Drew Foster, a two-time All-American at Northern Iowa, discussed his journey as a four-sport athlete in high school and the benefits of versatility. He detailed his wrestling career, highlighting his redshirt freshman year where he went 1-9 and his rapid improvement to becoming an All-American in 2017. Foster emphasized the importance of effort, trust, and resilience.He shared his experience at the White House with President Trump and reflected on the impact of his achievements, including the pride and support from his community. Foster also touched on his personal life, including his wife and newborn child.Drew Foster discussed his wrestling career, highlighting key moments such as earning his first scholarship, becoming an All-American, and graduating college as the first in his immediate family. He recounted a pivotal match in the NCAA finals where he successfully executed a take-down sequence, drawing parallels to a similar practice drill.Foster expressed disappointment over not receiving a traditional wall chart for his national title, instead receiving a rolled-up mat instead of a framed bracket.
Lehigh head wrestling coach Pat Santoro joined the show to discuss his journey as an athlete and mentor. A two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American at Pitt, Santoro reflected on the mental and physical growth that defined his wrestling career, from early struggles in high school to his breakthrough moments at Blair Academy and Pitt. He emphasized the importance of courage, belief, and embracing challenges, recounting how pivotal mindset shifts fueled his success. Santoro also shared his philosophy on developing athletes, stressing the value of enjoying the sport and continuously learning, both on and off the mat.In addition to wrestling insights, Santoro delved into personal stories, such as his connection to faith and how it shaped his life during college. He highlighted the influence of mentors like Rande Stottlemyer and celebrated the camaraderie of his Pitt teammates. Santoro’s passion for wrestling extends to his current role at Lehigh, where he inspires his team to “lay it on the line” and embrace every opportunity. With reflections on dual meets, rule changes, and the evolving nature of the sport, the conversation offered a compelling glimpse into Santoro’s impact as a coach and leader.
Kendric Maple, a three-time Big 12 champion and three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, discussed his high school and collegiate wrestling career. He highlighted his high school state titles and the impact of his coach. Maple detailed his recruiting process, including visits to Oklahoma and Iowa State, and his decision to attend Oklahoma.He recounted his national title win in 2014 and the challenges of being a returning champion. Maple emphasized the importance of mental preparation, team support, and the influence of coaches like Mark Cody and Brian Smith. He also shared personal anecdotes and his love for football and wrestling.
Mark Branch, a four-time finalist and two-time national champion, discusses his wrestling journey with Shane Sparks. Branch recalls his first meeting with John Smith, who convinced him to join Oklahoma State over the University of Oklahoma. He describes the initial challenges of transitioning from high school to college wrestling, feeling inadequate and overmatched. Branch emphasizes the importance of perseverance, citing his freshman season where he won the national championship despite entering the tournament with a losing record. He also shares the emotional impact of overcoming a serious knee injury and the support from his mother's cancer battle. Branch highlights the shift in his coaching philosophy to prioritize relationships and emotional support for his athletes. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Mark Branch on Episode 38 of the Go Earn It Podcast.SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Current Edinboro assistant coach AJ Schopp joins Shane Sparks on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast. Schopp was a three-time All-American for the Fighting Scots and recently returned after spending a number of years on staff at Purdue. School discusses his wrestling journey, emphasizing the importance of hard work and mental resilience. He recalls his time at Young Guns, highlighting the impact of the club on his development. Schopp shares his decision to attend Edinboro for its low-key environment and strong academic focus. He reflects on his 2015 NCAA Championships experience, where he overcame a first-round loss to place third, and the significance of team success. Schopp also discusses his competitive nature, particularly his pinning techniques and rivalries with wrestlers like Tony Ramos and Chris Dardanes. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with A.J. Schopp on Episode 37 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Darian Cruz, a three-time All-American, NCAA champion and Olympian, reflects on his career, particularly his 2017 NCAA championship win against Thomas Gilman. He recalls the emotional preparation and the pivotal moments in the match, including a crucial takedown in regulation and overtime. Cruz also discusses the impact of his coach, Pat Santoro, and the importance of mental preparation. He shares his Olympic experience, highlighting the excitement and pressure of competing at that level. Cruz emphasizes the significance of representing Puerto Rico and the lessons learned from both victories and defeats. