Wrestling Changed My Life (Wrestling Podcast)

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Barry Davis is a 3x NCAA champ for the great Dan Gable and the Iowa Hawkeyes. In 1984, Barry was the Olympic Silver Medalist. He’d then go on to coach at Iowa, as well as lead the Wisconsin Badgers for a number of years. He’s an icon. A legend. A great storyteller. Enjoy it folks! SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by the Wrestling Changed My Life online store. We have podca...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE One of Illinois' favorites sons, Nate Jackson is our guest today. He's currently an assistant wrestling coach for Princeton University, and is also a member of the NJRTC. Nate is actively training for the 2021 Olympics. Enjoy it folks! SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by the Wrestling Changed My Life online store. We have podcast T-Shirts, Hoodies, Crew-necks, Stickers and...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Donny Pritzlaff is the Associate Head Coach at Rutgers. Before his coaching days, he was a New Jersey legend, winning multiple state titles before signing with the Wisconsin Badgers. There, he won two NCAA titles and a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships. Today, he and coach Scott Goodale are building the Rutgers Scarlet Knights wrestling team into a national power. To...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Nazar Kulchytskyy is a former Ukranian national champion, 3x NCAA Division 3 national champion and a staple on the US senior circuit. He recently retired (like a month ago) and joined the show to talk about his upbringing in the Ukranian system, migrating to the US and his first Fargo experience. Nazar also just opened his training facility near Madison, WI. If you search “Team...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Georgi Ivanov was a 2016 Olympian for Bulgaria. His story of coming to America is incredible. He migrated to the US as a high school senior, without knowing a soul. He then wrestled for division two powerhouse UNO and was a 2x All American before the program was dropped. After wrestling for Boise State, Georgi had a crazy experience making the Bulgarian Olympic team. Enjoy it fo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Jordan Burroughs is arguably the best American wrestler of all time. After winning two NCAA titles for Nebraska, JB won his first world championship in 2011. He’d go on to win the 2012 Olympics, as well as subsequent world titles in 2013, 2015 and 2017. He’s one of the best to ever step on the mat - period. This interview was recorded at JB’s in-laws in Buffalo New York. Enjoy i...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Trent Paulson is the assistant wrestling coach at the University of Virginia. He and his twin brother Travis were STUD wrestlers for Iowa State. Trent won a NCAA title in 2007 and made the US World Team in 2009. After coaching at Iowa State for a few years, Travis took a coaching position at Virginia and Trent followed suit. Now, they are building a really strong program at one...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Israel - Izzy Style - Martinez is the owner of Izzy Style Wrestling. He’s also the MMA coach for UFC greats Jon Jones and Holly Holm. This interview was recorded as part of our research for Assembly Fall - an audio documentary that dropped last Tuesday (go to episode #145 to listen to Assembly Fall). Izzy was best friends with the co-star of Assembly Fall, Eric Tannenbaum, and t...

ABOUT THIS AUDIO DOC Dubbed as the biggest upset in Illinois history, Matt Kucala defied the odds and pinned the previously unbeaten Eric Tannenbaum at the 2001 IHSA state finals. Assembly Fall takes an in-depth look at that match and answers the question: is it the biggest upset in state history? DIRECTORS’S TAKE If you were a wrestling fan in 2001, you'll never forget where you were when you hea...

