University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
Photo by: Eric Miller
Q&A With Sean Russell
12/22/2018 9:54:00 AM | Wrestling
125-pound Sean Russell transferred to Minnesota this summer for his final season of collegiate wrestling. Originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia, Russell spent four years at Edinboro University where he was a three-time NCAA qualifier, three-time Eastern Wrestling League Champion, and a 2017 NCAA All-American.
Name: Sean Russell
Class: Redshirt Senior
Major: Human Resource Development
Gopher Sports: What made you choose Minnesota for your final season?
Sean Russell: There were a lot of reasons that made me choose Minnesota for my final season. For starters the coaching here is awesome and I've seen that over the years and from knowing the coaches from being recruited here out of high school. I also truly believe that volunteer assistant coach Zach Sanders is the best lightweight coach in the country and I knew getting to have him as a drill partner and coach would be awesome for me.
GS: What's been the best part of being at Minnesota?
SR: The best part of being at Minnesota this year has been the drill partners I get to workout with every day. I have the best room in the country, and maybe the world, for a 125-pounder. The depth we have in this Minnesota room is awesome.
GS: How have you grown as a wrestler since getting here?
SR: I think I've grown in many different ways as a wrestler here thus far, but the one thing that sticks out to me is adding attacks to my game. The room here is so good and for the first two weeks I couldn't't just win with the same three or four moves in the room. That in turn led to me adding some things that are really helping me this year.
GS: What are your goals this season individually and for the team?
SR: The goal I have set for myself is a national title. I've had that goal since I was six years old and that has not ever changed. As a team I truly believe the sky is the limit. We have the talent and we're putting in the work. A team trophy is definitely a very achievable goal for us.
GS: What's it like being one of the few wrestlers from the South? How can you help the sport grow?
SR: It's so awesome. People my whole life have thrown jabs at the South about how we can't wrestle or whatever and it's becoming a thing of the past. We have more and more guys at the youth, high school, and college level. Especially my home state of Georgia.
GS: What's your favorite activity with the team?
SR: My favorite thing to do with this team outside of the wrestling room is definitely grinding the sticks in Fortnite. I truly believe we have a top-three team on Xbox in the country.
Name: Sean Russell
Class: Redshirt Senior
Major: Human Resource Development
Gopher Sports: What made you choose Minnesota for your final season?
Sean Russell: There were a lot of reasons that made me choose Minnesota for my final season. For starters the coaching here is awesome and I've seen that over the years and from knowing the coaches from being recruited here out of high school. I also truly believe that volunteer assistant coach Zach Sanders is the best lightweight coach in the country and I knew getting to have him as a drill partner and coach would be awesome for me.
GS: What's been the best part of being at Minnesota?
SR: The best part of being at Minnesota this year has been the drill partners I get to workout with every day. I have the best room in the country, and maybe the world, for a 125-pounder. The depth we have in this Minnesota room is awesome.
GS: How have you grown as a wrestler since getting here?
SR: I think I've grown in many different ways as a wrestler here thus far, but the one thing that sticks out to me is adding attacks to my game. The room here is so good and for the first two weeks I couldn't't just win with the same three or four moves in the room. That in turn led to me adding some things that are really helping me this year.
GS: What are your goals this season individually and for the team?
SR: The goal I have set for myself is a national title. I've had that goal since I was six years old and that has not ever changed. As a team I truly believe the sky is the limit. We have the talent and we're putting in the work. A team trophy is definitely a very achievable goal for us.
GS: What's it like being one of the few wrestlers from the South? How can you help the sport grow?
SR: It's so awesome. People my whole life have thrown jabs at the South about how we can't wrestle or whatever and it's becoming a thing of the past. We have more and more guys at the youth, high school, and college level. Especially my home state of Georgia.
GS: What's your favorite activity with the team?
SR: My favorite thing to do with this team outside of the wrestling room is definitely grinding the sticks in Fortnite. I truly believe we have a top-three team on Xbox in the country.
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