WHO’S NEXT? USAW STAR OF THE FUTURE Whitford making impact
High school senior wins loaded weight class to earn OW award in FILA Junior Nationals freestyle tournament in Las Vegas
By Meagan Templeton-Lynch LAS VEGAS - High school senior Ben
Whitford beat the odds in a stacked bracket at the FILA Junior National Championships on April 20. Whitford took first place at 60 kg/132.25 lbs. and the title of Outstanding Wrestler in men’s freestyle wrestling, hav- ing gone up against six older wrestlers, including 2012 champion Mark Grey. “The bracket I had was a great, and guys were telling me all week how tough and loaded that bracket was,” said Whitford, 18, who is from St. Johns, Mich. “I was excited to wrestle in it. Winning it was great, and getting OW was just icing on the cake. I knew I put on a good per- formance.”
Next for Whitford is the FILA Junior
World Team Trials in Stillwater, Okla. in June, where he will be in the finals with the winner of the challenge tournament. “I’m first on the ladder, so everyone knows who they’re going to wrestle if they make it to the finals,” he said. “I have to really focus up and work on what I need to really fix and change before that tournament comes.” No matter who he’s going to be matched against in the finals, Whitford’s strategy is the same. The “mental game” in wrestling is huge for Whitford. “Always being ready and never being afraid of who you’re going up against on the mat, whether it’s the number one wrestler in the country or some guy you’ve never heard of [is vital],” Whitford said. “You have to take it the same way – that you’re going to beat them and you’re going to beat them good.” Getting ready mentally for competition is so important to Whitford, he is planning to pursue a career in sports psychology. “I’ve had teammates before and they lose because they’re timid in their wrestling,” he said. “I can’t stand that. I can’t stand that you’re going to let some- one decide your match because you
30 USA Wrestler
Ben Whitford fires in on a leg attack during his FILA Junior Nationals freestyle finals win over Jimmy Gulibon at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Whitford plans to compete for the University of Michigan. Tony Rotundo photo.
don’t want to pull the trigger, because you’re afraid to win. I just want to help them realize what they can do, because they have the potential they just don’t want to go get it.”
Before he pursues sports psychology, though, he will focus on his wrestling career. He hopes to make it to the top of the podium at the Olympic and World level.
With plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall and wrestle as a Wolverine, Whitford said he is most look- ing forward to joining the team there. “I definitely want to make All-American all four years and win a couple NCAA titles,” Whitford said of his upcoming col- legiate wrestling career. “I’m excited to see the guys that are coming in. “Hopefully, we will have a run for a national title.” Whitford chose Michigan for its great coaching staff, including a former coach, Sean Bormet, and his teammates that will be joining him there. His friends, he said,
are one of the greatest parts about wrestling.
“I have a couple teammates that are coming with me next year,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of good people through this sport, a lot of good friends. I get to travel a lot, so I meet a lot of people. I get to wrestle good opponents and I’ve made good friends along the way.” Along with friends, Whitford gives a lot of credit for his success to his family and their unconditional support. Whitford’s father, a former wrestler, signed him up for wrestling at the age of four and has been there for him ever since. “He’s always been the one to push me, always the one that’s been right there by my side when I had to cut weight or needed to go work out,” Whitford said. “They’ve definitely been there through thick and thin for me, through everything. I want to be the best, so they’re always there to remind me what I have to do day-in and day-out to do that.”
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