Airing next Tuesday, Assembly Fall. An audio documentary brought to you by Wrestling Changed My Life. In a match dubbed as the biggest upset in Illinois history, Matt Kucala defied the odds and pinned the previously unbeaten Eric Tannenbaum at the 2001 IHSA state finals. Assembly Fall takes an in-depth look at that match and answers the question: is it the biggest upset in state history? *Summary...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Gene Zannetti is the co-founder of Wrestling Mindset. In this episode, we rehash the core principles of Wresting Mindset, how they can be applied to the current pandemic and the notion of outcome goals vs. input goals. FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by Assembly Fall, a new audio documentary airing next Tuesday. In a match dub...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Anthony Rink is a Division 3 All American for North Central College. He was a senior this year and was at the D3 nationals set to compete in his first NCAA national event when the tournament was cancelled due to CV19. I wanted to have Anthony talk about his experience and share his incredible perspective. Enjoy it! FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This episo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Isaiah Martinez is the assistant coach at Oregon State. He’s a former 2x NCAA Champ and 4x NCAA finalist for the Fighting Illini. Last spring he pushed the great Jordan Burroughs to the brink at FinalX. Enjoy this one folks! FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by the Beat the Streets Chicago Virtual Gala, which takes place on Satu...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Clay Guida is a UFC fighter with wins over Nate Diaz, Anthony Petis and RDA. He’s the former Strikeforce World Champion and is set to fight in his 30th UFC fight next weekend. Really enjoyed this one. Hope you do as well. FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by the Beat the Streets Chicago Virtual Gala, which takes place on Saturda...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Nick Gallo captured the 126-pound national championship and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 1977 NCAA Championships. During his four years at Hofstra, Gallo recorded a 104-14 record. He was a member of the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Teams. After Nick’s wrestling career, he started working for Asics and was instrumental in signing Dan Gable and in turn, creat...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Haley Augello is a 2016 Olympian. She was also a 2013 Cadet World champ. She hails from Lockport Illinois and was a feared youth wrestler back in her day. She’s currently training for the 2021 Olympic Team Trials. Enjoy this one folks! FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by the Beat the Streets Chicago Virtual Gala, which takes pl...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Eric Larkin was the 2003 NCAA Champion and Hodge Trophy winner. He was a 4x All American for the Arizona State Sun Devils and never finished lower than 4th at the NCAA tournament. Eric also co-founded Valiant College Prep, a wrestling prep school. Enjoy this one folks! FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by the Beat the Streets Ch...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Mike Poeta is the assistant coach for the Fighting Illini wrestling team. Prior to his current post, he ran a private academy in Chicago’s North Suburbs. As a wrestler, Mike was a 2x NCAA finalist and 3x All American. In high school, he won an incredible 3 Fargo titles and took 2nd once, meaning that he lost only one match at Fargo in 4 years. Enjoy this one folks! FOLLOW THE PO...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Randy Lewis is one of the most decorated Iowa wrestlers of all time, winning an Olympic gold in 1984 and two NCAA titles for legendary coach Dan Gable. During this episode we go straight story mode, as Randy talks about his journey to Iowa, the best Iowa teams of all time, and the best NCAA finals matches of all time. FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This ep...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Forrest Molinari is a 2x world team member and is vying for a sport on the 2021 Olympic Team. She was fifth at both the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. She was also the 2019 and 2020 US Open champion. Originally based out of California, Forrest attended King University (Tennessee) and now lives in Iowa City, Iowa. FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This epi...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Sunny Abe is a former national champion for Penn State. At age 17, he moved from Japan to the US without speaking English. After two years of rigorous training (8+ hours a day), he was enrolled at Penn State where he’d go on to finish 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st for the Nittany Lions. He was also an Olympian for Japan at the 96 games. Enjoy folks! FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMy...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Wrestling has been synonymous with Mark's life since he was 13 years old, and after becoming an NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion his senior year at Oklahoma State University, Mark began his coaching journey. He would spend several years at the D1 level before eventually moving into MMA, where he was ranked as high as 3rd in the world. He laid down his gloves in 2015 after winn...

Steve Marianetti is a former NCAA champ and 3x All American for the Fighting Illini. He’s well known for beating Lincoln McIlravy in the 1995 NCAA finals, thus pulling off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA finals history. After college, Steve wrestled internationally and then worked as an assistant coach under legendary coach, Mark Johnson. Today, Steve is the head coach of Elmhurst college. Enjoy...

Nahshon Garrett is a 4x All American and former NCAA champ for the Cornell Big Red. He was on the 2018 world team and was set to compete in his first world championships before suffering a devastating injury days before the 2018 World Championships were to begin. During this episode we talk about Nahshon’s career, the peaks and valleys of his rehab after the 2018 injury and his plans for competing...

Kyle Dake is a man who needs no introduction. Two-time world champ. Four-time NCAA champ. Let’s get into it! FOLLOW THE PODCAST WrestlingChangedMyLife.com SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by the Beat the Streets Chicago Virtual Gala, which takes place on Saturday June 6 from 8-9pm. It would mean the world to me if you registered to attend the gala. No donation necessary, just come and see wh...