Catching Up With Andy Simmons
12/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 14, 2004
Dec. 13, 2004
Andy Simmons comes into his sophomore year on the Michigan State wrestling team with aspirations of a National Championship, no exceptions, no excuses. The Williamston, Mich., native finished last season with 33-11 record, and is already 14-0 with eight falls early in the 2004-05 campaign. He has won titles this season at the Muskegon Open, the MSU Open and the North Carolina Open, and is currently ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation.
What are your personal goals for this year?
I want to win an NCAA Championship, anything less will be a failure.
What will it be like for you to be wrestling next to your brother in Big Ten competition for the first time since high school?
It is really nice to see him back on the team with me, but even when he was taking the Olympic redshirt we were working out together and watching each other wrestle. It is just really cool to see him in the lineup again.
Are there any opponents you most looking forward to facing this year?
No, not really, hopefully they will all be looking to face me. I am not really worried about facing anyone. If I go out and wrestle like I know I am capable of doing, I strongly believe I can beat everyone I face.
Who has been your biggest wrestling influence?
Probably my dad; he has been working with us since we were little kids and he got us involved in the sport.
What does it mean to you to be named a co-captain for this season?
It is definitely an honor to be named captain by my team. Hopefully, I can get these guys motivated and on the same page. I think that is why I was selected, because I can really get the team fired up.
What will this team do to improve on last year's disappointing season?
As a team, we are working much harder than we did last year. Plus, our mentality has changed. Instead of just struggling to hold on for a victory, we are going to continue to attack and go for the kill if at all possible. From a personal standpoint, I was disappointed that I came one match from All-American honors and didn't get a medal. That was just more motivation for me to go out there and try to win an NCAA title this year.
How will your international experience the past two summers help you against your collegiate opponents?
From a college standpoint, I have been lucky enough to train with some of the best wrestlers and coaches in the world, like when I go to the Olympic Training Center and get to work out with those guys. It is always good to change it up a little bit and wrestle against different people and get a different look because it keeps things fresh. As far as the competitions go, it really makes you appreciate living in the United States.
What did you work on the most in the off season to prepare for your sophomore year?
I did a lot of lifting and running. I just trained hard like I always do, trying to out-train all of my opponents.
Players Mentioned
