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SPEAKER_02: And then hopefully in the habits we gain our lifestyle, you know, um,
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you set yourself up for a really good position career-wide
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post-grad and you're
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SPEAKER_02: ready to,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: dominate the professional.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: What does that pipeline look like?
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SPEAKER_01: The,
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SPEAKER_01: the D3 wrestling to professional track,
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SPEAKER_01: like how many guys have you had go or,
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SPEAKER_01: um,
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SPEAKER_01: yeah,
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SPEAKER_01: just kind of walk,
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SPEAKER_01: walk us through that.
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SPEAKER_02: So, uh, competing, like continue to compete after your level.
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SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_02: Yeah,
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so there's definitely a Division III avenue that there's been
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wrestlers that have
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SPEAKER_02: gone on and even at the senior level,
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SPEAKER_02: which is the Olympic level,
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SPEAKER_02: which is different than college folk style.
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It's freestyle and deckle elements of what you watch in the
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Summer Olympics.
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SPEAKER_02: I would say most of the guys at Stevens,
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they will train the Olympic style to get ready for the folk
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style Stevens,
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SPEAKER_02: right?
9:46
So they'll compete in high-level USA wrestling men during their
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career at Stevens.
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SPEAKER_02: But...
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SPEAKER_02: After that, post-grad, they're not really convenient.
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A lot of these guys have a graduate of engineering degrees and
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business degrees.
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SPEAKER_02: They're jumping into the engineering world.
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They're jumping into project managers for construction
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companies or just doing
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SPEAKER_02: really high level finance or business areas.
10:12
SPEAKER_02: So,
10:12
SPEAKER_02: like,
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SPEAKER_02: they go all in with the experience at Stevens,
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SPEAKER_02: but at the end of the day,
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you're coming to school at Stevens to set yourself up for the
10:18
next 50 years.
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SPEAKER_02: And I'm sure we'll talk about more in the conversation,
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SPEAKER_02: but there's a lot of really good,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: with Stevens,
10:25
SPEAKER_02: but at the D3 level,
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there's a lot of really good opportunities for a high academic
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that kids should
10:31
SPEAKER_02: really look into.
10:32
SPEAKER_02: You know, I know Ivy Leagues get a lot of
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get a lot of love but you know not every i offers wrestling
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right and there's only
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so many opportunities at those levels so there's great
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opportunities to get great
10:44
education and yeah very high levels yeah definitely and i think
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that probably
10:49
starts at the you know recruiting stage of things that you're
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you're looking for
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SPEAKER_01: kids with either a high gpa or you know coming into stevens looking for a
10:59
SPEAKER_01: particular major um
11:02
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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When it comes to your recruiting process,
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like I'm sure you just,
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here we go.
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SPEAKER_01: We just got a question here.
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SPEAKER_01: What do you look for in recruits?
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SPEAKER_01: How does one stand out?
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SPEAKER_01: So like,
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SPEAKER_01: as you just wrapped up your class,
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SPEAKER_01: I guess for 2025s,
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SPEAKER_01: like what did people do well that got them offers?
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What did people not do well that got them,
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put them off your recruiting list?
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SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
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So I think the biggest thing in continued interest level
11:28
throughout the entire
11:29
SPEAKER_02: process,
11:29
SPEAKER_02: communication is very important.
11:31
SPEAKER_02: Communication action.
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SPEAKER_02: It's one of our core values of our program.
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So just feeling that connection during the recruitment process
11:38
is really important.
11:39
SPEAKER_02: And, um,
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transparency right like if I understand there's a lot of
11:44
opportunities out there at
11:45
the NCAA level if Stevens Stevens it's a very particular
11:49
lifestyle you're going to
11:49
live and if that's something you don't want to do then I'd
11:52
rather you just tell me
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SPEAKER_02: and instead of just kind of going through the charade of you know
12:00
SPEAKER_02: if I'm going to come here or not, and kind of like stringing an alum.
12:03
SPEAKER_02: But Stevens is a very streamlined process.
12:04
SPEAKER_02: Like, you're not rolling admission.
12:06
SPEAKER_02: So application deadline for Stevens is in January, January 15th.
12:12
SPEAKER_02: That is the cutoff for applications.
12:15
And it is very,
12:15
very competitive to get into a lot of these higher academic
12:18
schools.
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SPEAKER_02: So we need to get these guys into the most competitive areas
12:23
position to get accepted and get the most,
12:25
uh,
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merit scholarship and financial aid possible.
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So early decision is a really,
12:29
really big factor at really any higher academic institution.
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SPEAKER_02: Um,
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SPEAKER_02: but just seeing on the same page,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
12:35
SPEAKER_02: setting up,
12:37
SPEAKER_02: uh,
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SPEAKER_02: visits on campus,
12:39
SPEAKER_02: coming to prospect days,
12:41
SPEAKER_02: a lot of universities run a prospect day.
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SPEAKER_02: That's really a great opportunity to get the full team at the experience.
12:47
SPEAKER_02: Um, um,
12:48
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, I would say communication, continue showed interest.
12:51
SPEAKER_02: You know,
12:51
SPEAKER_02: there's a lot that division three coaches like don't like I,
12:56
SPEAKER_02: me and my staff,
12:57
SPEAKER_02: we're the recruiting coordinator,
12:58
SPEAKER_02: right?
12:58
SPEAKER_02: We don't have a system coach.
13:00
SPEAKER_02: He's just, this is the guy that's just talking to us.
13:02
SPEAKER_02: Like you're doing it while also getting ready to the season,
13:06
SPEAKER_02: worrying about,
13:06
SPEAKER_02: you know,
13:07
SPEAKER_02: the 40 guys I have on my team,
13:08
SPEAKER_02: there's a lot of play.
13:10
SPEAKER_02: So if you're not getting back to us,
13:13
SPEAKER_02: then, you know, it's kind of out of sight, out of mind.
13:16
You know,
13:16
you got to bring in kids that want to be here and want to get
13:19
better.
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SPEAKER_02: So, connection, communication, and then just...
13:26
SPEAKER_02: taking those opportunities,
13:27
SPEAKER_02: like doing official visits,
13:29
SPEAKER_02: doing unofficial visits,
13:30
SPEAKER_02: going to the prospect day,
13:32
SPEAKER_02: showing up to home matches,
13:33
SPEAKER_02: like when you can during the busy,
13:35
all that stuff really goes a long way in showing us that you
13:39
really want to be at
13:40
SPEAKER_02: Stevens.
13:41
SPEAKER_02: So I would say that checks with you boxers for sure.
13:45
SPEAKER_01: Now that makes sense.
13:46
SPEAKER_01: What, where are you scouting people?
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SPEAKER_01: Like, how do you gather your initial list?
13:52
SPEAKER_01: Is it,
13:53
SPEAKER_01: you know,
13:53
obviously talked about recruits can reach out and they can do
13:56
some outbound,
13:57
SPEAKER_01: uh,
13:58
SPEAKER_01: emailing to you,
13:59
SPEAKER_01: but like,
14:00
SPEAKER_01: how are you kind of doing your own recruiting process to start?
14:05
Yeah,
14:05
so a lot of really good connections with high schools and clubs
14:09
in the local area.
14:11
That's really kind of like where we get our feet on the ground
14:14
and really see the
14:14
SPEAKER_02: student athletes training and in the practice room.
14:18
SPEAKER_02: But every program around the country has a recruiting database.
14:22
SPEAKER_02: We use Frontrush.
14:24
So the best way people get on our radar is filling out that
14:28
questionnaire.
14:29
SPEAKER_02: That's really the first shown step of interest.
14:32
SPEAKER_02: You're taking the time to go on our website or go on our social media,
14:35
SPEAKER_02: find the link,
14:37
SPEAKER_02: give us the information,
14:38
SPEAKER_02: fill out the questionnaire.
14:40
SPEAKER_02: Because again, emails can go to junk.
14:41
Emails can get lost in the traffic that happens so much
14:45
throughout the school year
14:46
SPEAKER_02: and how to pick up.
14:48
SPEAKER_02: And,
14:49
SPEAKER_02: uh,
14:49
SPEAKER_02: fulfilling that questionnaire and getting in our database,
14:51
SPEAKER_02: getting on our newsletter,
14:53
SPEAKER_02: um,
14:53
SPEAKER_02: and getting in that connection,
14:55
SPEAKER_02: um,
14:55
SPEAKER_02: is very,
14:56
SPEAKER_02: very important.
