Athlete name: Cooper Moore  Athlete year: Sophomore    Athlete sport: Wrestling

NI:  Personal background:

CM: Jackson, Minnesota. Moved there in 4 grade, lived in Oklahoma and Colorado before that. One of seven children.

NI: Determining factor to come to UNI

CM: I mean really, to tell you the truth, my determining factor was where I could grow my faith—and that was the number one thing. It wasn’t school, it wasn’t wrestling, my faith was the number one choice in my decision. I wanted to go to a place where I could be a rock for God, and I remember saying that through high school and I thought that UNI was the best place to do that.

NI: What campus ministry are you involved in?

CM: A wrestling Bible study, but we do a lot of things with the Navigators. Ken Clingman has always had a foothold with the wrestling team, and he got stuff started and got us affiliated with the Navigators.

NI: How has your faith impacted wrestling in general, and is there anything you’d like to add with that?”

CM: Before I got to college, I thought I had a strong relationship with God, but when I got here I truly found Him. Because we develop our own way of thinking here at college, and I really had to rely on Him to be my source of everything in my life. Also, with wrestling, just knowing my identity is in Christ and not my sport or my outcome, I think that also eliminates a lot of stress for me, allowing me to enjoy the sport and have fun. So, overall, my faith has been impacted to utilize my God in all aspects of my life, and to rely on Him through everything. And especially with wrestling, my job, and school, it can get very busy during the season. And knowing and relating back to Him, I can always go back to Him to have power, and know that He’s not going to put anything on me more than I can bear. He definitely has become closer to me since I came here.

NI: What kind of work have you put in to earn this spot, and not even this year necessarily, but over the course of high school and probably starting way earlier than that. What are some of the key things that you have put into the sport that have determined your success?

CM: I think year round wresting; not just folk style, but free style and greco in the summer. Doing that ever since I was in junior high through high school really helped me jump levels and accomplish what I wanted, to be a state champ in Minnesota. And, after that, I wanted more, so I was looking to be a starter on someone’s team. And I think just that goal, and working for that really set my mind to it—really helped shape me into who I am right now.

NI: What are some goals you have for this year’s season, or a match that may be a little more difficult that you are anticipating?

CM: There are several matches that come to my mind, but one tournament is the Cliff Keen invite in Las Vegas. I really want to compete well in that, there are a lot of good guys in my weight there, and that’s a huge step to me in getting ready for the NCAA tournament. There’s going to be a lot of top ten guys there, top fifteen, and that’s where I really can step up and set my foundation there. So, I just need to get myself ready for the NCAA tournament. So I’m really looking forward to that tournament. I’m also looking forward to the MAC tournament as well, trying to win that tournament again.

NI: How do you plan to reach those goals?

CM: Definitely being on top of my weight. And just making sure I’m ready to compete when I step out on the mat. Just last weekend I lost a match because I wasn’t ready to compete, I overlooked it I guess you could say. I have to be ready to compete against anybody, even if it’s the number one ranked guy, or even if he’s not ranked, I have to treat everybody the same and really focus in and get my mind set. 

NI:  How do parents feel about your success?

CM:  When I started looking at colleges, they really wanted me to look around and make sure that my heart wanted to go to that place; so they’ve been very supportive in every choice that I’ve made. Just with the success that I’ve had, you know, win or lose, they’re always supportive, and always joyful. They’re loving parents, I’m thankful to have them. They understand the sport in itself, so.

NI: Support system, mentioned your parents playing a huge role.

CM: They do play a huge role for me. If anything goes wrong, I can always go back to my dad. He was an athlete himself so he understands. He’s coached me in multiple sports, not just wrestling, and he is a great source of wisdom for me. And it’s always nice to have the comfort of your mom, too. And other support is other wrestlers in itself, our team is a huge family; when one of us has problems or gets done, someone is always there to pick you up. And you have thirty eight brothers to rely on, not just your parents or coach.

NI: Biggest support of those people, would you say your dad?

CM: Yeah, I’d say my dad. Definitely my dad. What he has instilled in me, just the way I have learned from him

NI: About how many hours per week do you put into school and extra-curricular activities during wrestling sport season?

CM: Outside of wrestling I’m involved with a couple ministry deals, including the bible study; and then I’m also involved with FCA, but just those things.

