Michigan State University Athletics
Q & A With Nick Simmons
3/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 16, 2005
East Lansing, Mich. - Sophomore wrestler Nick Simmons (Williamston, Mich.) became the first Spartan to win a Big Ten Championship since 2000 by winning the 125-pound weight class in Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday, March 6. Simmons (28-2) will return to the NCAA Championships for the second time after placing seventh in 2003. The NCAA Championships will be held in St. Louis, Mo., March 17-19.
Simmons took an Olympic Redshirt year in 2003-04 to compete for a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team, falling just short of qualifying with a fifth-place finish at the Olympic Team Trials. He also won a gold medal at the Pan-American Games with a record of 4-0, recording two pins.
Q: Were there any wrestlers you faced in the Big Ten Championships that you had looked forward to seeing again?
A: Just Joe Dubuque from Indiana. That was a big one, just to be able to beat him because he beat me before. Once I got through that match, I was pretty confident in my chances.
Q: What were your thoughts when you went down to Illinois' Kyle Ott 2-1 in the first period that helped you make your comeback?
A: I knew that I could come back after that. I don't lose focus or get frustrated out on the mat. I just go with the flow of things.
Q: Is wrestling more reactionary or do you think about strategy when you're in the middle of a match?
A: When I'm wrestling, it is basically just reaction. If you start thinking too much, there's hesitation and bad things happen.
Q: What is your strongest part of a match?
A: My particular strength is being on top, and in the finals, I was never on top, so my strength didn't even play into the match. I thought since I was never on top, it ended up being a good match anyway.
Q: Did the level of competition at the Big Ten Championships help to prepare you for the level of competition you will see at the NCAA Championships?
A: It is just going to be another tournament for me. I have seen most of these guys during the season. I wouldn't like to think there will be any unexpected surprises.
Q: Are there any wrestlers you would like to match up against in the NCAA Championships?
A: No. No matter who you wrestle, you just have to take it one match at a time and concentrate on who is next in line.
Q: Does the fact that you are projected at No. 2 put any extra pressure on you to compete well?
A: I just want to go out there and do my thing, and hopefully, go into St. Louis and win it all.
Q: How did the competition you faced in the Pan-American games and at the Olympic Team Trials in 2003-04 help you succeed this season?
A: It helped me be a better wrestler overall; just a complete wrestler. I learned little things - positioning of my feet and controlling the mat space - it works out for the better.
