NU wrestlers excel at double-leg skatedowns
February 7, 2012 7:42PM
Updated: March 9, 2012 8:17AM
Jason Welch is an instigator.
Or so says Northwestern assistant wrestling coach Matt Storniolo.
Welch, a junior, started a skateboarding culture in the Wildcats’ wrestling program, thanks to his childhood in Walnut Creek, Calif.
“It’s become a part of the culture here that drives [coach Drew Pariano] crazy,” said Storniolo, who also skateboards.
But don’t ask Welch about doing any crazy board tricks.
“I do longboarding, which is more about style and more about going down big hills,” Welch said. “Sometimes pedestrians get mad and sometimes a cop has told me to get off the road, but mainly people just give me dirty looks.”
Storniolo and Welch say Pariano worries that one of his wrestlers — or his assistant — is going to have a
brutal wipeout. So is it enough to abstain from longboarding in the days before a big meet?
“No,” Welch said. “We’ll just let [Pariano] have a heart attack and let him deal with it.”
Tina Akouris
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