Chris Diehl's Rookie Diary: Entry #2
12/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
CHRIS DIEHL'S ROOKIE DIARY
Entry #2: Monday, December 18
With his first college semester winding down and the holiday break on the horizon, Chris discusses his season so far, the competitive nature in the Wolverine wrestling room and his adjustment to the academic rigors of the University of Michigan.
I think we're doing pretty well as a team right now, but I also think that some people, myself included, need to step up and take on a bigger role. We lost that Central Michigan dual meet a week ago because I didn't go out and perform to my highest potential. I just think I could be doing a lot better than I've shown so far this season. I need to work harder in those areas that I'm struggling and just keep work on getting better every day.
Losing is like getting your heart ripped out and stomped on. That's what it feels like. I went from losing only five matches throughout my entire high school career to losing five matches within the first month of wrestling here at college. You can get down on yourself at times, but you need to step back and realize how much better the competition is. You're not facing kids that barely know how to wrestle; you're wrestling kids who were state champions and national champions. Every match is like that. There's no break. That's probably one of the biggest differences.
I've learned that it is a process. I'll watch my tapes, and, rather then dwell on the loss, I look at what I can work on and why I lost. That motivates me, because I'll learn not to make those mistakes again. Losing is terrible, but you have to take something positive away from that experience.
Right now I'm working on my single-leg defense because I always go to my last defense rather than sprawling right out, pushing his head underneath and going behind. I just bring him right up to his feet and try to break the lock. I also need to work on my intensity in the room. I want to create more movement. I tend to walk straight into my opponent. I need to start doing more fakes and banging and set up my shots better.
I'm definitely still working on my top and bottom technique. In high school, you really could just stand up because nobody would give you any pressure at all. Here, people are just jackhammers on top of you, and if you don't work hard to get up, you won't be getting up; you're just going to lay there. I think I've gotten better over the last couple months. I'm not getting stuck on bottom quite as long, and I'm not getting turned as often, unless I'm wrestling Josh Churella, whose legs are just brutal.
I train with several different guys in the room, anyone from 125 to 149 pounds, and I can definitely learn different things from each of them. Mark Moos, like a lot of guys at 125, is a great scrambler. If I can keep up with him in a scramble, I can keep up with anybody. I've never seen a wrestler go from his back to turning an opponent to his and then back to his own back again and repeat the process. Churella is fast and strong -- a lot stronger than I am. Being overpowered is something you need to learn how to overcome. He has amazing technique. When he's in on his shots, you have to really be tough to stop them, which really doesn't happen very often.
Diehl (right) studying for his statistics final with teammate Josh Churella.
Outside of wrestling, the academic transition has been challenging. In high school, I never remember having to bring work home except for larger projects, and it was pretty easy for me; it kind of came naturally. But here, we have so much homework and reading every night, and I actually have to work really hard to get decent grades. My goal is to get up to a 4.0 GPA. That would make my mom really proud.
We have study table Monday through Thursday at the academic center, which is a really nice place. Monday isn't the best day to get work done though, because there are about 800 kids here and there's no room. I don't know why, but everyone seems to want to yell. Thursdays are great. Nobody is here and you can get tons of stuff done. I'm in the sport management program right now, taking statistics, a writing class, public speaking and a sport and sociology class. Math comes easier for me, so I probably like statistics the best. I'm looking to move into the organizational studies program because I see it presenting better career opportunities.
I'm not terribly nervous for final exams because I've really been studying hard, and I'm pretty confident. I've been going to class, and I understand the material. I haven't taken one yet though, so I guess we'll see. I did step on that 'M' in the diag though, so if I have a blue book, I might be in trouble. I'm really superstitious. If I have a blue book, I may not even show up.
I'm really excited to get back home for the holidays. It will give me a chance to see my family and spend some time with them. It'll also give me a chance to work out with some guys at Davison, where I've spent a lot of time over the last eight years. It will bring me back to where it used to be for me, and, going back to the place that I started, I think I'll be able to regroup a bit.
Note: Chris Diehl's Rookie Diary appears in The Riding Times: an inside look at U-M wrestling.
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