In the weeks leading up to his matchups at the All New England Championships in wrestling, Catholic Memorial senior Rich Wingert '08 kept to the same schedule that had made him successful all season. The state champion of his weight class (130 pounds) and 2nd runner up in the All-State competition, Rich knew he would have his work cut out for him.
The senior from Hyde Park would rise at 5:30am, then drive to school where he'd run two miles on the track. Early risers on the faculty would often notice him, in the dark, running laps. After his two miles, he'd do a few sprints, then shower and go to school. His hardest course in school each day, Anatomy and Physiology, is also his favorite. After school, Rich would train for an hour with two wrestlers who didn't make the cut for New Englands but who volunteered their time to help--his classmate Giovanni Lopez and junior Demetry Vieux. After sparring with them for a while, working on his situational technique with Coach Bill Hahn, Rich would do some conditioning: jumping jacks, push ups, sit ups, mountain-climbers, and sprints in the gym. "Knowing I would be seeing my name up there as a state champion," he says, "was a good feeling."
Above: State Champion Rich Wingert '08
with his parents, Deborah and Richard Sr.
For dinner? A Lean Cuisine meal and a fruit smoothie. Maybe some after dinner play time with his sisters Rachel and Robyn and brother Robert before a 9:30 bedtime and up the next day at 5:30.
As the first CM student to go to Nationals, which will be held March 28 in Virginia Beach, Va., Rich knows he has to stay disciplined like this. Thanks to a daily regimen like this, he made a good showing at New Englands last month. But his entry to Nationals was assured after his state meet performance. "It was my goal, going into senior year, to get to Nationals," he says, "and when I won the semifinal match at States, I knew I had qualified."
Asked if he is scouting out his competition ahead of time, the other 130-lb. wrestling superstars from other states, before Nationals, Rich replies with a charismatic smile, "I don't familiarize myself with every person, no. All I can do is go into it doing everything I can, and put it all out on the line."
Judging from the way he trains, there's no doubt that Rich Wingert will do just that.
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