Takedown Report

Head coach John Stutzman brings toughness, winning culture to U. of Buffalo’s program

The only fun thing about wrestling is getting your hand raised, according to UB head wrestling coach John Stutzman. However, after Stutzman’s first match in the seventh grade, his opponent had his hand raised. After losing the match, Stutzman went home crying.
His mom responded with a pointed message: “Toughen up. If you don’t like it, go be a swimmer.”
He knew he had to toughen up. “Then I got my hand raised and I was like ‘Oh man this is the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life,’” Stutzman said. Stutzman became UB’s head coach in 2013 and has brought a winning culture and toughness to the program. His cauliflower ear may be his most defining characteristic. Life has always revolved around wrestling for Stutzman and he has instilled that same passion into his young UB wrestlers. “I think I’m a better person because of him,” said sophomore Brett Perry. “He always tells us to do the right thing, just to be a better person, just being tougher and to not let things bother you. The culture he’s helped create has made me a better person and a better wrestler.” Stutzman wrestled at UB in the ’90s and made it his goal to one day become Buffalo’s head coach and raise the program into a national powerhouse. “I sat here in 1995, somebody asked me what my goal was. I told them that I was going to be the next head coach for the University at Buffalo,” Stutzman said. Rest of story at … http://www.ubspectrum.com/article/2016/11/true-grit?mc_cid=41493a56b7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 31, 2016 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized