Illinois' Mike Poeta

Mike Poeta is currently the number one ranked 157lber in the nation after his impressive performance at the Las Vegas Invitational. Poeta was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler and Co-Big 10 Wrestler of the Week, after winning a loaded weight class.  In 2007, Poeta was a 3rd place finisher at the NCAA tournament, losing only to the eventual National Champ, Travis Paulson. 

D1CW: Recently at Las Vegas you were named the outstanding wrestler. You defeated two All-Americans, one of which was NCAA champ Gregor Gillespie.  What do wins like that, early in the season. do to you mentally?

Mike Poeta: I think my mind frame has stayed the same, because going in I knew I could beat both of them. For a tournament like Las Vegas, you go into it to win, but in the long run it really means nothing compared to NCAAs.

D1CW: In November you were selected to compete in the NWCA All-Star Match against NCAA runner-up Craig Henning. You won the match by pin in the opening period, during a scramble for a takedown. Going into the match did you know that Henning frequently gets into those positions and was vulnerable, or did the fall "just happen"?

MP: I knew that Henning’s a guy that wants you in on his legs; that’s where he’s best. For me, I couldn’t have a better guy to train against that day in and day out than former All-American Alex Tirapelle. There isn’t anybody out there better than Alex in those types of situations and he’s such a great guy to have available.

D1CW: Tell us what it is like competing in the Big Ten in a weight class that is so competitive...

MP: The Big Ten is a grind in every weight. You have to be on top of your game every week.

D1CW: In the off-season, was there anything that you wanted to focus on improving or changing for this season?

MP: The main thing I focused on is getting rid of any "hold-back" I have. I really stressed staying on the offensive and constantly trying to score from every position.

D1CW: Your freshman campaign was up a weight class at 165, how difficult was that year?

MP: It wasn’t any more difficult than any other year. Wrestling at 165 was the best situation for the team and I didn’t pout or complain about it. I just focused on getting myself ready to beat anyone at that weight.

D1CW: What is your outlook for this year’s University of Illinois team?

MP:  It’s as positive as ever. My teammates and I just did everything right this summer. For the most part, we all stayed in Champaign for the summer, with the exception of Patrick Bond constantly going to the Olympic Training Center and Jimmy Kennedy working out with guys training for the World Team Trials up in Naperville. A lot of guys did everything to put themselves in a situation to compete with the best in the country.

D1CW: Coming out of high school, why did you choose to attend Illinois?

MP: There were a lot of reasons. You’re not going to find a coaching staff that cares more about their wrestlers than ours at Illinois. Illinois has a tradition of getting national champions in the middle weights, and both my high school coaches wrestled at Illinois. I knew throughout high school and the recruiting process that I was going to come here.

D1CW: When and why did you start wrestling?

MP: My dad ran the kids wrestling program in Highland Park. I started when I was five years old and it was just something I was really into.

D1CW: Thanks Mike!!!!