|
|
|
Glen Ellyn, IL —
Tony Ramos bio
HOMETOWN Carol Stream
HIGH SCHOOL Glenbard North
COLLEGE Iowa
HEIGHT 5-foot-4
WEIGHT 133 pounds
YEAR Redshirt sophomore
MAJOR Science education
Widely recognized as one of the top high school wrestlers to ever come through the state of Illinois, Tony Ramos won three individual state championships as an athlete at Glenbard North. His first title came as a sophomore at 112 pounds in 2007 and was followed by a pair of first-place finishes at 125.
Three years later, Ramos now finds himself competing for the national powerhouse University of Iowa. After redshirting as a freshman, he went 25-6 last season at 133 pounds and currently owns a mark of 21-2 this winter. He has been named Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week twice already this season.
How special is it to be wrestling at a program like Iowa, which has such a great tradition in the sport?
It is really exciting. For me it’s big but also for my family to see that everything they helped me work for in my life has come to be. And it’s big for my high school coaches, Mark Hahn and Jeff Edwards, definitely one of their goals was to get someone to a big-time program like Iowa.
How did the transition from high school wrestling to college wrestling go for you?
One of the biggest things, you are expected to do a lot of things on your own like lifting and coming in and getting your drills in. Also school is a lot different. Teachers don’t care if you are not there; you have to get to class and keep your grades up. Somebody isn’t always breathing down your back.
What are the biggest differences between wrestling in high school and wrestling in college?
In college, every match you have to be ready to go. There are no off matches, everybody is tough and everybody is there for the same reason. In high school, sometimes you’d get kids that were there just to fill spots. Here you have to be prepared for every match.
Even though you weren’t directly a part of it, how special was it when you heard that Glenbard North won its first-ever wrestling state title last year?
I was real excited for them. That is something that Coach Hahn has been trying to get for 25 years; that’s a long time. It is exciting when you hear things like that. He earned it. I know a lot of people say he deserved it but he worked hard for it. He made it happen.
Tony Ramos bio
HOMETOWN Carol Stream
HIGH SCHOOL Glenbard North
COLLEGE Iowa
HEIGHT 5-foot-4
WEIGHT 133 pounds
YEAR Redshirt sophomore
MAJOR Science education
Widely recognized as one of the top high school wrestlers to ever come through the state of Illinois, Tony Ramos won three individual state championships as an athlete at Glenbard North. His first title came as a sophomore at 112 pounds in 2007 and was followed by a pair of first-place finishes at 125.
Three years later, Ramos now finds himself competing for the national powerhouse University of Iowa. After redshirting as a freshman, he went 25-6 last season at 133 pounds and currently owns a mark of 21-2 this winter. He has been named Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week twice already this season.
How special is it to be wrestling at a program like Iowa, which has such a great tradition in the sport?
It is really exciting. For me it’s big but also for my family to see that everything they helped me work for in my life has come to be. And it’s big for my high school coaches, Mark Hahn and Jeff Edwards, definitely one of their goals was to get someone to a big-time program like Iowa.
How did the transition from high school wrestling to college wrestling go for you?
One of the biggest things, you are expected to do a lot of things on your own like lifting and coming in and getting your drills in. Also school is a lot different. Teachers don’t care if you are not there; you have to get to class and keep your grades up. Somebody isn’t always breathing down your back.
What are the biggest differences between wrestling in high school and wrestling in college?
In college, every match you have to be ready to go. There are no off matches, everybody is tough and everybody is there for the same reason. In high school, sometimes you’d get kids that were there just to fill spots. Here you have to be prepared for every match.
Even though you weren’t directly a part of it, how special was it when you heard that Glenbard North won its first-ever wrestling state title last year?
I was real excited for them. That is something that Coach Hahn has been trying to get for 25 years; that’s a long time. It is exciting when you hear things like that. He earned it. I know a lot of people say he deserved it but he worked hard for it. He made it happen.
As you have moved up a few weight classes since being a freshman in high school, any major changes you’ve noticed?
I don’t think there is really much of a difference. At those weight classes, everything is quick, fast-paced and exciting. You have to go in with the mentality that you want to rip the other person’s head off. It doesn’t matter who is across from you, you have to do what you can do.
Do you have to stay disciplined all year long to keep your weight in check?
That’s another thing different with college, you can’t let your weight spiral out of control like high school and then cut 12 pounds. It’s something you have to keep under control and focus on and it’s something you are working on all year long.
How has the season gone thus far for you and any individual goals for the rest of the year?
I’ve had some big wins but also a couple of losses that have trumped a lot of things going on. Now I’m focusing on being where I want to be come March. The ultimate goal is always a national title. That’s my goal and where I want to be and I won’t be happy until I get there.
