Both the University of Wisconsin wrestling team and sophomore grappler Zach Tanelli have started out the season strong with an 8-0 record.
Tanelli, the team's starting 133 lb. wrestler, is currently ranked 17th in the nation with a perfect 8-0 record, with two wins by pins. He was a redshirt freshman and didn't see much action last season, being behind good friend Tom Clum who was last year's starting 133 lb. wrestler. Early in this season, Tanelli has already pulled even with his victory total from last season. The Milburn, N.J., native has proven himself and has become a main factor in the wrestling team's high position.
"I was sitting behind a two-time All-American last year in Tom Clum, and I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of. I've waited my turn, now it's my turn to get in the lineup and show Wisconsin, and the country, what I can do. I don't feel any different confidence-wise, it's just a matter of that it's my turn to shine," Tanelli said.
Not getting a lot of action on the mat when it counts can have a negative effect on a wrestler, yet Tanelli has stayed positive and feels like his confidence level never dwindled.
"I've always felt confident when I'm out on the mat. I train hard and prepare myself to win, that's just how it's always gone," Tanelli said. "I've never doubted myself for a second when I'm wrestling, whether it's last year, this year or my first year wrestling, I've always felt confident in how I wrestle."
Tanelli isn't one for pre-match rituals or getting "pumped up" before a match. Tanelli stays confident in his abilities because of his work ethic and the time he's put in before the match. His hard work during practice has definitely shown through his performances.
"I don't worry about the match or specific things to do in a match," Tanelli said. "Before I wrestle I'm telling myself in my head that I've prepared hard. I don't cut corners, I do everything the way I'm supposed to do it, I train hard every day, and I believe that I've trained harder than my opponent."
Being undefeated and a ranked Division I athlete could get to a person's head, yet Tanelli keeps in mind where he came from and how he's gotten here. He wears the same shirt before matches that he did in high school in order to remember where he started.
"I wear the same shirt, my T-shirt from my high school wrestling club, to remind myself of where I come from," Tanelli said, "and I can look down and remember the work I've put in. It's a reminder that I've taken steps and done things the right way."
The T-shirt is not Tanelli's only constant reminder of where he came from. Assistant coach Donny Pritzlaff ran Tanelli's hometown wrestling club. Besides being a lifelong coach to Tanelli, Pritzlaff is also his inspiration for being successful.
"My biggest inspiration is my coach, Donny Pritzlaff. He's one of the main reasons of why I came here. He's been a guy I've looked up to since I've been coming up in the program. I started wrestling in sixth or seventh grade. He's always been a guy I can look up to," said Tanelli.
"He's a guy that on and off the mat is a stand-up guy and takes care of business, and that's how I feel I want to be too. He is and has been my inspiration for a long time."
With the heart of the season coming up, Tanelli's season from here on out doesn't seem to get any easier.
"There's a lot of competition. I'll see, hopefully, the returning NCAA champ in this tournament this weekend. I've got anywhere," said Tanelli. "We take the wins, the losses. All this right now is all build-up to March and to be where I want to be at the end of the season."
As good as Tanelli currently is, he believes he can only get better, which is great news for the Badger's wrestling program.
"My goals, personally, are, if I'm not an All-American, I'm going to be upset. I've got a lot of work to do, I've got a lot of things to work on, but come the end of March, I want to be an All-American when the season is done," Tanelli said.
"I've got no direction other than up where I can go. I'm not regressing, just always progressing."