2023 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 17, 2023

Sammy Sasso

BOK Center

Ohio State

Semifinals Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: 149, we are joined by Sammy Sasso, Ohio State University, finalist. What are your thoughts and feelings?

SAMMY SASSO: Thank you. Feeling good. I felt like I went out there and competed to the best of my ability. So, you know, that's what you want every time out. Just, you know, getting in scoring positions and making it happen.

Q. Sammy, curious your mindset. You are a finalist two years ago and then last year you placed lower. Is there a certain mindset that you needed that maybe you didn't have last year?

SAMMY SASSO: You know, you as a freshman, you want to win so badly, right? And that COVID year got taken away. Then a tough loss and second. Before you lose you don't know how you're going to react. Like you've gotta win it. There is nothing in your mind telling you you're not.

Last year, fifth, not the best placing. And this year it's just like, relax, man, it ain't about the placing. It ain't about that. It's about enjoying this, living in the moment and going out and competing as hard as you can every time.

Q. That's the mindset you will take into tomorrow?

SAMMY SASSO: Of course. You know, you make it bigger than what it is. It's hard to perform to the best of your ability. You know, I've been competing at a high level for a long time. You know, this is just another big match.

Q. Your thoughts on Yianni?

SAMMY SASSO: Yeah, you know, I ain't gonna lie, Yianni been a pain, you know? I've been wrestling him for a long time and, you know, he gotten the best of me every time we competed. But I'm a different version of Sammy Sasso this year, and I know he's gotten better too, but I'm going to go out there and do what I do.

Q. Looking at your training, looking at the tweaks and the changes you've made from last year to this year, even within this tournament, what are the things that you think have really helped you propel yourself into the finals this year?

SAMMY SASSO: You know, me and Steve, we be working a lot and my boy Jaggers too, getting that defense down and finding the tweaks and things like that. But you know, Stieber, he gonna be honest with me, and he ain't a mean guy. So when he telling me something that needs to get fixed, that I need to do better, I take it wholeheartedly, but me and Stieber, we been working in the mornings all year, and that's been a big factor.

Q. Sammy, how different is it from the first time around? You have been on that stage before, right? You've been on some of the biggest stages in wrestling. What is the difference in your mind this year?

SAMMY SASSO: Yeah, you know, like I said before, you putting it out there, like, if I don't win, what's going to happen, this and that, making it bigger than it is.

And in about two weeks to a month from now, people ain't really going to be talking about this. They gonna be worried about the next event and things like that. And five years later, you washed up and these kids ain't asking for autographs no more. So you gotta live in the moment and enjoy it and not make it bigger than what it is.

Q. What advice would you give to current high school wrestlers that want to compete at the same level as you?

SAMMY SASSO: Enjoy it. That high school stuff flies by. I remember being a freshman, losing my first high school duel meet and running out of the gym. And my high school coach, Dave Crowley, let me hear it. That's not how we do it at Nazareth. Enjoy it. It flies by and then it's over. Make the most of it. And if you love it and you want to compete at this level, you pore everything you got into it.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks, Sammy. Congratulations and good luck tomorrow.