From the official Minnesota wrestling website
The Tradition Continues: Sophomore Heavyweight Cole Konrad
January 27, 2005 – When an 18 year old kid accepts a scholarship to wrestle at the University of Minnesota, odds are a redshirt season are in his future. Despite joining the Golden Gophers as a former high school state champion, heavyweight Cole Konrad knew there was a lot he needed to learn before reaching the top. Like many freshmen before him Konrad took his redshirt and although it hurt to not be able to go out there and compete, he knew it was for the best.
“I think the redshirt year is the most important year because it is when you do the most growing. It is hard for anyone to hop right in and wrestle as a true freshman,” Konrad said. The learning process is one of the most important steps for an athlete to take to achieve both individual and team success. It also doesn’t hurt when you are learning from the best.
“During my redshirt year, I was extremely fortunate because we still had (Tim) Hartung around and (Garrett) Lowney was still here training, plus (Jared) Lawrence, (Luke) Becker, and (Ryan) Lewis were still wrestling. We had those guys around to watch and see how they trained which definitely helped me.”
One of his teammates has been particularly more influential in Konrad’s success so far. Former teammate and Golden Gopher Garrett Lowney grew up not more than one mile from Konrad’s childhood home and they have been friends since they were both growing up in Freedom, Wisconsin, located about 20 miles southwest of Green Bay.
“We’ve been friends since we were little kids. We only lived a mile from each other, but he went to a different school. He ended up transferring (to Freedom High School) in his junior year and then I transferred (Freedom) my senior year. Our families have always been real close since we were growing up, going to freestyle tournaments together, ever since I was eight years old,” Konrad said.
However Lowney, a bronze medalist in the 2000 Olympics, went to follow his dream and left the Golden Gophers to train for the 2004 games. “I kind of knew he (Lowney) was going to go back (to Olympic training) so it wasn’t that much of a shock to me, but it still is kind of sad when your friend leaves,” Konrad said.
Although Lowney has been a very successful wrestler, it is Konrad who wants to set his own bar and do something that Lowney never did and that is to win a national title.
“I come into every season with the goal being a national champion and I think this year it is more realistic. I had a chance last year, but I guess I didn’t have the experience wrestling against the better guys. I think last season taught me a lot, because I was wrestling those guys and beating some of them,” Konrad said.
Thus far in his career it seems that he very well may accomplish that goal. Konrad is already ranked second in the nation and boasts a 25-2 record this season and has a 63-12 career total to go along with his 18 career pins. Last year as a redshirt freshman, Konrad was named an All-American after finishing fourth at nationals and has yet to be pinned or give up any bonus points while at Minnesota.
Even with such numbers backing his skill, Konrad knows he can do more. One of his best qualities is his desire to perform well, work hard and be the best every time he steps out onto the mat. Losing is not an option, however, it is those losses that Konrad remembers.
“The records look good on paper, but that’s about it. I don’t ever think about them. I don’t even have a clue what my record is right now, but I know how many losses I have and that’s the only thing that matters to me,” Konrad said.
With all of his talent and desire, Konrad is hungry for more challenges and has aspirations to become an Olympic wrestler like so many Golden Gophers before him. He knows it will be tough, but Konrad’s experiences while trying out for the ’04 Olympics will be invaluable when he tries again for the 2008 Olympic Team.
However to the delight of Gopher fans everywhere, Konrad is here and focused on helping Minnesota win. Now and in the future, Konrad says the sky is the limit. Despite a couple of early season losses, the team finished in third place at last week’s National Duals, a sign that a relatively young team is starting to find its groove. Konrad still feels that this team can accomplish anything it wants to.
“This year’s team is really starting to come together now and I’m real excited after this last weekend. We are all starting to wrestle together as a team, looking for bonus points, looking for everything that can give us an edge. This year we can go as far as we want to. We could win it and I think we have a realistic shot with the way we are all growing right now and with all of the freshmen starting to step it up,” Konrad said.
But it is not only this year’s team that has Konrad excited it is all of the people involved and the abilities he sees in everyone on this team that has him predicting great things for the future.
“Definitely in the future, we are going to start dominating with all of the experience that these guys are getting. Probably in a year or two no one is going to be able to stop us,” Konrad said.
Right now the Golden Gophers are a young team that Konrad feels is as hardworking as he has seen and is getting tougher everyday, but what about that national title?
“I have to beat (Steve) Mocco, but I think I can get him,” Konrad says with smile.
written by Chris Jensen, athletic communications student assistant
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