Because of injuries and subsequent surgeries, Dan Waddell had become very familiar with adversity and comebacks as a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestler.
He has lost two seasons yet has failed only rarely to attain his objectives. He was accomplished in a fast academic crowd at Baylor and won two state championships while wrestling for the Red Raiders.
He also won a Southern Conference championship as a Moc, but at the outset of this season Josh Condon edged him in a double-overtime wrestle-off for the starting 157-pound slot. Waddell found himself demoted from team elite status to practice partner despite his best efforts.
“It’s the first time I had been beat out for a starting spot. It wasn’t fun,” he said. “It was disappointing because I had worked so hard the year before.”
His belief in coach Heath Eslinger’s overall concept bolstered an already positive outlook, however.
“He represents what every coach wants in a student academically, athletically and socially. He’s the total package,” Eslinger said. “He’s been so selfless. When it comes to practice he has been among the best on the team and didn’t complain about wrestling behind another good guy.
“He didn’t ask for another wrestle-off. He came and worked, and when you do that the door of opportunity is going to open. He has worked every day. He has an opportunity and he is ready to kick that door down.”
Waddell refused to give in or back off.
“I didn’t change my goals,” he said. “I felt if I kept working hard I would find myself in the lineup with a chance to compete. I couldn’t go to practice and not give it 100 percent. It is part of my nature.”
Waddell, who registered a 3.5 grade point average last semester, has moved back into the starting lineup at 165 pounds with Brandon Wright moving up to 174.
“Losing to Josh was tough. He’s good. He’s tough to wrestle and he beat me out,” Waddell said. “I was disappointed, but at the same time I am glad to have him in the room as a practice partner. The better he is, the better it is for me. Having a guy like that on the team makes the whole team better.”
That attitude plus adjustments in his outlook on life boosted Waddell back to the top.
“He didn’t make major changes, but he has become the kind of person we want to lead this team,” Eslinger said. “He’s the type person who’s going to have a major impact on the world in some way in months and years to come.”
Waddell praised Eslinger and assistants Rocco Mansueto, Josh Lambrecht and Mike Hatcher for their philosophy of living each minute and working each hour to be the best one can be — as a student, as a person or as an athlete.
“Every decision you make impacts a lot of people, and the dynamic of our team has changed a lot over the past year — a 180-degree turnaround since the year before last,” Waddell said. “This year has gotten even better as far as mindset. I’m not knocking previous coaches. Nobody knew what to expect from the new staff, but for the most part everybody has bought into their lifestyle concept and those who didn’t have been filtered out.”
Eslinger said the changes Waddell made were evident.
“Dan made some changes and hasn’t back-tracked,” the coach said. “He determined who he was going to be. Willing and doing the right thing are things that are contagious, and you want as many people as possible spreading those beliefs.”
Friday in the Virginia Duals at Hampton, Va., Waddell won by forfeit in a 22-18 loss to 25th-ranked Arizona State but lost a decision in a 33-10 defeat by Rider. Jason McCroskey at 184 pounds was the only Moc going 2-0, with a decision and a major decision.
Joe DeAngelo, Trevor Herron and Robert Prigmore replaced usual starters Prescott Garner, Dean Pavlou and Niko Brown at 125, 149 and 197, and Herron and Prigmore each got one win, the latter with a pin against Rider.
Pavlou was left at home with the flu, and Garner made the trip but came down with the same virus. Brown is trying to get some torn rib cartilage healed.
“If we have one of those three guys, we probably beat Arizona State,” Eslinger said.
Mocs 141-pounder Shawn Greevy won by pin in that match.