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Freshman Focus: Jake Gliva
10/11/2018 4:48:00 PM | Wrestling
As the Gopher wrestling season nears, and practice has begun, gophersports.com will bring in the 2018 freshmen class and get to know them as they begin their wrestling careers at the University of Minnesota. Today we sat down with Jake Gliva. A Minnesota native from Inver Grove Heights, Gliva is a three-time individual state champion from Simley High School, a Junior Folkstyle National Champion and Fargo All-American.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to stay in Minnesota and Join the Gophers. Why did you decide to become a Gopher?
Jake Gliva: I loved the coaches and the guys on the team and it seemed like a great atmosphere. I also love Minnesota and wanted to stay close to home.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
JG: I felt like I have been here for years. The team was really welcoming and cool. I am starting to adjust to the college level of wrestling with the help of the whole team.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
JG: My style is relaxed but I'm constantly going forward and looking to score.
GS: What are your expectations this season?
JG: It is definitely going to be tough and different from before but I'm going to be looking to improve every match and every practice.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have like to have accomplished?
JG: My goal is to be a national champ, multiple All-American and also graduate with a degree from Minnesota.
GS: Do you have any pre-match routines?
JG: I always just try to stay calm, relaxed and loose. I try staying away from being tense and scared.
GS: When did you realize you wanted become a collegiate wrestler?
JG: It was always a dream to be able to wrestle DI since I was young. It was around my sophomore year in high school where I realized I wouldn't know what to do without wrestling.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches. How do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
JG: I try to stay as calm as possible and just focus on feeling good and wrestling well.
GS: What is it like being able to celebrate a state title with your teammates?
JG: It was an awesome experience. We put in a lot of work the years we run and it was awesome to see it pay off.
GS: Describe your relationship with your brother Kyle, who wrestled at NDSU.
JG: Kyle is one of my closest friends and one of my biggest influences. He has helped a lot with the mental part of wrestling and just always staying positive.
GS: What do you like to do off of the wrestling mat?
JG: Outside of wrestling I like spending my time with family and friends, playing videos, or golfing with my brother.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would that be and why?
JG: I would play baseball. I grew up playing it and loved it. Baseball was definitely my favorite sport after wrestling.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
JG: My dad wrestled in High school and college and he got both my brother and me into the sport when we were young. I have loved wrestling since the first time I started.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
JG: My favorite memory in wrestling was winning state for the very first time. My cousin won state the weight below me that year so it was really cool for the both of us winning back to back.
GS: What is your earliest wrestling memory?
JG: My earliest wrestling memory goes back to when I was about 5 years old taking 2nd in my very first tournament.
Gopher Sports: Tell us about your decision to stay in Minnesota and Join the Gophers. Why did you decide to become a Gopher?
Jake Gliva: I loved the coaches and the guys on the team and it seemed like a great atmosphere. I also love Minnesota and wanted to stay close to home.
GS: What has your experience with the team been like so far?
JG: I felt like I have been here for years. The team was really welcoming and cool. I am starting to adjust to the college level of wrestling with the help of the whole team.
GS: How would you describe your style of wrestling?
JG: My style is relaxed but I'm constantly going forward and looking to score.
GS: What are your expectations this season?
JG: It is definitely going to be tough and different from before but I'm going to be looking to improve every match and every practice.
GS: After you finish your career with the Gophers, what would you have like to have accomplished?
JG: My goal is to be a national champ, multiple All-American and also graduate with a degree from Minnesota.
GS: Do you have any pre-match routines?
JG: I always just try to stay calm, relaxed and loose. I try staying away from being tense and scared.
GS: When did you realize you wanted become a collegiate wrestler?
JG: It was always a dream to be able to wrestle DI since I was young. It was around my sophomore year in high school where I realized I wouldn't know what to do without wrestling.
GS: You have wrestled in some big matches. How do you mentally prepare yourself for those matches?
JG: I try to stay as calm as possible and just focus on feeling good and wrestling well.
GS: What is it like being able to celebrate a state title with your teammates?
JG: It was an awesome experience. We put in a lot of work the years we run and it was awesome to see it pay off.
GS: Describe your relationship with your brother Kyle, who wrestled at NDSU.
JG: Kyle is one of my closest friends and one of my biggest influences. He has helped a lot with the mental part of wrestling and just always staying positive.
GS: What do you like to do off of the wrestling mat?
JG: Outside of wrestling I like spending my time with family and friends, playing videos, or golfing with my brother.
GS: If you were to compete in a different sport, what sport would that be and why?
JG: I would play baseball. I grew up playing it and loved it. Baseball was definitely my favorite sport after wrestling.
GS: How did you start wrestling?
JG: My dad wrestled in High school and college and he got both my brother and me into the sport when we were young. I have loved wrestling since the first time I started.
GS: What is your favorite wrestling memory?
JG: My favorite memory in wrestling was winning state for the very first time. My cousin won state the weight below me that year so it was really cool for the both of us winning back to back.
GS: What is your earliest wrestling memory?
JG: My earliest wrestling memory goes back to when I was about 5 years old taking 2nd in my very first tournament.
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