14:57
SPEAKER_02: So that questionnaire step is really important.
14:59
SPEAKER_02: And again,
15:00
SPEAKER_02: it has on there,
15:01
SPEAKER_02: like what their GPA is,
15:02
SPEAKER_02: what the SATs,
15:03
SPEAKER_02: ATTs,
15:04
SPEAKER_02: and,
15:04
SPEAKER_02: you know,
15:05
SPEAKER_02: just looking at that,
15:06
SPEAKER_02: like academics is something I look at right away,
15:08
because if you can't get accepted or get accepted and a
15:11
forceful like Venus,
15:12
SPEAKER_02: then I don't want to waste your time.
15:14
SPEAKER_02: Right.
15:14
SPEAKER_02: So yeah.
15:16
SPEAKER_02: Understanding that what I'm looking for,
15:20
SPEAKER_02: for acceptance,
15:21
SPEAKER_02: then being in a good position to get accepted is really important.
15:24
SPEAKER_02: So that recruiting questionnaire, yeah, that goes a long way.
15:27
SPEAKER_02: And you can talk to any college coach.
15:29
SPEAKER_02: They'll look those things up.
15:30
yeah yeah it's definitely something we've heard um time and
15:34
time again for coaches
15:35
that's that's a great first step telling coaches you're working
15:39
on the application
15:40
um telling coaches you plan to come visit campus like all those
15:45
things as you
15:45
mentioned to demonstrate interest and show a coach you're
15:48
committed i think those
15:50
yeah that that definitely tracks with with things that other
15:53
coaches have said um
15:56
SPEAKER_01: Again,
15:56
SPEAKER_01: yeah,
15:56
SPEAKER_01: because you have limited time,
15:58
SPEAKER_01: especially once the school year starts,
15:59
you have things going on and you're not going to be able to
16:02
catch every email.
16:03
SPEAKER_01: So you need to make the ones you send good and indicate,
16:08
SPEAKER_01: I think,
16:09
where Stevens or whatever school it is that you're interested
16:12
in stands in your
16:13
SPEAKER_01: process.
16:15
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I want to add on that too before we move on.
16:17
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we're in a very good recruiting area of slow wrestling.
16:21
SPEAKER_02: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, I mean, top three.
16:25
state on an annual basis when it comes to wrestling at the high
16:29
school level.
16:30
SPEAKER_02: So we don't really need to go far.
16:32
SPEAKER_02: Now,
16:32
our academics do pulling kids from all over the country because
16:36
they're very
16:36
SPEAKER_02: high-level school.
16:37
We have a kid coming in from Colorado,
16:39
Louisiana,
16:41
some kids from New England this year.
16:42
So,
16:43
I mean,
16:43
we have,
16:44
you know,
16:45
close to 20 kids coming in from six different states.
16:49
SPEAKER_02: So it does track from kids around.
16:52
SPEAKER_02: We've had kids from California on the team.
16:55
SPEAKER_02: So,
16:56
SPEAKER_02: again,
16:56
if you're seeking very specific academic experience when it
17:00
comes to engineering,
17:01
SPEAKER_02: computer science,
17:02
SPEAKER_02: theaters,
17:03
SPEAKER_02: math,
17:04
SPEAKER_02: now business,
17:06
SPEAKER_02: right?
17:06
SPEAKER_02: Those are majority of our student athletes are in that.
17:09
SPEAKER_02: So, yeah, we take them all.
17:12
SPEAKER_02: Like you said, we want that high level of experience.
17:14
SPEAKER_02: We'll find them and bring them here for sure.
17:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
17:19
SPEAKER_01: I love that.
17:20
And as you mentioned earlier,
17:22
you spent nine years as a,
17:24
uh,
17:25
assistant coach.
17:25
SPEAKER_01: You had one year, a grad assistant at Waynesburg too.
17:28
SPEAKER_01: Like you have lived both.
17:31
You,
17:31
you,
17:31
you've seen the recruiting grind and also now you're the head
17:34
coach.
17:35
SPEAKER_01: So, um,
17:37
SPEAKER_01: how much like has recruiting changed?
17:39
Are there any things that have like really stayed the same that
17:43
kids have to do
17:45
SPEAKER_01: other than like the questionnaire,
17:46
SPEAKER_01: I think we've already talked about.
17:48
Um,
17:49
like everything's moved,
17:50
you know,
17:50
from the time that you and I were,
17:52
were recruiting.
17:52
SPEAKER_01: It was like,
17:54
you still had to like maybe put things on a CD and submit it or
17:58
like we didn't
17:59
SPEAKER_01: quite have that,
17:59
SPEAKER_01: like the huddle link that you could just tag to an email.
18:01
Like what are those things that have stayed true though across
18:07
the 10 years you've
18:08
SPEAKER_01: been at Stevens?
18:11
I think that we have a great retention rate where it's being an
18:14
athlete and it's
18:15
really kind of just combing through the kids and really
18:20
understanding someone that
18:21
SPEAKER_02: wants to be here and really wants to be a team athlete.
18:24
SPEAKER_02: That's really the biggest thing that has stayed true.
18:29
SPEAKER_02: If you don't want to do the academics,
18:32
SPEAKER_02: Um,
18:32
SPEAKER_02: you're not going to be able to do the wrestling,
18:34
SPEAKER_02: a popular football sport,
18:36
SPEAKER_02: um,
18:36
SPEAKER_02: it's like a long season.
18:38
SPEAKER_02: And,
18:38
SPEAKER_02: you know,
18:39
SPEAKER_02: if you're,
18:39
SPEAKER_02: if you're half in,
18:41
SPEAKER_02: um,
18:41
SPEAKER_02: you know,
18:41
SPEAKER_02: those are the kids that struggle at a school like you,
18:44
SPEAKER_02: who really struggle within a program.
18:47
SPEAKER_02: Um, because you have to be all in.
18:49
SPEAKER_02: If you're,
18:49
SPEAKER_02: if you're trying to,
18:51
SPEAKER_02: if you're committing to,
18:53
SPEAKER_02: um,
18:53
SPEAKER_02: being part of,
18:54
SPEAKER_02: uh,
18:54
SPEAKER_02: a pop level,
18:54
SPEAKER_02: you know,
18:55
SPEAKER_02: college wrestling program,
18:56
SPEAKER_02: but also having a world-class,
18:59
SPEAKER_02: you know,
18:59
SPEAKER_02: education,
19:00
SPEAKER_02: um,
19:01
SPEAKER_02: there's no breaks.
19:03
SPEAKER_02: Right.
19:03
SPEAKER_02: And,
19:04
SPEAKER_02: uh,
19:04
SPEAKER_02: I'm not saying that,
19:05
SPEAKER_02: um,
19:06
SPEAKER_02: our guys don't have time to,
19:08
SPEAKER_02: you know,
19:08
SPEAKER_02: I mean,
19:08
SPEAKER_02: we're a great area for social experiences,
19:11
SPEAKER_02: you know,
19:12
SPEAKER_02: New York studios,
19:12
SPEAKER_02: our backyard around the river.
19:15
SPEAKER_02: Um, there's a lot that happened in Oboken, but,
19:18
uh you know the biggest thing is biggest transition from high
19:21
school to college is
19:22
time management and when you're at school like teams and you
19:25
take advantage of that
19:26
time management it comes back to bite you um so that's really
19:30
the biggest thing
19:30
SPEAKER_02: like just really
19:32
SPEAKER_02: getting out on those kids that really want to get the degree of even,
19:36
SPEAKER_02: um,
19:36
and also be a great student of sport wrestling and get better
19:40
and be coachable.
19:41
SPEAKER_02: Uh, that is true.
19:42
SPEAKER_02: I'll say the biggest thing that's changed over the year.
19:45
SPEAKER_02: And,
19:45
SPEAKER_02: and I'll say,
19:45
SPEAKER_02: as you know,
19:46
SPEAKER_02: like we're here doing this interview on X,
19:48
SPEAKER_02: Twitter,
19:48
SPEAKER_02: however you want,
19:49
SPEAKER_02: like social media.
19:50
SPEAKER_02: It's just, it's just crazy.
19:52
SPEAKER_02: Um,
19:53
SPEAKER_02: there's so much knowledge at these guys' internships now,
19:56
SPEAKER_02: you know,
19:57
SPEAKER_02: so like they're on top of a lot of things.
