The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/535299
JULY 2015 ■ 125 "It makes them foolish if they're not willing to outwork him," he added. "This sport is like that. If you're not willing to outwork guys that are better than you then you're not going to beat them. Nick sets the bar high, and there are other guys that see what he's doing and how he's doing it. "They don't have to out-accomplish him, but they have to follow his lead." Gwiazdowski is far from satisfied. The summer competitions against the best the U.S. has to offer keep him hungry — he took fourth at the U.S. World Team Trials for the third straight year, which is one spot away from qualifying for the National team — and he still has goals to accomplish at the college level. Next season, the big man will try to become just the second heavyweight to ever win a trio of NCAA titles, and the final event comes in his home state. Pitt- Johnstown's Carlton Haselrig — who went on to become a Pro Bowl offensive guard, despite never playing collegiate football — is the only member of the three-timer club. Gwiazdowski has been the underdog that knocked off the two-time defending champion — that was how he won his first NCAA crown — and he doesn't plan to have that experience. "He knows what he needs to do to win a national title next year," Popolizio said. "He knows guys are training to beat Nick Gwiazdowski. "When you're out in front, as long as you keep running, it's hard for guys to catch you. That's what he's doing right now." Gwiazdowski has accomplished feats no NCSU grappler ever has before, and he's already working to ensure more history is written next season. ■ 403 S. Broad Street, Edenton, NC 866 360 5222 6385 N. Croatan Hwy, Suite 105, Kitty Hawk, NC 800 488 3041 www.vogedesinsurance.com Vogedes InsuranceAgency, Inc. 6345 North Croatan Highway #200 Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 800•488•3041 Gwiazdowski became the first Wolfpack grap- pler to win a pair of national championships, and only the third in Atlantic Coast Confer- ence history. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP