From the Northwest Indiana Times, serving Alex Tsirtsis’ hometown of Griffith, IN
The ups and (take)downs
Griffith’s Tsirtsis learning on the fly at Iowa
BY BRIAN WADDLE
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219.933.4191
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Saturday, January 1, 2005 2:12 AM CST
COLLEGE WRESTLING
To be the best you have to beat the best.
Opponents facing Alex Tsirtsis learned that in high school. Now Tsirtsis is learning that in college.
The Griffith phenom knows his 236-0 prep record and four state titles mean little on the mat these days.
Now the University of Iowa freshman is learning how to become a great college wrestler. He knows it’s going to take time — and a lot of hard work.
While Tsirtsis was never really pushed to the limit in high school, he’s finding out it’s a different animal on the college level. The 2004 Times Indiana Male Athlete of the Year won his first six collegiate matches, but lost his seventh to Iowa State junior Nate Gallick, the nation’s top-ranked 141-pounder, in a dual meet in early December. Tsirtsis fell 2-1 in overtime.
“I didn’t take it too well, “Tsirtsis said of the loss. “It was really tough. But it does take a little of the pressure off at the same time.
“My main goal is still to win it (an NCAA championship) at the end of the season. It shows I’m right there with the (top) guys. I just have to take those actual steps to be at the top.”
Tsirtsis ran into Gallick again Thursday in the championship semifinals of the 2004 Midlands. He lost 3-2 in double overtime, dropped his next two matches and finished sixth.
“He’s progressing. He’s done real well for us and he’s faced some good competition, “Iowa coach Jim Zalesky said. “He’s still adjusting to the college level, but he’s going to get there.
“I think he dealt with the (losses) the right way. I think he’s learned from them. He wants to be great — and that’s the main thing. He has high goals and has the work ethic to reach those goals.”
Tsirtsis is one of five true freshmen in the starting lineup at Iowa. He says it’s a big change from his days in high school, when a huge crowd could only be found at the state finals. Now he’s dealing with 12,000 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena every home meet.
“I knew the training would be intense, but I was ready for it, “Tsirtsis said. “I’ve prepared my whole life for this. I have great coaches and workout partners who push me every day.”
It didn’t take long for Tsirtsis to adjust, either. He said he loves the school and everything about it. Wrestling in Iowa is like basketball in Indiana — it’s king.
As a young boy in Griffith he trained in his basement with posters of legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable hanging everywhere, dreaming of wrestling one day for the Hawkeyes.
Now he’s a part of one of the nation’s top programs, trying to become one of its best
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