20:00
SPEAKER_02: And, uh, you know, that's a good thing and a bad thing, right?
20:03
SPEAKER_02: Your social media has got to be clean.
20:04
And,
20:04
uh,
20:05
you know,
20:05
if it's not,
20:06
a coach is going to be able to find that and figure it out.
20:08
SPEAKER_02: So,
20:09
SPEAKER_02: um,
20:10
social media has become a huge factor when it comes with food
20:12
and when branding
20:13
SPEAKER_02: goes out.
20:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no question.
20:16
SPEAKER_01: Um,
20:17
SPEAKER_01: you,
20:18
you mentioned that like the balance and obviously you do some
20:21
pre-sorting to say
20:22
SPEAKER_01: like,
20:22
SPEAKER_01: okay,
20:23
SPEAKER_01: we know this kid is going to be able to handle both the athletics and the
20:25
SPEAKER_01: academics,
20:26
SPEAKER_01: Stevens,
20:27
SPEAKER_01: but in terms of,
20:28
SPEAKER_01: you know,
20:29
SPEAKER_01: it's still a question.
20:29
SPEAKER_01: I think even when kids have good grades that they're,
20:32
SPEAKER_01: they could be worried about,
20:33
SPEAKER_01: it's,
20:34
SPEAKER_01: it's like a big life adjustment.
20:35
SPEAKER_01: It's, it's a lot to take on.
20:37
SPEAKER_01: How do your guys manage that with, um,
20:41
you know a demanding course load and as we've already covered
20:45
demanding schedule
20:46
and that starts right when they get on campus and runs till
20:49
march like do they work
20:49
together do they go to study hall anything like that uh we have
20:53
study hall through
20:54
our program and all of our all of our first years are part of
20:58
that um to kind of
21:00
SPEAKER_02: build in those habits and that time management piece to the program
21:04
SPEAKER_02: And I think it shows academically,
21:06
SPEAKER_02: you know,
21:07
SPEAKER_02: we seem to be a top 10 team academically,
21:10
SPEAKER_02: as well as having success on the mat.
21:12
SPEAKER_02: You know,
21:13
SPEAKER_02: our team GPA with like a regional team,
21:15
a national team last year was at Sleuth 7-1 for the NWS day
21:19
academic standings.
21:20
SPEAKER_02: And we had 12-star All-American.
21:22
SPEAKER_02: Wow.
21:23
SPEAKER_02: That stuff is really important, right?
21:24
SPEAKER_02: That's a really important piece to put on your resume.
21:28
And it's,
21:29
again,
21:29
it's not like a lip service throughout the recruitment process.
21:31
SPEAKER_02: It's something that I hold really important to me.
21:35
SPEAKER_02: I mean, like I said, I was an education major.
21:38
SPEAKER_02: I think academics is very important.
21:39
SPEAKER_02: It's going to set you up for the next 50 years.
21:42
And so just being transparent and continue to kind of follow
21:46
through on what I'm
21:47
SPEAKER_02: talking about throughout the recruitment process,
21:49
SPEAKER_02: like
21:49
we are flexible i understand there is a lot that gets on these
21:53
guys plates like
21:54
he's flexible like if i have to leave practice for early for a
21:58
test or you know
21:59
they have to get ready for a test and get to do a one-on-one
22:03
some other time like
22:05
just you know with our with our coaching staff like it'd be on
22:08
the same page you
22:09
guys and making sure they're not stressing about the academics
22:11
because then their
22:12
SPEAKER_02: wrestling is going to be affected
22:14
SPEAKER_02: Right.
22:14
SPEAKER_02: Um,
22:14
SPEAKER_02: you know,
22:15
SPEAKER_02: we have a two,
22:16
SPEAKER_02: two week window when it comes to finals at the end of the academic year.
22:19
So like,
22:20
uh,
22:20
like at the end of this semester,
22:21
it's like understanding that.
22:23
And like,
22:24
as the fall semester comes to a closing,
22:25
these guys have a lot going on.
22:27
SPEAKER_02: And,
22:28
SPEAKER_02: you know,
22:28
SPEAKER_02: me as a first year head coach,
22:30
SPEAKER_02: you're understanding that when it comes to competition schedule and,
22:33
SPEAKER_02: um,
22:34
planning around that and just making sure that you guys are in
22:37
the best positions
22:38
possible to be very successful and uh again just making a
22:42
priority for them and
22:44
just being flexible with them um as long as that communication
22:47
is you know not like
22:49
day of and you know 24 hours out 48 hours and we gotta plan and
22:54
play um then good
22:56
SPEAKER_02: things can happen yeah
22:58
SPEAKER_01: Definitely.
22:59
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
23:00
And I think,
23:00
again,
23:01
that shows kind of your experience being a student athlete.
23:04
Like you not only coached you for a long time,
23:06
you lived it as a student at Waynesburg.
23:09
Like I am curious now shifting a little more to the actual
23:13
wrestling side of things.
23:15
SPEAKER_01: Like,
23:16
what are some of the takeaways that you maybe discovered during
23:21
your own athletic
23:23
SPEAKER_01: career that you now,
23:24
SPEAKER_01: like,
23:24
SPEAKER_01: apply to coaching or things that you try to help guys,
23:28
SPEAKER_01: you know,
23:29
SPEAKER_01: not have to take as long to find out?
23:33
SPEAKER_01: Like, what are those things that you pass along to your guys now?
23:37
think the biggest thing is on like respecting ncaa division
23:41
three athletics just in
23:42
general like respecting it and understanding like um yes you
23:47
have a more balanced
23:48
lifestyle but if you want to be successful like you want to
23:51
compete for a national
23:52
title if you want to be an all-american or have success in
23:55
march right we're all
23:56
training for the post evening like you need to be committed
23:59
like you need to take
24:01
it seriously and and if you don't you're gonna you're gonna
24:03
fall short of your
24:04
SPEAKER_02: goals because
24:05
SPEAKER_02: Division III athletics, Division III wrestling continues to grow.
24:08
SPEAKER_02: We are the biggest NCAA division out of all D1, D2, D3.
24:13
SPEAKER_02: We have 131 teams going into 2026.
24:17
SPEAKER_02: And we are heading five or six more coming 2027.
24:20
SPEAKER_02: And it's been eye-opening being on the NCAA Championships Committee,
24:24
SPEAKER_02: seeing the growth and increasing our bracket,
24:29
SPEAKER_02: the 21-man brackets last year.
24:31
But I would say the first thing is just like really rejecting
24:35
empty of division
24:35
SPEAKER_02: three and like it's not going to be easy.
24:39
You've really got to put your time and work and be successful
24:42
at your craft in
24:43
SPEAKER_02: whatever sport you're doing,
24:44
SPEAKER_02: but especially a sport like wrestling.
24:46
SPEAKER_02: And,
24:47
SPEAKER_02: you know,
24:47
SPEAKER_02: especially with what's going on in D1,
24:50
like Division 3 is going to continue to get better with the
24:52
transfer portal,
24:53
SPEAKER_02: NL,
24:53
SPEAKER_02: and the lobster caps.
24:55
Like,
24:56
those kids that were friendly in D1 are going to be going to
24:59
Division 3 or Division 3 mat.
25:01
SPEAKER_02: So, like, it's going to get more competitive.
25:03
um so just understanding that like you gotta be locked in um
25:07
respecting respecting
25:09
uh how good ncaa to be pretty wrestling is i would say that's
25:12
the first step and
25:13
then the next thing is like you talked about earlier just a
25:16
time management piece
25:17
and um you know you really show what you care about by putting
25:23
the time into it
25:24
SPEAKER_02: right like you show your priorities by what you're getting
25:27
and that academics are really important and wrestling is really
25:30
important,
25:30
SPEAKER_02: you're going to do a really good job,
25:33
SPEAKER_02: right?
25:33
So you can get distracted easily and kind of keep it off that
25:37
path and things are
25:38
SPEAKER_02: going to get tougher.
25:39
SPEAKER_02: So...
25:42
SPEAKER_02: I would say those are,
25:43
SPEAKER_02: like,
25:44
SPEAKER_02: the two biggest takeaways is just understanding,
25:46
SPEAKER_02: like,
25:46
SPEAKER_02: how competitive Divinity of Wrestling is.
