University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Wrestlers Talk Turkey (and other foods too)
11/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
By Joey Erickson
Thanksgiving can be tough for wrestlers. While family and friends eat themselves silly on buffets of lovingly prepared holiday food, wrestlers must show great discipline as they try to maintain their weight for upcoming competitions. As delicately as possible, GopherSports.com asked Minnesota wrestlers to share their favorite holiday foods, even if they have to eat these dishes with extraordinary portion control.
Not surprisingly, many wrestlers' favorites were some of the classics.
"I'm a big fan of stuffing. When Thanksgiving comes around, I love stuffing. … Stuffing is my go-to." -Ben Brancale
Brancale would have competition for the stuffing at the Rothers' Thanksgiving.
"I love stuffing. I love stuffing so much. It's my favorite, by far." -Jordon Rothers
"Ham and turkey at my grandparents' [house]. We go over there for pretty much every holiday and it's always ham, turkey, and mashed potatoes. They make it the same way pretty much every time and they give me the gizzard. I love the gizzards." -Gresh Jones
While not all Gophers are as enthusiastic about the gizzard as Jones, plenty enjoy turkey and ham on the same level.
"My mom makes really good turkey. It's not dry at all, it tastes fantastic." -Faris Karaborni
"The regular turkey and gravy. Since I'm from New Mexico we add red or green chili to everything." -Josh Mora
"I love ham. Ham is probably my favorite real food." -Nick Wanzek
"Ham. Ham and macaroni. My mom makes the best stuff." -Larry Early III
For other Minnesota wrestlers, while turkey and ham are great, the sides are what really bring the meal together.
"My grandma makes some really good food. She makes a cheesy broccoli dish with rice, I always love eating that. Her ham is really good, too. Pretty much I just like all the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners." -Brett Pfarr
"Cheesy rice and potatoes." -Chris Pfarr
"I'm not too picky so I guess just the traditional turkey or ham, mashed potatoes. You can't go wrong with mashed potatoes. Nothing too flashy." -James Berg
"Thanksgiving means mashed potatoes. I like mashed potatoes a lot, with gravy on top." -Colin Carr
"Mashed potatoes and gravy. Or else the cheesy potatoes you get at Thanksgiving and Christmas." -Brandon Krone
"At Thanksgiving it would have to be the mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes and noodles. Any carb is my favorite." -Darius Wright
"Green bean casserole." -Brandon Kingsley
Perhaps the worst part of a Thanksgiving dinner for anyone trying to keep off extra pounds is dessert. That doesn't stop Gopher wrestlers from fantasizing about those sugary treats.
"Cookies. Those peanut butter cookies with the Hershey's kisses on them, those are amazing. And anything with frosting and sprinkles, those are also amazing. I always used to go to my grandparent's in Iowa and there would be plates of cookies. Every time I passed by I would grab one, maybe two." -Miles Patton
"My grandma's banana cream pie. I'm a sweets guy." -Dylan Urbach
Then there are those wrestlers who prefer dishes that some may consider non-traditional, but are staples at their families' holiday celebrations.
"My mom's taco salad. She makes a pretty good taco salad [with feta cheese]. A lot of people don't really know what it is or don't like it but I love it. I put it on everything. Our whole family loves it." -Will Balow
"My grandma makes homemade enchiladas, usually around Christmas and Thanksgiving. I've had those ever since I was five years old. Those are my go-to when I go home." -Jordan Bremer
Along with every other wrestler in the country, the Gophers will have to control themselves around their favorite holiday foods this year. Just three days after Thanksgiving, the team will have to make weight in Stillwater, Okla., where they will take on No. 3 Oklahoma State on Sunday, Nov. 29.
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