Hey, Hills! Every Trailblazer issue, we will be featuring a different student. Since the wrestling team just finished up an incredible season (they were Small School County Champions and Big North League Champions), we decided to feature a wrestler this month. March’s feature student is senior Mike Worthington. He dedicates a huge amount of time to wrestling, so read on to find out more about both his life on and off the mat!
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?
A: My biggest inspiration is Jordan Burroughs. He is a two-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler for the United States. He really inspired me the most when he won the World Championships only three weeks after breaking his ankle. Watching him train, wrestle, and succeed really inspires me to be like him and work as hard as him.
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: It’s kind of hard to pick one because I really love music. If I really had to pick one, I would probably go with “Let It Go” from the movie “Frozen.” I know it sounds a little strange, but I listen to it before every match and it calms me down and really gets me in the zone.
Q: What is something about you that most people wouldn’t know?
A: Most people wouldn’t necessarily know that I play the guitar. I spend so much of my time focused on wrestling that I don’t really talk to people about it unless I’m pretty close to them.
Q: When and how did you first get involved in wrestling?
A: I first started wrestling when I was in first grade. My dad wrestled for Pascack Hills back in the ‘70s and ‘80s when they were one of the best teams in the state. When he brought me into the room, I wasn’t really the greatest, but I tried it and had fun. It wasn’t until eighth grade that I started taking it seriously and getting a lot better.
Q: How much time do you dedicate to wrestling?
A: Wrestling is one of those sports that take a lot of time to develop, so naturally I usually practice four times a week in the off-season, and try to go to tournaments to get good competition. It’s like it’s not really a sport; it’s more of a lifestyle. More importantly, it’s not just putting in a lot of time; it’s making the most of the time you put in. My club coach likes to say, “Don’t count the days, make the days count.”
Q: What is it that you love most about wrestling?
A: There’s no greater feeling than getting your hand raised after winning a match. It’s the crowning moment where all the hard work pays off. I really enjoy just having fun while I’m on the mat and scoring points because it makes the match more enjoyable. I love looking back at film when I beat a good kid by like 10 points rather than beating a good kid by only two.
Q: Do you get nervous before going onto the mat?
A: Yeah, I get a little nervous after warming up and doing the introductions, but once I put my headphones on I try to put myself in a different atmosphere. That way, when I step on the mat, I look at it as just my opponent and me.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: In 10 years, I see myself out of college, looking to wrestle for the US Olympic team and winning an Olympic Gold Medal.
This or That. Reading or writing? Writing. TV or Internet? Internet. Cookies or chips? Chips. Scarlett Johansson or Mila Kunis? Mila Kunis.