25:49
And,
25:49
you know,
25:50
we still want to continue to do the highest we've ever done at
25:52
Stevens.
25:53
SPEAKER_02: We've taken fourth in the country flight as a program.
25:56
SPEAKER_02: And,
25:57
SPEAKER_02: you know,
25:57
SPEAKER_02: we want to get back into that Team Philadelphia range,
26:00
SPEAKER_02: just like every program,
26:02
SPEAKER_02: and,
26:02
SPEAKER_02: you know,
26:03
SPEAKER_02: compete for academic and athletic national title.
26:06
And in order to do that,
26:06
you've got to have guys that are fully committed to,
26:08
you know,
26:10
the vision of the program and you know at the end of the day
26:13
there's only 10
26:14
postseason spots right for individual glory but the team can
26:20
help those 10
26:20
individual guys get better every single day so but yeah I'll
26:27
say that's probably
26:27
SPEAKER_02: the biggest one that comes to mind I've left
26:29
SPEAKER_01: Gotcha.
26:31
SPEAKER_01: And I do want to clarify something because we kind of passed over it.
26:34
SPEAKER_01: But in CAA roster caps,
26:37
can you explain what that change of the Division I level is
26:42
going to do to Division
26:44
SPEAKER_01: III athletics?
26:45
SPEAKER_01: Can you elaborate on that a little bit?
26:46
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
26:47
So it's all about the revenue sharing piece that kind of the
26:53
decision got started.
26:55
made this past summer so basically schools that opt into
26:59
revenue sharing uh their
27:01
sports are going to have a roster cap so for wrestling you
27:04
should see the wrestling
27:05
SPEAKER_02: rate for that so the roster cap of wrestling can be 30.
27:09
it can be 30 moving forward for those schools like a lot of
27:13
power four schools that
27:14
are going to be in the revenue sharing which mean um you know
27:19
those guys that were
27:20
SPEAKER_02: 31 to 40 on that roster
27:22
SPEAKER_00: Now,
27:22
SPEAKER_02: a lot of these guys are going to get grandfathered in,
27:25
SPEAKER_02: but some of them,
27:25
SPEAKER_02: some of them might not.
27:26
SPEAKER_02: And the coaches might just cut ties right away.
27:29
SPEAKER_02: Although those guys that were,
27:31
SPEAKER_02: you know,
27:31
SPEAKER_02: two or three on the depth chart at V1,
27:33
SPEAKER_02: which again is important,
27:34
SPEAKER_02: right?
27:35
SPEAKER_02: Wrestling in the combat is what injuries happen.
27:37
SPEAKER_02: But those guys now,
27:38
SPEAKER_02: if they want to continue to compete,
27:40
SPEAKER_02: they have to go seek other opportunities.
27:42
SPEAKER_02: So, um...
27:44
SPEAKER_02: Transfers have definitely become bigger at the Division III level.
27:48
There's been a lot of transfers for Division III wrestling just
27:52
across the board.
27:53
SPEAKER_02: And again,
27:56
it's going to continue to grow as these roster caps become more
27:59
strict and
28:01
wrestling programs around the country realize what they can and
28:04
can't have when it
28:05
SPEAKER_02: comes to numbers through the fold.
28:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
28:08
SPEAKER_01: And does it, does it go the other way?
28:10
SPEAKER_01: I'm curious,
28:10
SPEAKER_01: like you guys,
28:11
SPEAKER_01: obviously strong wrestling program at Stevens,
28:14
SPEAKER_01: um,
28:15
SPEAKER_01: a lot of talented individuals.
28:18
SPEAKER_01: Uh, have you seen guys also go D3 to D1 or D2 to some scholarship level?
28:25
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think it's funny you say that.
28:28
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I think the big example, we're actually seeing that.
28:30
SPEAKER_02: There is a three-time Division III national champ for Roper.
28:34
SPEAKER_02: He's actually transferring,
28:36
SPEAKER_02: uses last year eligibility at the University of Iowa,
28:40
SPEAKER_02: which is pretty awesome.
28:41
SPEAKER_02: And his name was still my dean.
28:44
And that's really like the biggest name that we've seen kind of
28:48
transfer to D3 to D1.
28:50
SPEAKER_02: Don't really see it.
28:54
out like that's a very like rare case a lot a lot of times
28:58
there was another case
29:00
um back in 2017 there was a 184 pounder all-american for
29:04
Augsburg the next year he
29:07
went to the University of Minnesota and he's a third in U of M
29:11
so it's like there's
29:13
SPEAKER_02: definitely cases like that but a lot of times like
29:17
SPEAKER_02: kids kind of fall in love with the D3 team lifestyle,
29:19
SPEAKER_02: but it's,
29:20
SPEAKER_02: when you go in D1,
29:22
SPEAKER_02: and again,
29:22
SPEAKER_02: there's nothing wrong with that,
29:24
SPEAKER_02: but,
29:24
SPEAKER_02: like,
29:24
SPEAKER_02: that is becoming your life.
29:26
SPEAKER_02: Like,
29:27
SPEAKER_02: you are all in on athletics,
29:29
SPEAKER_02: not saying that you don't have a life outside,
29:31
SPEAKER_02: but it is a lot more mandatory,
29:33
SPEAKER_02: committed lifestyle,
29:35
SPEAKER_02: you know,
29:35
SPEAKER_02: compared to D3.
29:35
SPEAKER_02: And there's just a lot more opportunity to kind of have more of a
29:41
SPEAKER_02: college lifestyle,
29:42
SPEAKER_02: per se,
29:43
SPEAKER_02: than if you want the V1 route,
29:44
SPEAKER_02: which,
29:45
SPEAKER_02: again,
29:45
SPEAKER_02: I think kids are seeing that now.
29:48
SPEAKER_02: And nothing wrong with Division I wrestling.
29:51
SPEAKER_02: It's still a pinnacle.
29:52
SPEAKER_02: It's outstanding.
29:53
SPEAKER_02: It's just a different experience.
29:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: And I, and I, I think it's something, yeah, I would agree with you.
29:59
SPEAKER_01: I more, you know, I think this program is called D3 direct.
30:04
SPEAKER_01: So I'm a little biased when it comes to levels.
30:07
SPEAKER_01: And, um, I think what the opportunity entails, I think is,
30:13
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's also, you know, every situation is different.
30:15
SPEAKER_01: But I think if you can stay at one place for four years,
30:19
SPEAKER_01: you really get the maximum benefits of what you mentioned earlier,
30:22
SPEAKER_01: which is trying to go to a school with a 50-year mindset,
30:25
SPEAKER_01: right?
30:25
SPEAKER_01: So in terms of maximum benefits, that's the career network.
30:30
SPEAKER_01: You get the concentrated degree.
30:32
So you finish your coursework with the same professors,
30:36
the same teaching style.
30:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
30:39
SPEAKER_01: you know, you get to know more of the opportunities on campus.
30:42
So maybe it's clubs or kind of take a leadership position in
30:46
something that gets
30:47
SPEAKER_01: you maybe a look at a job or a research opportunity down the road.
30:52
SPEAKER_01: And,
30:53
SPEAKER_01: Um,
30:54
SPEAKER_01: yeah,
30:54
SPEAKER_01: I mean,
30:54
SPEAKER_01: there have been a number of,
30:55
SPEAKER_01: across all sports,
30:57
SPEAKER_01: D3 athletes going to D1 and other levels.
30:59
SPEAKER_01: And I think, as you mentioned, it's great.
31:01
SPEAKER_01: It is just, it is almost a professional commitment these days.
31:06
SPEAKER_01: Um, not to, not to say to, you know, throw any shade at what we do at D3.
31:11
SPEAKER_01: It's a lot of time,
31:12
SPEAKER_01: but,
31:13
SPEAKER_01: uh,
31:13
SPEAKER_01: yeah,
31:14
SPEAKER_01: it is,
31:15
SPEAKER_01: it is certainly something that's going to cause a step up in the,
31:18
SPEAKER_01: uh,
31:19
SPEAKER_01: in the hours you're committing to your sport every week.
31:21
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
31:23
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
31:24
SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
31:26
SPEAKER_01: Um,
31:26
SPEAKER_01: got a couple more people who just joined as a reminder,
31:31
SPEAKER_01: this is a live Q and a,
31:32
SPEAKER_01: so it's not just us talking over here.
31:34
SPEAKER_01: Um, feel free to drop your questions in.
