Photo Courtesy of All-Pro Photograpy by Dale Sparks

                                West Virginia's Brandon Rader

The 2008-09 season will mark the return of West Virginia's 2x All-American Brandon Rader.  A knee injury ruined last season for Rader, the only wrestler in the history of the WVU program to earn All-American status as a true freshman.  D1CW, like many wrestling fans, is eager to see Brandon back on the mat competing for a national title.

D1CW: You missed almost all of last season with a knee injury, how are you coming along and when will we see you on the mat?

Brandon Rader: As for my recovery, everything is going as planned.  I was out for almost nine months.  It looks like I will be back competing in January.

D1CW: How hard has the time away from the mat been?  I would assume it has been the longest you have been away from the mat...

BR: Yes, this has been the longest I've been away from the mat.  It's been very hard not to wrestle, but I've tried hard to stay positive.  One positive is that it has given the rest of my body time to recover.

D1CW: Is there anything that you have learned from your time off of the mat?

BR: I've learned to be patient with my recovery and rehab.  It was also a transition for me watching my teammates.  I got to see things from a spectator's point of view.

D1CW: What do you hope to accomplish this season?

BR: Just a national title!

D1CW: What are your thoughts on the West Virginia team this season?

BR: We are looking very good.  There will be some young guys filling positions, but I think they will fill them well.

D1CW: You came straight out of high school and earned All-American honors as a true freshman.  What prepared you for the immediate success you have had at the collegiate level?

BR: I would say that I am a self-motivated person and I am always working hard.  There have been a lot of positive people that are around me and that helps. I took a lot from my experiences in high school, competing at the big National tournaments.

D1CW: How would you describe yourself as a wrestler or your style of wrestling?

BR: Aggresive.  I don't stand around waiting for my opponent to score.  I always like to go out and score first then work from there.

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

BR: First of all, it is my home state and they had a good wrestling program.

D1CW: When did you begin wrestling and why?

BR: I started when I was 4.  My older brother had started the year before me.

D1CW: Thanks Brandon and good luck!