Wrestling: Winning the Mental Game
February 28, 2009 04:59 PM | General
February 28, 2009
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| David Jauregui is looking for his hand to be raised again - this time for the 149-pound EWL crown.
WVU Sports Communications photo |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With the 2009 Eastern Wrestling League Tournament (EWL) only eight days away, fifth-year senior David Jauregui knows that this is his final shot to accomplish something big at the league event. While many of his colleagues and soon-to-be opponents are preparing physically, the 149-pounder also is preparing himself mentally – an advantage that he hopes will put him over the top.
Standing in the wrestling room, waiting for practice to begin, Jauregui can be found playing wall ball with a few of his teammates, keeping everyone loose. However, as soon it’s time to get down to the grind, Jauregui’s smile disappears and the business-look sets in.
"A lot of people have trouble doing that - being able to turn that switch on and knowing when it's game time, knowing when it's time to crack down and really put the boots and helmet on and get to work," Jauregui said with a serious look. "It's really something that wasn't engrained in me until high school. We would always play games like that and have fun in high school and then have to switch to an intense practice. My high school team, being as good as we were, it was intense and it was hard. The coaches were always really just honest to make sure that you play games, but then when you have practice, you switch over and it's not play time anymore."
Jauregui, a Santa Ana, Calif., resident is a three-time NCAA qualifier at his respective weight class. Last year, he recorded a career-best two victories at the NCAA Tournament. Yet to win a league title, Jauregui understands that his performance on the national scene carries more significance – but recognizes that in order to get there, he has to focus on the task at-hand, that being the EWL Tournament.
"I really want it badly,” Jauregui said when asked about taking the EWL crown. “It's been on my mind since I got here, to become an All-American. In order to become an All-American, I need to go to the conference tournament, and for my confidence, I need to take first so it lets me know that I'm on the right path and that everything that I have been working hard for is coming into play. I need to win out so it helps me and my confidence and just proves to me that everything is paying off."
After coming back from an injury which he sustained in early December at the 2008 Las Vegas Invitational, Jauregui found himself locked into a zone, mowing down one opponent after another, never losing focus.
In his first match back Jan. 2, he defeated then-11th ranked Trevor Chinn of Lehigh, 6-4, in sudden victory. Jauregui then rattled off five victories in a row, including a pair of wins over Big Ten opponents (Illinois’ Eric Terrazas and Michigan State’s David Cheza).
Holding a career 74-28 mark, including his 11-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in league action this season, Jauregui has continued to work to become the best at his weight class. Being that this will be his final season donning the Old Gold and Blue, Jauregui remains optimistic that this is his year. He’s there mentally – now it’s time to sit back and watch it all unfold.