31:38
We have a D three grad that just joined,
31:42
uh,
31:43
again,
31:44
David,
31:44
I see you in the chat.
31:45
SPEAKER_01: You've been a, you've been a, you asked some great questions before.
31:47
SPEAKER_01: So feel free to ask those if they come up.
31:51
SPEAKER_01: Um,
31:53
SPEAKER_01: give people a second here.
31:54
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no problem.
31:57
SPEAKER_00: Jack, if we got anything on Twitter as well.
32:03
SPEAKER_01: I think, um, absolutely questions.
32:06
SPEAKER_01: I think something we've been seeing lately,
32:08
SPEAKER_01: uh,
32:09
I think it's probably cause it's the fall and visits are
32:12
starting to be offered.
32:13
SPEAKER_01: Um,
32:14
Could you walk us through how Stevens handles like official
32:18
versus unofficial
32:19
SPEAKER_01: visits,
32:20
SPEAKER_01: staying in the dorms,
32:21
SPEAKER_01: like everything that goes into that and how you offer each to recruits?
32:26
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
32:27
SPEAKER_02: So, I mean, unofficial visits, I mean...
32:31
to really all recruits take those visits,
32:33
take as many visits as you can.
32:35
SPEAKER_02: Cause the more schools you see,
32:36
SPEAKER_02: the more you understand what type of university you want,
32:40
SPEAKER_02: what type of academic lifestyle you want,
32:43
SPEAKER_02: what type of social lifestyle you want.
32:46
SPEAKER_02: So those, you learn a lot on those visits.
32:48
So unofficial visits,
32:50
you know,
32:51
first at Stevens,
32:52
there's a missions tours,
32:53
a missions.
32:54
SPEAKER_02: There's a great job.
32:55
SPEAKER_02: It's like a two hour tour throughout campus.
32:57
SPEAKER_02: They don't really show you a lot of athletics.
32:59
So we basically any recruit,
33:02
you know,
33:02
that's doing an unofficial visit to reach out to us.
33:05
SPEAKER_02: And after your admissions tour,
33:06
SPEAKER_02: depending on time,
33:07
we'll either meet you before or after and then show you a full
33:11
detailed outlook of
33:13
SPEAKER_02: athletic facilities,
33:14
SPEAKER_02: which is a lot going on right now.
33:15
SPEAKER_02: A lot of construction going on.
33:16
SPEAKER_02: We're renovating our athletic facilities right now at Stevens.
33:20
SPEAKER_02: So we'll show you the wrestling room.
33:21
SPEAKER_02: We show you a varsity weight room, other weight rooms on campus.
33:24
SPEAKER_02: Um, so that's really kind of the unofficial visit thing.
33:26
SPEAKER_02: It's kind of like a half day type of ordeal.
33:29
SPEAKER_02: Um,
33:29
SPEAKER_02: a lot of Q and a kind of first time on campus,
33:32
SPEAKER_02: getting your feet wet and just understanding what Stevens is about.
33:36
SPEAKER_02: And honestly,
33:38
after that unofficial Stevens is usually kind of falling into
33:41
like somebody's like
33:42
SPEAKER_02: top five right away.
33:43
SPEAKER_02: Just it's a beautiful campus.
33:45
Like I said,
33:46
this,
33:46
you get the best skyline of,
33:48
uh,
33:48
New York city right on the Hudson river.
33:51
SPEAKER_02: And, um,
33:53
so after that if uh you know we really are connected and we
33:57
think like you're at a
33:58
need weight class and you're like kind of more on a recruiting
34:02
board we'll offer
34:03
those official visits now official visits you can be on a
34:06
campus up to 48 hours so
34:08
we typically take advantage of that and we'll we'll have
34:11
someone come come in on a
34:12
SPEAKER_02: thursday um and we will do a weekend of it we'll have there for
34:17
SPEAKER_02: from midday Thursday to,
34:20
SPEAKER_02: uh,
34:20
SPEAKER_02: Saturday and you'll observe class,
34:23
SPEAKER_02: you'll observe practice,
34:24
SPEAKER_02: you'll hang out with the team,
34:25
SPEAKER_02: really get to know the culture of the team.
34:27
SPEAKER_02: Um, and really just get the full Stevens wrestling experience.
34:31
SPEAKER_02: And it's like,
34:32
SPEAKER_02: Hey,
34:32
SPEAKER_02: like I can see myself doing this for four years or,
34:35
SPEAKER_02: Hey,
34:35
SPEAKER_02: like this is too much.
34:37
SPEAKER_02: And I've had both answers,
34:38
SPEAKER_02: you know,
34:39
SPEAKER_02: from recruits like,
34:40
SPEAKER_02: Hey,
34:40
SPEAKER_02: like the academics here are just too much.
34:41
SPEAKER_02: Like I can't do it.
34:43
SPEAKER_02: Or it was like, Hey, like I'm locked in and,
34:46
SPEAKER_02: this is where I want to be.
34:47
SPEAKER_02: Like, how do I apply and what timeline should I be going to?
34:50
SPEAKER_02: So, uh, that's, that's kind of how it goes about.
34:54
SPEAKER_02: We kind of really only offer the official visits to, uh,
34:58
Those impact guys are guys that we really see being on our
35:03
roster,
35:03
offering roster spots too.
35:05
Where you see the kids on social media talking about,
35:08
got a roster spot offered.
35:10
SPEAKER_02: That's kind of what the official visit's for.
35:12
SPEAKER_02: Not saying we haven't had kids walk onto the team and be studs.
35:18
SPEAKER_02: One of our captains this past year.
35:21
SPEAKER_02: um,
35:21
SPEAKER_02: was a walk on from Pennsylvania,
35:23
SPEAKER_02: a blaze Wagner and,
35:24
SPEAKER_02: uh,
35:24
SPEAKER_02: you know,
35:25
national qualifier went away from being an all American and
35:28
became a two year star
35:29
SPEAKER_02: for us,
35:29
SPEAKER_02: had over 70 wins his last two years.
35:31
SPEAKER_02: So like there's, there's success from both, both avenues.
35:36
SPEAKER_02: Right.
35:36
SPEAKER_02: Um,
35:38
SPEAKER_02: and,
35:38
SPEAKER_02: uh,
35:39
SPEAKER_02: so again,
35:39
SPEAKER_02: we,
35:40
SPEAKER_02: we,
35:40
SPEAKER_02: we take those opportunities and,
35:42
SPEAKER_02: uh,
35:42
SPEAKER_02: make,
35:43
SPEAKER_02: make the most of it for the recruits for sure.
35:45
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
35:45
SPEAKER_01: All right.
35:46
SPEAKER_01: That's a helpful breakdown.
35:48
SPEAKER_01: We, while you're talking, we got a question come in.
35:50
Um,
35:51
one of the parents is,
35:53
uh,
35:53
has a son that committed to Stevens for lacrosse class of 2026.
35:58
SPEAKER_01: And he's wondering what is the culture,
36:00
SPEAKER_01: the athletics culture like of a team supporting other teams?
36:05
SPEAKER_01: Like, do your guys go to other events or what does that look like?
36:09
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's awesome.
36:11
SPEAKER_02: I mean,
36:11
SPEAKER_02: like I said,
36:12
SPEAKER_02: Hoboken itself,
36:13
SPEAKER_02: like I said,
36:13
SPEAKER_02: it's a square mile city,
36:14
SPEAKER_02: so it's already very small.
36:15
SPEAKER_02: So campus is very condensed.
36:18
SPEAKER_02: And we have 23 varsity sports in our athletic department.
36:22
SPEAKER_02: And so all the athletic teams, we're sharing the varsity weight room.
36:27
SPEAKER_02: We're sharing locker room space throughout the year.
36:31
SPEAKER_02: really rubbing shoulders with each other just in different ways.
36:36
SPEAKER_02: We host a lot.
36:38
SPEAKER_02: The varsity athletic department at Stevens is special.
36:43
SPEAKER_02: The student-athletes really care about each other.
36:45
I serve also as a SAC advisor for our student-athletes,
36:49
so I get to kind of
36:51
um meet a lot of other student athletes around campus and uh
36:54
they all really care
36:55
about each other all going through the same grind that i kind
36:57
of talked about
36:58
earlier in this conversation right high academics high level
37:01
athletics stevens is
37:02
one of the top teams in the conference pretty much in every
37:05
sport we're in the mac
37:07
um which is the aq for pretty much every sport outside the
37:10
individual sports like
37:11
SPEAKER_02: wrestling and uh you know
37:15
SPEAKER_02: Every sport, we support each other.