NI: Do you have a job outside of school and wrestling? If so, what is it, how much work do you put into it? 

CM: Yeah, I do some construction, some shingling, but most of the time I focus on the training in the summer. I’ll do a wrestling camp here and there, but mostly focus on my training. Not too much work. And I’m fortunate for having that opportunity too, not being able to work.

NI: How do you manage your time?

CM: You definitely have to plan things out, really set your schedule. That’s one of the things college has taught me, is managing your time well. You’re going to have things that are going to stack up on each other, and you have to schedule things around your training. So that’s been a well-learned process for me. And yeah, being on top of things, making sure you have things written down has been a big key for me and has helped me stay organized.

NI: What are you looking forward to the most this season? Maybe a match or something else?

CM: I’m definitely eager to get back in the NCAA tournament. That’s something for me that did not sit well last year with my performance there. It really ate at me throughout the year, through my [offseason] training. It’s just something I want to get back to and perform well at; and to be on top of that podium because I know I can win it.

NI: The least?

CM: I think the least thing everyone doesn’t like is the weight cut, it’s grueling. It’s just hard mentally, throughout a five month process. But, I’ve done the necessary things to handle it better than I did last year.

NI: So with that, what things are you saying you have done better to handle that?

CM: I mean, my weight was one of the main goals going though the off season, just controlling it better. So, just the way I worked out was different, compared to guys who were trying to gain weight. And then my diet as well, that was a big key; probably the most significant key throughout the off season. As I started changing my diet in July, I was ten pounds lighter than I was the year before. [My diet] made it completely easier, and made a huge difference in the way I feel.

NI: What do you think students/fans are looking forward to the most this season?

CM: I think they’re looking forward to seeing us compete in the West Gym, because that is just a great environment—a fun environment. You know, it gets packed in there, it gets hot. We love wrestling in there. They want to see us have success, especially, the people that know how hard we work for it, they want to see us have success. I think [the fans] are looking forward to [the season] just as much as we are, if not more.

NI: Favorite place on campus? Off campus? 

CM: Favorite place on campus? I come to Union a bunch, it’s a good meeting place, you get to see a lot of different people. It’s a good feel. Favorite place off campus? I don’t know, probably Texas Roadhouse or something. Somewhere I can go eat and stuff my face.

NI: What are works-outs for wrestling like? (hours, favorite work-out and least favorite)

CM: I guess during season, you start wrestling a lot more, kind of tapering off from the lifting. I definitely like to wrestle live. There’s a practice we have, we scrap; we call it ‘scrap day’. So it’s nice to have those days and those are probably my favorite days. Even though they are tough, and challenging, it’s a day where you can get better and can feel yourself getting better. My least favorite workout is the lifts we do. They can be very intense and grueling; but it’s all a part of training and it is all well worth it.

NI: What aspect of this sport comes easiest to you? Hardest? Why/ How do you deal with the hardest?

CM: I guess what comes easiest thing is not worrying too much mentally, and being relaxed really trying to have fun with the sport. But I guess the hardest thing too is the opposite—fighting doubts and negativity. We all have mental battles and we have to learn to overcome them.

NI: How do you de-stress?

CM: The sport is very stressful in itself, but for me right now its just knowing and having confidence in what I worked for, and knowing that takes the stress off a lot.  And knowing that I am going to compete to my fullest ability is absolutely enough. That eliminates a lot of stress, and any doubts really, just being confident in my training and confident in myself that I am able to compete hard and be able to win.

NI: Is this season going to be rewarding? If so, in what ways? If not, why?

CM: I know this season is going to be rewarding, just from the jumps that I made from last year to this year. And from what I’ve put in with my training, I know it’s going to be rewarding—and I’m looking forward to it. My mental aspect is completely different from last year, and I just feel stronger. It’s hard to describe, but you kind of know. You know what levels you’ve reached and you know what boundaries you’ve broken.

NI: Funny story about yourself (can include wrestling, doesn’t have to)

CM: Last year, we were traveling, and I lost this game, and I had to do a dare. We were at Dallas Fort Worth airport; and my dare was, I had to wear my underwear outside my pants, have a cape, and I had to run through ten terminals yelling ‘I’m Red Lighting,’ because I have red hair. It got people on their phones taking pictures of me, and I had to scream it repetitively. I’ll never forget that one.