Edinboro's Gregor Gillespie  (Photos by Edinboro Athletic Dept.)

Gregor Gillespie, the nation's top ranked 157lber, hasn't missed a beat after winning an NCAA title in 2007 as a sophomore.  Gillespie is 28-2 this season and recently won his 100th career match.  He also was honored as the EWL Wrestler of the Week for the third time in 2007-08.  Gregor and the Fighting Scot's will be in action this Friday, taking on conference rival West Virginia.  The native of Webster, New York recently spoke with D1CW....

D1CW:  Gregor, lets talk about how your season has gone so far...

Gregor Gillespie: I would have to say that I'm right on track.  There have been a few bumps in the road so far, but nothing unexpected.  I've lost two matches, one to (Mike) Poeta and the other to CP Schlatter.  Those are two of the top guys, things like that happen.  It not fun losing, but in this sport it happens.  Most guys have at least a loss or two at this point of the season.  Anyways, I'm feeling good and I'm right where I want to be.

D1CW: This season you bumped up a weight class, from 149lbs to 157lbs.  Have you noticed any difference in yourself or your opponents?

GG: The move has allowed me to keep my strength up.  I was cutting a lot of weight last season, getting down to 149.  This year I'm also having more fun.  When you don't have to worry about cutting weight you get to enjoy things more.  Last year, at times I felt like I was a "slave to the scale".  As far as my opponents, I don't see a difference in them, they weigh 157 too.

D1CW: You won an NCAA title last season.  How has it been, as the guy that everyone shoots for, opposed to just being a guy trying to win a title?

GG: I try to forget about it all.  I'm training the same way as I have in the past.  I think that if I were undefeated there may be more pressure.  Coach Flynn doesn't give anyone special treatment, he'll make sure that I am working hard and doing what I need to do.  I just want to wrestle my style and that is "going after people", regardless of anything else.  I think I've done a pretty good job of maintaining that attitude. 

D1CW: Lets go back to last seasons NCAA Semi-Final victory over Dustin Schlatter.  You were a big underdog going into the match.  What was you mindset?

GG: I knew that people were overlooking me, and it didn't matter to me who I was going to wrestle.  It's the NCAA's, everyone is going to be tough.  I remember at the end of my freshman season at NCAA's, Coach Flynn took me aside and told me "Next year you are going to be the guy to beat. Next year you will be on the top of the stand".  He truly beileved that and so did I.  In my mind I'm always the best guy out there, it just that attitude that you have to have to win.

D1CW: You've developed a reputation for being one of the best wrestlers from the top position.  What does it take to be "tough on top"?

GG: I really can't give you a formula or one particular reason.  I have always been very comfortable on top.  I'll don't mind choosing to go on top.  I guess it is something natural.  It seems natural to me to keep the pressure on after you get a takedown.  In practice I am always wrestling from top.  You won't see me just keep trying to take my guy down then let him up.

D1CW: You are one of those rare guys who was able to earn All-American honors as a true freshman.  What prepared you to do so?

GG: Just being in the Edinboro room. I don't think that I would have been as successful at another school.  At the time there were a lot of older guys in the room.  They helped toughen me up.  The coaching staff as well.  All of those things together helped prepare me.

D1CW: Coming out of high school, why did you choose Edinboro?

GG: First of all, it is only three hours from home. My parents can get to all of the home matches, that was a big plus.  Also, if we have a day or two off I can get home easily.  The school itself is very small, there aren't many distractions like you may have at one of the bigger schools.  The coaching staff here is great and it helped that the team had success prior to me coming here. 

D1CW: When and why did you begin wrestling?

GG: I started when I was like 4 or 5.  My dad wrestled in high school and college, so he got me into the sport.  We had a mat in the basement, something like 22'x 24', a couple of Airdyne bikes, and padded walls.  He coached me in pee-wee's and unoffically through middle and high school.  When I got into high school he was my workout partner.  Overall, he's been my biggest influence in wrestling.

D1CW: Thanks Gregor and good luck...