University of Minnesota Athletics
Freshman Friday: Jack Bass
7/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Few Gopher freshmen came to Minnesota from further away than Virginia's Jack Bass, who traded views of the Potomac River in suburban Washington D.C. for the bluffs of the Mississippi in Minneapolis. Like most freshman, Bass quickly learned that college wrestling is worlds away from high school wrestling, even if the physical distance between his high school practice room and the Gopher room in Dinkytown is only about 1,100 miles. While he encountered many of the same challenges facing his fellow Gopher freshmen, he accomplished something no other redshirting rookie can match - he placed in every tournament at which he competed. Bass saved his best for last too, a season-best third-place performance at the North Country Open that featured three bonus point victories. GopherSports.com sat down with Bass a few weeks ago to catch up on everything that happened last season.
What was the biggest change from high school wrestling to college wrestling?
It's definitely a big change in intensity. In high school, you might be the best guy in the room. You come to the college room, you might not even score a point. You have to get used to that, stick it out and keep working hard.
Mentally, how do you deal with going from the best guy on the high school team to being at the lower end of the roster once you get to college?
It's all part of your goals. You have to realize that you'll always improve. It kind of sets you back into the perspective that you can always do better.
Did the coaches or other wrestlers offer you any advice when you were getting beaten up a little bit in the room?
They told me wait a couple months. Like around winter time, that's when you'll start to notice a difference. And I did.
How did you notice that difference?
When I first got here last summer, it was hard to take down those older guys. I was really doubting myself. Your confidence is down from getting beat in practice. Now I'm starting to battle with them and I'm competitive. That gives me a lot of motivation. It's crazy how much different September is compared to March for a freshman.
What was it like coming from Virginia to Minnesota?
I think the East Coast is a lot more fast-paced. Out here, it's a little more laid back. I like that. It's made me aware of other parts of the country because I hadn't been exposed to up north that much.
What was it like to compete in those first few open tournaments?
It's a different style of wrestling [in the Midwest]. There's guys on the East Coast that are a little more funky. Guys out here, some of them are brawlers.
What are the most fun and least fun aspects of competing in open tournaments?
The less fun part is probably being in the car but, at the same time, the fun part is being in the car with the guys, staying at the hotels, joking around on the way there and the way back. When you go to eat some fast food or something on the way back, that's the best part of it.
How do you feel about your first college season overall?
I liked how it was going toward the end. I wish those opens were right now though. I feel like I'm in a lot better place than I was at the beginning of the year. It's definitely not a perfect year but it's something that I can work with.
Are there specific things in your wrestling game that you think are better now?
In the beginning of the year I could get on legs and sometimes I'd get taken down off my shots. I've gotten better at finishing those shots. I'm a lot stronger in there. Also, I'm better at getting out of a bad shot and getting into a better position.
What are you going to work on between now and next season?
A lot of strength and endurance and some small technical things. I think that's what's going to help me a lot. I'm starting to get stronger, but I have to keep up my endurance with the muscle.
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