Members of the Tiger Wrestling Squad Meet With National Media

Ben Askren and Head Coach Brian Smith Among Few Selected

March 14, 2007

Press Conference 

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Senior grappler Ben Askren (Heartland, Wisc.) and Head Coach Brian Smith met with national media on Wednesday, March 14 in preparation for the NCAA Championships starting tomorrow. Askren was one of the six wrestlers featured out of the total 330 wrestlers at the tournament, while Smith was one of only five coaches.

"I'm real excited to be here," Smith said. "This is the first time getting up here at the table with the coaches for this meeting."

The other favorites for earning a team title were represented by their coaches as well. Minnesota Coach J Robinson, Iowa State Coach Cael Sanderson and Oklahoma State Coach John Smith were all on hand with Smith as well as Michigan Head Coach Joe McFarland who is representing the host school.

Askren was joined on the podium by other individual favorites including standouts Cole Konrad, Minnesota's All-American heavyweight and 165 pound grappler Johny Hendricks of Oklahoma State. Joining the defending champs was 125-pound hopeful Sam Hazewinkel of Oklahoma, 133-pound Nick Simmons of Michigan State and 149-pound grappler Josh Churella of Michigan.

"I am definitely excited to be here, but I'll be sad when it's over because it is my last NCAA Championship," Askren said. "It is something that I have enjoyed a lot while I've been here. I am also really excited about the team race and everything else that is going to go on this weekend"

Askren and the seven other qualifiers have Missouri in contention for a National Championship, and recognized as one of the favorites in the eyes of the media. The tournament will begin at 11 a.m. (EST) with all eight competing in the first session. Askren and sophomore Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) will each wrestle two matches during the first session. Tune into www.mutigers.com for results prior to each session.

 

Selected Quotes

Ben Askren

Opening Statement:
"(I'm) also really excited to be here. I definitely will be sad when it is over because it's my last NCAA championship, something that I really enjoyed a lot while I've been here. Also very excited about the team race and everything else that's going to go on this week."

Ben, Johny and Cole, can either of you three guys be stopped in this tournament?
"Like I said all year, I don't really plan on being stopped. I definitely have it in my mind that there's no way anyone in this tournament can beat me, barring serious injury, which I also don't feel like will happen. I take pretty good care of myself. The answer to that would be no."

Ben, what has this year been like for you? The team has been fun to be a part of. You were ranked No. 1 for a while. You're defending champ. What has this senior season been like for you?
"The team has had its ups and downs. We had a lot of ups in the beginning of the season, a few down at the end of the season. We're back on the upswing. I think we had a great Big 12 tournament, even though we didn't win. Everyone wrestled well, always had a few calls not going our way. Could have been us champs and Iowa State second, it was that close. The senior season for me individually has been a lot of fun. Like a farewell trip. We traveled tons, going to Vegas, Michigan. It's been fun everywhere I went. I've had a good time doing all the interviews. It's just been a blast. Couldn't ask for more.

Unintelligible, about wanting to get opponents' best shot
"I hope I get their best shot. I wouldn't want anything less than their best. You guys may have seen me this year. I get frustrated when people try to lay on their bellies and not try to get pinned. That's people not giving me their best. I expect nothing less than people's best this weekend and I'll be more than ready for it."

Ben, do you think the comments you made is going to help motivate your opponents during this tournament?

"Like I said, I would hope it would motivate them because I want their best. Actually I usually get -- when I motivate them like that I usually get more than their best. The more fired up they are, the more likely they will be to make a mistake. Any mistake they make will be capitalized on."

Head Coach Brian Smith

Opening Statement:
"Real excited to be here. This is my first time getting up here at the table with the coaches for this meeting. I know I have a team that's real excited to come back. We came to Michigan earlier in the year to wrestle some duels. Now we're here in March when it counts. Have a good group of kids."

Last several years your Missouri Tigers have been improving seems like every year. How do you feel your team is prepared to make a run at the title this year?
"I just think it's their attitude. It's a great group of young guys that just believe in themselves. They have great work ethics. They started a week after the Nationals. They met together as a team and decided they want to make a run for it. They've worked really hard at that. We've had a great season. But we're going to find out how great it's going to end. They're excited about this weekend. They've looked forward to it. We'll see. But there's a lot of talent in there, too. We've progressed as a program because we've been able to bring in better and better talent."

Someone asked a question of the wrestlers, Cole Konrad, Johny Hendricks and Askren, you guys are the dominant guys and Hendricks and Conrad demurred. But Ben said pretty much it would take an Act of God for him to lose this tournament. Where do you stand on that? Is it good to get people excited right off the bat, or would you rather have them play it cool?
"Ben has a lot of confidence (laughter). I knew that when I was recruiting him. When I was recruiting him, when I went to his house when I was recruiting him, he had a picture of Mohammed Ali on the wall. He said, That's my idol. I think he believes in himself so much, but he's always backed it up. It's not something like he'd do anything bad. I think he believes in himself so much, that's what's coming out of it. I don't foresee it as a bad thing, I just think he's very confident of himself."


 

 

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