If hard work equals success as they say, it should come as no surprise that a guy voted team's hardest worker three times is eyeing his third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Despite being one of the lightest wrestlers on the team, Anthony Carrizales and his 133-pound frame would catch the eye of any who pass him by. A frame that is built on the foundation of his work ethic, it is responsible for a team-record 51 pull-ups, only a microcosm of his philosophy.
Some guys just take things a little bit slower; It generally takes them a little longer to get warmed up
teammate and wrestling partner Jon Spires (141) said. He comes in and from start to finish goes hard. Whether it's a warm-up or a cool down
it just seems like he comes in
and he's ready to go.
What sets him apart from the rest of the team, coach Joel Greenlee said, is his time, dedication and desire to succeed.
Everybody is gone
and he's still in here
and he'll be in here for another 20 minutes
Greenlee said. He comes in a lot in the mornings by himself or with another guy and gets a drill in
and those are the things that make a huge difference.
And that is the way it always has been for Carrizales, Greenlee said.
Coming from a family where everything did not always come easy, Carrizales said his father George was born into migrant work, having to hold a job before the age 10. Even after the family was able to settle in Ohio, it was only through hard work that his father could afford any commodities at all.
My dad's pretty cut and dry
Anthony said. When I was growing up
I can't complain at all. I always had it really good. At the same time