37:17
SPEAKER_02: We try to get there.
37:19
SPEAKER_02: We're usually hosting MAAC semifinals, MAAC final championships.
37:23
We're usually hosting NCAA volleyball championships on campus
37:27
or NCAA volleyball,
37:28
women's volleyball because Hoboken is a very good destination
37:32
for teams to travel
37:33
SPEAKER_02: into and have a really good NCAA experience.
37:36
Um,
37:37
so a lot of our teams also have really good non-conference
37:39
schedules.
37:40
SPEAKER_02: I mean,
37:40
SPEAKER_02: our men's lacrosse team,
37:41
SPEAKER_02: they play Tufts at like Tufts will,
37:44
SPEAKER_02: will never have us go to them.
37:45
SPEAKER_02: They come to Hoboken every year for like a big showdown and,
37:50
SPEAKER_02: you know,
37:51
SPEAKER_02: they bring their alumni down to Hoboken,
37:52
SPEAKER_02: have a good experience,
37:54
SPEAKER_02: uh,
37:54
SPEAKER_02: which is a really cool event for,
37:56
SPEAKER_02: for men's lacrosse.
37:58
SPEAKER_02: Um,
38:00
SPEAKER_02: I would say the culture is really fantastic.
38:03
SPEAKER_02: They're all going through the same grind,
38:05
SPEAKER_02: and they want to see each other do well in the sports they're doing.
38:09
SPEAKER_01: Definitely.
38:10
SPEAKER_01: Like you said,
38:10
SPEAKER_01: it's a condensed campus,
38:11
SPEAKER_01: so it's hard not to bump into another athlete or,
38:14
SPEAKER_01: like you said,
38:15
SPEAKER_01: share a locker with them.
38:17
SPEAKER_01: That's kind of the D3.
38:20
SPEAKER_02: Most of the students,
38:21
SPEAKER_02: if you look across the athletic department,
38:23
SPEAKER_02: are either in the engineering school or the business school.
38:26
SPEAKER_02: So like a lot of,
38:27
SPEAKER_02: a lot of the varsity athletes,
38:29
SPEAKER_02: we do have a humanity school,
38:30
SPEAKER_02: but most of the,
38:31
I would say the majority are in those two schools and they're
38:34
taking classes
38:34
SPEAKER_02: together.
38:35
SPEAKER_02: And we do have a good,
38:37
also a good Greek life on campus that a lot of guys are also in
38:40
fraternities and
38:40
SPEAKER_02: safaris with,
38:41
SPEAKER_02: which again,
38:42
SPEAKER_02: it's a,
38:43
SPEAKER_02: it's a healthy Greece,
38:44
SPEAKER_02: Greek life at Stevens.
38:45
SPEAKER_02: I know sometimes that can be scary hearing that from parents or coaches,
38:49
SPEAKER_02: but it's a good situation at Stevens too.
38:53
SPEAKER_01: Nice.
38:55
SPEAKER_01: I do want to ask,
38:56
SPEAKER_01: because not everyone that we have on has a podcast,
39:02
SPEAKER_01: but you have one with your twin brother.
39:04
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
39:06
SPEAKER_01: D3 Nation podcast.
39:09
SPEAKER_01: How did that get started and why is that important to you?
39:14
You've been doing it for a long time,
39:15
so why has that been important to you?
39:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah,
39:16
SPEAKER_02: it's important to me because I think,
39:19
SPEAKER_02: as you know,
39:19
SPEAKER_02: doing this,
39:20
SPEAKER_02: right,
39:20
there's a lot of really great people and great stories in
39:23
Division III athletics.
39:25
And I have a passion for Division III wrestling,
39:27
being a Division III wrestler and now coach.
39:30
SPEAKER_02: I want to share those stories.
39:31
SPEAKER_02: And it was kind of a COVID project.
39:34
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we weren't doing much coaching during COVID.
39:36
SPEAKER_02: No one really was, right?
39:38
SPEAKER_02: And it was just something that,
39:41
SPEAKER_02: you know,
39:41
SPEAKER_02: me and my twin brother always bounce ideas off each other.
39:43
SPEAKER_02: We talk to each other a lot.
39:45
SPEAKER_02: And
39:46
SPEAKER_02: we talk wrestling a lot.
39:47
SPEAKER_02: So it's like, we were already talking about it.
39:50
SPEAKER_02: I guess we might as well record it and see how it goes.
39:53
SPEAKER_02: And it's been really, really positive.
39:55
SPEAKER_02: You know,
39:56
SPEAKER_02: I don't know how long,
39:58
SPEAKER_02: you know,
39:58
SPEAKER_02: the show will go for,
39:59
but we're really enjoying it right now and enjoy sharing the
40:04
great stories in
40:04
SPEAKER_02: division three wrestling.
40:06
SPEAKER_02: You know, we're on six platforms and, you know,
40:09
um it's been it's been really cool to see that that podcast
40:13
grow with division
40:14
three wrestling and you know hearing coaches uh on on the
40:19
weekends talk about the
40:20
SPEAKER_02: podcast with me and how much they enjoy it and appreciate what we do so I
40:25
definitely don't take that for granted and try to use the
40:27
platform to not just
40:28
SPEAKER_02: really boost my program right it's not really it's
40:31
um it's not just about boosting stevens right i'm biased so i
40:35
think stevens is
40:35
great but there's other divinity wrestling is great and i want
40:39
to share those
40:39
stories uh on that platform so you know it's just just audio
40:43
files and we make it
40:44
work and uh me and my twin brother good way to stay connected
40:48
and network with
40:48
other great people around the country so definitely where is he
40:53
now he said he's
40:54
SPEAKER_01: coaching
40:55
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so he was at Waynesburg after I left.
40:59
SPEAKER_02: He was coaching there for a good bit, did a great job there.
41:01
Now he's at Division II Fairmont State in West Virginia and
41:06
doing a great job there.
41:07
SPEAKER_02: He had his first All-American last year as well, so super pumped for him.
41:11
SPEAKER_01: Very cool.
41:12
SPEAKER_01: Could we ever see a reunion of the brothers?
41:15
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
41:15
SPEAKER_02: So when he was coaching at Waynesburg,
41:17
we got down there because we were actually in the same national
41:20
qualifying event
41:20
SPEAKER_02: for regionals.
41:22
So we used to cross paths a lot at Waynesburg and we coached
41:25
against each other,
41:25
SPEAKER_02: Stevens versus Waynesburg.
41:27
SPEAKER_02: And I don't know when it's going to happen,
41:30
SPEAKER_02: but I'm sure we'll make something happen,
41:32
SPEAKER_02: D2 versus D3 and make it happen.
41:34
SPEAKER_02: Because that's always a big conversation, which division is better.
41:37
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, we'll make it happen.
41:40
strong uh all right let's uh as we start to close out here get
41:45
into the functional
41:46
questions uh if if i'm a recruit right now class 2026 no offers
41:53
but interested in
41:54
SPEAKER_01: playing a college sport what would you suggest i do
41:57
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
41:57
First step,
41:58
like I said,
42:00
find those universities that you're really interested in.
42:03
SPEAKER_02: Get those questionnaires and get on the coach's radar.
42:07
SPEAKER_02: Right.
42:07
SPEAKER_02: Those questionnaires go directly to our email.
42:10
SPEAKER_02: Right.
42:10
SPEAKER_02: So that's like the easiest,
42:11
SPEAKER_02: like,
42:12
SPEAKER_02: hey,
42:12
SPEAKER_02: if this coach hasn't contacted me yet,
42:14
SPEAKER_02: I'm going to contact them and show my interest.
42:16
SPEAKER_02: Fill out the questionnaire.
42:17
SPEAKER_02: Boom.
42:17
SPEAKER_02: That's step one.
42:18
SPEAKER_02: The next thing is ask you that questionnaire.
42:20
SPEAKER_02: Right.
42:21
SPEAKER_02: You've got to start doing these unofficial visits.
42:23
SPEAKER_02: Get on campus.
42:25
SPEAKER_02: Even if the coach isn't going to be there, do the admissions tour.
42:31
SPEAKER_02: Go check out athletic facilities while you're there.
