Most first-graders are content with going to school and playing with their friends.
But Chris Diaz decided to ditch the sandbox for the wrestling mat.
“I started wrestling in first-grade, one of my friends was doing it, and so that’s what got me into it,” Diaz said.
The junior from Camden, Del., in the 141-pound division, went 33-12 and finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament last year.
Diaz also qualified for his first NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Round of 12.
Diaz was mentored by the father of current Oklahoma State wrestler Alex Meade. Both Meade and Diaz graduated from Caesar Rodney High School where Meade won three state-championships and Diaz won two.
Meade’s father “pretty much was like my second dad, whatever he did I did,” Diaz said. “That’s what really got me to the level where I was at to get recruited.”
As a true freshman, Diaz started in the 141-pound division and finished the season 14-17.
“Transitioning to college my first year here it was so much different than high school wrestling,” Diaz said. “Everyone can wrestle, day in and day out it was tough. You got to keep your mind focused wrestling a tough guy each time.”
“He made a big jump from his first year to his second year,” said head coach Kevin Dresser. “I think just in terms of toughness, if Chris has a chink in his armor, sometimes he takes the bottom position and takes a break down there and that’s what kind of got him beat.”
Diaz had a breakout season in his second year and nearly qualified for All-America status last year, but fell just one win short.
“We talked, and all summer his goal ... and my goal for him too is to be top three in the country,” assistant coach Nate Yetzer said.
“I think anything less than that, I know me and him too are going to be a little bit disappointed if he gets anything less than that,” Yetzer continued. “He’s definitely capable of placing that high — it’s how he performs out there and a little bit of want to.”
While Diaz and his coaches have set the bar high, Dresser said it all comes down to preparation.
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