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Darian Cruz on Episode 36 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Teague Moore, a three-time All-American and national champion at Oklahoma State, discussed his wrestling journey. He recalled losing to Jeremy Hunter in high school and finally winning a high school state championship. Moore highlighted his pivotal meeting with John Smith at Fargo, which led to his commitment to Oklahoma State. He detailed his national championship win in 1998 over David Morgan and the emotional impact of his father's passing. Moore also reflected on his international career, including his silver at the World Cup and the influence of Coach Smith and other mentors. He emphasized the importance of embracing challenges and the potential for rule changes to enhance dual meets. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Teague Moore on Episode 35 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Cody Brewer, a national champion and four-time All-American wrestler, discussed his wrestling journey and coaching career. He highlighted his mentor, Mike Lightner, and his best wrestling IQs. Brewer shared his early wrestling experiences, including his first state championship and his high school losses. He recounted his 2014 national title win and the 2015 loss to Nahshon Garrett. Brewer emphasized the importance of chasing competition and building relationships with athletes. He also reflected on his transition to coaching and the significance of his Punisher skull tattoo, symbolizing his grandmother's memory. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Cody Brewer on Episode 34 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Daton Fix, a five-time Big 12 champion, five-time NCAA Division I All-American and Junior World Champion, discussed his wrestling journey. He highlighted his experiences at Gallagher-Iba Arena, including his final match against Iowa, and his high school career, where he won four state titles. Fix recounted his recruitment process, choosing Oklahoma State over other top colleges. He reflected on his dedication, mentions of his favorite Cowboy growing up, Steve Mocco, and his first meeting with John Smith. Fix also discussed his faith, the impact of setbacks, and his future goals, including becoming an Olympic gold medalist. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Daton Fix on Episode 33 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Shane Sparks' discussion with World silver medalist, three-time NCAA All-American, two-time NCAA champion and two-time Olympian Kerry McCoy on Episode 32 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Shane Sparks talks with Olympic silver medalist, NCAA All-American and respected club coach Brandon Paulson on Episode 31 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with four-time All-American, NCAA champion and 2003 Dan Hodge Trophy Winner Eric Larkin on Episode 30 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Part 1 of Shane Sparks' discussion with four-time All-American, NCAA champion and 2003 Dan Hodge Trophy Winner Eric Larkin on Episode 30 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Virginia Tech associate head coach and 2012 Olympian Jared Frayer on Episode 28 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Part 1 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Virginia Tech associate head coach and 2012 Olympian Jared Frayer on Episode 26 of the Go Earn It Podcast.Frayer was a two-time All-American and a 2002 NCAA Division I national finalist for Oklahoma. Frayer is a native of Clearwater, Florida.
Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Wisconsin assistant coach and past NCAA Division I champion Jon Reader on Episode 26 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Shane Sparks needs little reason to get fired up when talking wrestling, but when he's talking with Jon Reader, the fire just burns a bit brighter. Join Sparks on Episode 25 of the Go Earn It Podcast as he talks with the current Wisconsin assistant and 2011 NCAA Division I champion.
Michigan native, four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Gabe Dean joins Shane Sparks on the most recent episode of the Go Earn It Podcast.
Shane Sparks joins New York native and current Cornell assistant coach Nick Gwiazdowski, a two-time World bronze medalist, four-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast. Gwiazdowski started his college career at Binghamton for head coach Pat Popolizio and followed his coach to NC State where he'd win two NCAA titles and wrestle in the finals three times. Sparks tracks Gwiazdowski’s path from growing up in the Capital Region of New York to his numerous U.S. Open championships to go along with his stellar college career.
Shane Sparks returns for Part 2 of the Go Earn It Podcast with Matt McDonough, a three-time NCAA Division I finalist and two-time champion from the University of Iowa.