• 11 months ago
Aiden Riggins Interview
Transcript
00:00 Questions for Aiden Riggins?
00:02 Aiden, your move to 184, was that a project of you approaching the coaches saying that you were willing to make the move, or did they come to you saying we have a need to move up?
00:16 I'd say a little bit of both. Obviously we need someone to wrestle there and step up, and also I feel I can be the man there as long as I'm doing my job and controlling what I can control and making sure I'm fixing areas where I need to get better and doing those things.
00:34 So as long as I'm doing that and as long as I'm getting better, then I can fill that once I'm getting better there.
00:43 What would you say, with perfect circumstances, what would be your natural weight and what do you normally weigh in when you have a duel at 184?
00:53 Perfect circumstances, I'd like to cut a little bit to get to 184 because that would be ideal, making sure I'm strong and outweighed. But just building right now, making sure I'm lifting, getting my lifts in, getting stronger.
01:10 As long as I'm focusing on my technique too, making sure I'm fixing areas where I can control and making sure I can get my angles in those matches where I'm wrestling these bigger guys, making sure I'm trying to get them tired.
01:22 I've got to do what I can do for right now. I'm not there yet, but obviously I'm working to get there.
01:30 What are some of those things that the coaching staff is telling you right now as you work through this and you're trying to grind your way back, specifically, "Hey, here's where we want you to try and focus on getting better right now"?
01:40 Just moving around the mat, making sure I'm using my speed against these bigger guys. It's not even that they're bigger guys. I know that I can do what I can do out there.
01:51 It's not even what I'm capable of. It's just a matter of me doing it and me fixing what I have to do to get to that situation where I know I can score.
02:01 Just focusing on the little details. I know I'm getting better. I see myself getting better each time out.
02:07 I'm not seeing the W's yet, seeing those wins, but I do see myself improving each time out. That's what I can focus on right now.
02:16 As long as I'm doing that, I'm going to be in a good state of mind, but I've got to just keep focusing on getting better.
02:24 When you were a junior and senior in high school, those were two undefeated seasons for you. You were a two-time state champion.
02:30 Now you get here and it's like you've reached the next stage and it's tough. How has it been acclimating to the next level?
02:38 What have you learned about yourself in that time as you navigate it?
02:41 It is a different level once you get here. You've just got to keep your nose down and keep working hard. That's all it really is.
02:51 That's why you see these national champs are national champs because they've been working hard their whole entire careers.
02:59 That's just what I've got to do. As long as I'm doing that, I'll be in a good spot. I've just got to keep working hard.
03:07 It's definitely been a big change from going and having undefeated seasons to taking a couple bumps here and there.
03:15 It's definitely not ideal, but I've just got to get not used to it. I've got to change that and fix what I need to fix.
03:25 How good would it be to just get them in and get back going again?
03:29 It would for sure feel good. I plan on getting a couple here and winning as many as I can, going out there and competing as hard as I can.
03:38 The first one is definitely going to feel good here, but I know it's coming.
03:44 You've wrestled at 157, 165, 174, now 184. Would you call that selflessness on your part, going where the coaches go?
03:54 Is that something where you're trying things out? What is the thing where you're moving up and down those areas for you?
04:00 It's everything. I'll do anything for this team, but also I want to win.
04:05 If I have the chance to go out there and compete for the Iowa Hawkeyes, then that's what I'm doing.
04:10 That's why I'm here. I'm here to win. I'm going to go out there and give it my all every single time.
04:16 Whenever I have the chance to step out on the mat, I've got to give it my all. I can't back down from whoever it is, no matter what weight it is.
04:25 Nelson's still in this room, still helping you guys with the coaching aspect of things.
04:29 What's it been like having a guy who's been on the podium, been a veteran, been in this room a long time, be in there and be someone in your ear to help you out?
04:36 For sure. Those guys that have been here a while and have had success, they're such a big help.
04:43 They help you in every single area. Even if they kick your butt all practice, they're still there to give you advice afterwards and work you through things.
04:52 It's a big help having those guys kick your butt. It also sucks, too, because you don't want that to happen, but sometimes you need that in order to get better.
05:02 I'm grateful for having them around. They're definitely a big help to where I need to be and success I've seen so far.
05:09 Is there anybody specifically that you train with on a regular basis? Is there anything that you've changed wrestling at 184 as far as your technique or anything?
05:20 Wrestling a different style compared to a lower weight?
05:23 I'd say I wrestle a fair amount of everybody. Wrestling at 184, I've got to pick and choose where I'm shooting, where I'm attacking. I've got to be smart.
05:35 I can't go out there. It was a bad habit I had of just shooting the legs and diving. I can't do that here, otherwise I'm going to get scored and I'm going to pay the price.
05:46 I've got to pick and choose. I've got to be smart of when I shoot and when I'm down blocking. I can't go out there and fire, fire, fire.
05:54 It's what I want to do, but I've just got to create those opportunities. I've got to make my opponents do what I want them to do.
06:00 It's just me forcing my will upon them and being smart at the same time.
06:06 When you're wrestling somebody at different weights, up and down, can you tell the difference in weight when you're wrestling that person?
06:13 Just 10 pounds sounds like not much, but if you're wrestling somebody who's 174 versus somebody who's 184, can you feel that extra weight?
06:21 It just depends on the wrestler, I guess. It's hard to say sometimes, but there's obviously guys who are really strong in some positions than others, but it just depends on the wrestler.
06:39 It's not something I can usually gauge right away.
06:42 We've seen that speed a little bit from you on escapes, being able to pull away from guys. How are you trying to use that in your wrestling?
06:51 How do you think it's an advantage to you to be able to have that type of lateral quickness and also just the ability to get on your feet quickly and move?
06:57 For sure. Getting those quick escapes is really important in order to get out and be back on my feet to where I can move and keep my offense and fakes and stuff like that.
07:07 It gives me an advantage. Not staying under the guys, making sure I'm getting out, getting to where I can score, stuff like that.
07:14 I just need to move, I need a fake, I need to get to where I'm good. I can't let my opponents get to where they're good.
07:21 I've got to dominate the positions where I need to get to.
07:24 Once I start doing that, once I start improving in the positions where I know I can get to and where I can score, then I'll start seeing the wins.
07:33 Thanks, Aaron.