42:33
SPEAKER_02: You've got to do some research on your own.
42:38
um so those unofficials are very very uh important and then
42:41
next step like just be
42:42
on the lookout for like when coaches are in your area at like
42:45
clinics or there's a
42:46
lot of like combines like uh just around the country like just
42:51
understand what
42:52
coaches are going to be there and um you know seek those
42:55
coaches like i know
42:56
sometimes it uh it can feel like awkward like going up to a
43:00
college coach and like
43:01
SPEAKER_02: talking to them but
43:03
you know,
43:04
um,
43:04
if you're not on the radar,
43:05
like you gotta,
43:06
you gotta start knocking.
43:07
SPEAKER_02: Right.
43:08
SPEAKER_02: And if you,
43:08
SPEAKER_02: if you keep knocking,
43:09
SPEAKER_02: they're going to,
43:10
SPEAKER_02: they're going to start answering because they're going to,
43:12
SPEAKER_02: they're going to be like,
43:12
SPEAKER_02: wow,
43:13
SPEAKER_02: this,
43:13
SPEAKER_02: this,
43:14
SPEAKER_02: this kid's really interested in this,
43:15
SPEAKER_02: being a part of this program.
43:17
SPEAKER_02: And,
43:18
SPEAKER_02: um,
43:18
SPEAKER_02: and then they'll start doing more homework on you and,
43:20
SPEAKER_02: and then that can,
43:21
SPEAKER_02: and then that relationship builds.
43:22
So again,
43:23
if you,
43:24
if you don't have the offers that you're looking for right now,
43:27
then,
43:28
SPEAKER_02: then go get it.
43:29
SPEAKER_02: Go find a way to go get it and get on these coaches' radars.
43:34
SPEAKER_02: I'm fortunate to be in a great area.
43:36
SPEAKER_02: There's a lot of really great clubs and clinics kind of in this area.
43:40
And,
43:40
you know,
43:41
to kind of even now talk more about the profile I coach at,
43:44
right?
43:44
SPEAKER_02: I'm at Stevens, a high academic school.
43:46
If you're not on the radar of like us or like an NYU or WPI or
43:53
Case Western,
43:54
Well,
43:55
you better get on it because our application timeline is coming
43:58
up.
43:58
Like we try to get our recruits to go in early decision pools,
44:02
which ED1 is November 15th.
44:05
SPEAKER_02: And then ED2 is January 15th.
44:08
SPEAKER_02: So like those applications are coming for those high academic schools.
44:11
SPEAKER_02: So you really need to kind of pick up the pace,
44:14
SPEAKER_02: especially if you're seeking that type of experience.
44:18
SPEAKER_01: And what would you suggest to families who,
44:20
SPEAKER_01: you know,
44:20
SPEAKER_01: are looking to sticker price of a D3 and kind of say,
44:23
SPEAKER_01: oh,
44:23
SPEAKER_01: wow,
44:23
SPEAKER_01: that's scary.
44:25
And maybe aren't interested in like committing in the early
44:28
decision window,
44:30
SPEAKER_01: but are they still want to apply?
44:32
SPEAKER_01: Like, how would how would you suggest they navigate that?
44:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah,
44:35
SPEAKER_02: I mean,
44:35
SPEAKER_02: I would say,
44:36
SPEAKER_02: I mean,
44:37
SPEAKER_02: just speaking from experience,
44:39
SPEAKER_02: if you want to get that price tag to the lowest you can,
44:41
SPEAKER_02: ED is the best way to do that.
44:43
And the average applicant in ED pools across the board at
44:49
really any high academic
44:52
SPEAKER_02: is much lower than if you kind of wait to regular decision.
44:56
SPEAKER_02: Even in early action,
44:57
SPEAKER_02: if you go early action or regular decision,
44:59
SPEAKER_02: those application pools are double,
45:01
SPEAKER_02: triple of what an ED pool looks like.
45:04
SPEAKER_02: Your application,
45:05
not that it's going to get lost because we'll have you tapped
45:07
as a recruit and we
45:09
SPEAKER_02: want you here,
45:10
but you're going to look a lot less appealing compared to what
45:15
you would look like
45:16
SPEAKER_02: to an ED applicant compared to EA or a regular decision.
45:20
There's no one on our team that's paying the full price tag to
45:23
come to a school like Stevens.
45:26
SPEAKER_02: I'm well educated in that.
45:28
SPEAKER_02: I don't want a kid paying full freight to come to school like Stevens.
45:32
It's a great education,
45:33
but it's like,
45:34
if you can't afford it,
45:35
you can't afford it.
45:36
SPEAKER_02: And this isn't the school for you.
45:37
SPEAKER_02: There's other opportunities.
45:39
SPEAKER_02: So, you know, not trying to trick kids into
45:43
SPEAKER_02: paying more than what their families can afford.
45:45
SPEAKER_02: But just having to understand,
45:47
SPEAKER_02: like,
45:47
I want you to be the most favorable in the missions timeline
45:52
possible to get the
45:53
SPEAKER_02: most money and to get accepted.
45:55
SPEAKER_02: And for us in our track record, that's ED.
45:58
We've only had early action for two years at Stevens and it's,
46:03
you know,
46:03
it's kind of,
46:04
SPEAKER_02: We're kind of learning what early action looks like still at Stevens.
46:08
SPEAKER_02: We've had more success.
46:09
SPEAKER_02: Most of my class was in ED.
46:12
SPEAKER_02: And again,
46:13
SPEAKER_02: if you have the grades to go regular,
46:15
SPEAKER_02: if you have above 1,500 on your SAT and you have above 30 on your ACT,
46:22
SPEAKER_02: you can go regular.
46:23
SPEAKER_02: I'm not worried about you not getting accepted and getting money.
46:26
SPEAKER_02: You will get money in any application time.
46:28
SPEAKER_02: It's more of those kids that are kind of on the fringe.
46:30
SPEAKER_02: It's like...
46:31
SPEAKER_02: If you go regular,
46:33
SPEAKER_02: I think you can get accepted,
46:34
but you're not going to be the one you're going to be giving
46:37
the big merit
46:38
SPEAKER_02: scholarship to.
46:39
SPEAKER_02: It's just not the case.
46:41
SPEAKER_01: And early action, is that also in the November 15th timeline?
46:44
SPEAKER_01: Or is that January?
46:47
SPEAKER_02: December 1st timeline.
46:49
SPEAKER_01: Okay, like two weeks after.
46:50
SPEAKER_02: Yes, two weeks after.
46:51
SPEAKER_02: Gotcha.
46:51
SPEAKER_01: Gotcha.
46:53
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
46:54
SPEAKER_01: That's helpful to know.
46:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
46:55
I mean,
46:55
I think as you mentioned,
46:57
early action for Stevens is a new change.
46:59
I know there's been a lot of news recently about early decision
47:02
and a lot of D3s
47:03
SPEAKER_01: and,
47:04
SPEAKER_01: and,
47:05
SPEAKER_01: uh,
47:05
SPEAKER_01: there was a lawsuit recently calling in a question like,
47:08
SPEAKER_01: I saw that.
47:08
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
47:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
47:09
SPEAKER_01: The legality of it.
47:10
So it's just a question,
47:12
you know,
47:13
it's great to have your experience and expertise to weigh in.
47:16
SPEAKER_01: And, um, something is I know families are asking us about it.
47:20
SPEAKER_01: Um, so that's, that's extremely helpful.
47:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah,
47:23
SPEAKER_02: I think at the end of the day,
47:24
SPEAKER_02: the logic is,
47:25
SPEAKER_02: especially if we're your number one,
47:28
put yourself in the best position to get accepted and get the
47:31
most money possible.
47:32
SPEAKER_02: If we're not your number one,
47:34
then we still probably would like you if you're a high-priority
47:38
recruit and
47:40
SPEAKER_02: then apply early action or apply regular decision.
47:42
SPEAKER_02: We'll support your application.
47:45
SPEAKER_02: But if we're number one,
47:46
you might as well just go ED and figure it out and kind of see
47:51
where we fall and
47:52
SPEAKER_02: kind of go from there.
47:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
47:54
SPEAKER_01: And I,
47:55
SPEAKER_01: I want to dig in one,
47:56
SPEAKER_01: one other thing you just said,
47:58
SPEAKER_01: you said,
47:58
SPEAKER_01: go ED and get as much money as possible.
48:00
SPEAKER_01: So explain why that's the case.
48:03
I know you mentioned it's a smaller application pool,
48:05
but like what else is available?
48:07
SPEAKER_01: You said merit, maybe what does that first go get?
48:11
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
48:12
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I mean, for, for, for ED, right.
48:14
ED one,
48:15
you're the first applicants that admissions is looking at for,
48:18
for this year.
48:19
SPEAKER_02: So, um,
48:21
SPEAKER_02: That goes a long way.
48:22
SPEAKER_02: Interest level goes a long way with our admissions department.
48:26
SPEAKER_02: Same thing with us, we're recruiting.
48:31
SPEAKER_02: You're the first one when it comes to...
48:32
SPEAKER_02: There's a small little stipend or scholarship,
48:37
SPEAKER_02: I guess you would say,
48:38
SPEAKER_02: to going ED.
48:40
SPEAKER_02: Our admissions rewards kids that are committing to the ED process.
48:43
SPEAKER_02: On top of...
48:45
SPEAKER_02: Uh,
48:45
SPEAKER_02: going ED,
48:45
SPEAKER_02: you'll get a additional,
48:47
SPEAKER_02: you know,
48:47
SPEAKER_02: every year kind of fluctuates,
48:48
SPEAKER_02: but you'll get additional scholarship just for going ED.
48:51
And then,
48:52
um,
48:52
you're the first applicants that are getting rewarded merit
48:55
scholarship.
48:56
SPEAKER_02: Um,
48:56
SPEAKER_02: so,
48:57
SPEAKER_02: you know,
48:57
there's only a select amount of like merit scholarship that our
49:01
admissions can like
49:02
SPEAKER_02: give out every single year.
49:04
So why wait till regular decision where now they're going to
49:07
give it to the kids
49:08
SPEAKER_02: that have higher GPAs,
49:09
SPEAKER_02: have higher SATs,
49:10
SPEAKER_02: have higher ACTs,
49:11
SPEAKER_02: right?
49:12
SPEAKER_02: Go ED where
49:14
SPEAKER_02: you,
49:15
SPEAKER_02: you look the best and,
49:17
SPEAKER_02: um,
49:17
SPEAKER_02: you're going to get that marriage scholarship,
49:19
SPEAKER_02: uh,
49:20
rewarded for your efforts of going ed and getting that package
49:24
as low as possible.
49:25
Yep.
49:26
Yep.
49:27
SPEAKER_00: That's very helpful.
49:29
SPEAKER_01: Well, well, thanks for joining here.
49:31
I think we got a,
49:32
I got one more question and let's,
49:33
let's give the chat a second.
49:35
SPEAKER_01: I've seen a few more people join any final questions.
49:40
SPEAKER_01: Coach Anthony here.
49:46
SPEAKER_01: If not, it's been exciting to hear how the level is growing.
49:50
SPEAKER_01: Like I love hearing the new teams are coming to join D3 wrestling.
49:54
That's like you mentioned already the biggest division three or
49:56
the biggest NCAA
49:58
SPEAKER_01: wrestling level.
49:59
Um,
50:01
and,
50:01
uh,
50:02
yeah,
50:02
it seems like future is bright for the sport for Stevens as a
50:05
program.
50:06
SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah.
50:08
SPEAKER_01: Any kind of closing thoughts before I ask the last question here?
50:11
SPEAKER_02: No, I appreciate you doing things like this.
50:14
I think spreading more knowledge about Division III athletics
50:18
and just as a
50:19
Division III experience is really important because I think
50:23
there's a lot of kids
50:23
SPEAKER_02: that –
50:25
SPEAKER_02: you know, have that D one or bus mentality.
50:28
SPEAKER_02: And I just think it's like silly.
50:30
SPEAKER_02: I think,
50:30
SPEAKER_02: uh,
50:31
SPEAKER_02: you know,
50:31
SPEAKER_02: I think if that dream of going D one doesn't come to fruition,
50:35
SPEAKER_02: like you can still have a very,
50:37
SPEAKER_02: very competitive career at the division three level.
50:41
SPEAKER_02: You can compete for Olympic teams.
50:43
SPEAKER_02: Um,
50:44
SPEAKER_02: you know,
50:44
Joseph Rao was a national champ at division three wrestling and
50:47
then made an
50:48
SPEAKER_02: Olympic team for Greco Roman.
50:50
SPEAKER_02: Uh, you know, and there's examples of that.
50:53
SPEAKER_02: Um,
50:54
You can take Division III wrestling or your experience as much
50:59
as you want to go.
51:00
SPEAKER_02: The experience, you make it.
51:02
Just the more knowledge that we continue to spread about
51:04
Division III athletics,
51:05
SPEAKER_02: I think it's awesome.
51:06
SPEAKER_02: It's a great opportunity for,
51:08
SPEAKER_02: I would say,
51:09
SPEAKER_02: the majority of high school student-athletes at this point.
51:13
SPEAKER_02: Division I is becoming pro, professional, semi-pro.
51:17
You could say basketball and football is pretty much
51:19
professional at this point.
51:21
SPEAKER_02: Um, and, uh, for other sports.
51:23
So if you want to go to a place that's really supported and
51:27
cares about all the
51:27
SPEAKER_02: student athletes,
51:28
SPEAKER_02: like D three is,
51:29
SPEAKER_02: is far and few between.
51:31
SPEAKER_02: And,
51:31
SPEAKER_02: uh,
51:32
SPEAKER_02: yeah,
51:32
SPEAKER_02: I mean,
51:32
SPEAKER_02: follow us on,
51:33
SPEAKER_02: uh,
51:33
SPEAKER_02: you know,
51:33
SPEAKER_02: you can follow my X account,
51:36
SPEAKER_02: uh,
51:36
SPEAKER_02: you know,
51:36
coach a bond D three nation podcast for the podcast and duck
51:40
wrestling for,
51:41
SPEAKER_02: you know,
51:41
SPEAKER_02: the wrestling team,
51:42
but a lot of ways that you continue to find good content about
51:45
division three
51:46
SPEAKER_02: wrestling.
51:48
SPEAKER_01: Great.
51:49
SPEAKER_01: And with that said, let's go to the last question.
51:52
SPEAKER_01: We ask this of every former athlete, every former D3 athlete we talk to.
51:57
SPEAKER_01: So if you could go back and talk to your 18-year-old self,
52:00
SPEAKER_01: what advice would you give 18-year-old Anthony?
52:06
I think the advice I would give is it's honestly grown,
52:13
but don't think too small,
52:16
right?
52:18
enjoy every moment because it goes by very very quickly and um
52:24
what you can you can
52:25
compete right away you can be the guy right away you can
52:28
compete for your goals
52:29
right away like you don't need to wait right i think i think
52:33
sometimes you know
52:35
you're the big man on campus coming out of high school and it's
52:37
like you gotta kind
52:39
SPEAKER_02: of figure out your way at the college level and um
52:43
SPEAKER_02: You don't got to take it slow.
52:45
SPEAKER_02: Continue to be the guy.
52:47
SPEAKER_02: You got to seek those challenges.
52:49
SPEAKER_02: You got to find a way to close the gap.
52:50
SPEAKER_02: It's not going to be easy.
52:52
SPEAKER_02: But have your goals big.
52:54
SPEAKER_02: Go chase your goals right away.
52:56
SPEAKER_02: You don't need to wait for anything.
52:58
SPEAKER_02: Just make it happen.
53:00
SPEAKER_02: And that goes from the lifestyle right away.
53:02
SPEAKER_02: And take advantage of all those opportunities that come your way.
53:08
SPEAKER_01: Perfect.
53:09
SPEAKER_01: Perfect.
53:09
SPEAKER_01: We'll close there.
53:11
SPEAKER_01: This has been another live Q&A with the D3 head coach.
53:14
This time,
53:15
Coach Anthony Bonaventura from Stevens Institute of Technology.
53:21
He also was a former Waynesburg athlete,
53:23
male scholar,
53:24
athlete of the year.
53:25
SPEAKER_01: He's a podcast host.
53:26
SPEAKER_01: This guy does it all.
53:27
SPEAKER_01: So, Coach Anthony, thanks for joining us.
53:30
SPEAKER_02: Man, I appreciate the time and keep up the good work.
53:33
SPEAKER_00: All right.
53:34
SPEAKER_00: We'll see you guys next time.
53:35
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us.