Photo by: Josh Liddick
Drop In Weight Class Results In Growth For Paetzell
5/15/2020 11:04:00 AM | Men's Wrestling, Student Athlete, Features
By Maddy Hite '20, Lehigh Sports Communications
On February 21, No. 11 Lehigh hosted No. 5 Arizona State inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall for the Mountain Hawks' last dual of the season before the EIWA Championships.Â
For Brandon Paetzell, this match was more than a dual meet. This match was about proving he belonged with the nation's best. Facing No. 9 Brandon Courtney at 125, Paetzell made his 6-1 decision look easy.Â
After his speedy domination, Paetzell walked off the mat toward coach and friend Darian Cruz hugged him, and affirmed, "I told you so."Â
A statement he has been waiting years to say.Â
Paetzell's journey as a wrestler did not come with ease. Amid transferring from Rutgers after his freshman year, to dropping a weight class this season, Paetzell faced plenty of adjustment challenges.Â
However, Cruz has been there every step of the way, literally.Â
"It is funny because I actually competed against Brandon during his freshman year at Rutgers," Cruz laughed. "He was on the rough end of the stick on that one, that was the year I won the national championship."Â
Cruz, a three-time All-American for Lehigh and a current US National Team member in freestyle, said when Paetzell made his decision to transfer to Lehigh, he immediately took him under his wing.Â
He saw Paetzell as a humble, kind, quiet, disciplined and determined new teammate. Now, Cruz considers Paetzell a little brother.Â
Coach Pat Santoro attested to Paetzell's discipline skills. When a wrestler drops a weight class, there can be concerns about diet, strength and overall health.Â
"There was never an issue with him, I didn't have to worry about it because he did such an amazing job, he did it the right way," Santoro said. "He lives a very focused lifestyle, he's a really good person. You always want someone like him on the team."
Â
For Paetzell, he said he had a great support system around him during his transition. The struggles he faced were in his head.
"It was a mental battle at first, I doubted whether I could even cut down my weight," Paetzell said. "Then, it started becoming a reality and I told myself I could do this. Then, the bigger concerns were how I was going to perform and if it was going to be worth it, whether I was still going to be strong. That was an issue I had going into the first match."
Paetzell's first match at 125 was at the Journeyman Collegiate Classic tournament. Paetzell won his first match. And then he won the whole tournament.Â
"His development was unbelievable," Cruz said. "We knew it was going to take a lot of work and he understood and stayed disciplined week in and week out. It was never too much for him. He developed right away and had bigger and bigger wins."
Paetzell said that this season he broke out mentally more than anything else, and everything came together for him. He showed flashes of breakthrough moments last year, but also suffered from winnable losses.Â
He said this year he put himself on the map.
"I know a lot of guys put pressure on themselves," Paetzell said. "I want to win just as much, but now, I have been enjoying this process so much, even when it gets tough for me."
Coach Santoro said the coaching staff and team members expected Paetzell to have his breakthrough season, but the rest of the country did not.Â
"He got so good so quickly because he did all the little things right," Santoro said.
"When you take care of your body, sleep and stay on top of your school work as a student athlete, you take all the little stresses away and you can make big jumps. That is what he did."
Paetzell's test of true mental strength came at the EIWAs.Â
Expecting to win his bracket at 125, Paetzell fell to Columbia's Joe Manchio in the quarterfinals. Disappointed in himself, Paetzell said he took a step back and had an in depth conversation with every single one of his coaches. He knew he still had a job to do.
"After about an hour I had the mindset that I worked way too hard, I can't just throw in the towel," Paetzell said. "I can't let it get to me. I can't give up and I had to qualify for nationals. I went out and continued to plug away and battled back and got third."
Coach Santoro said that although the quarterfinal loss was disappointing to Paetzell, he handled it in a perfect way. He said when you have a goal and get beat, it is really hard to have a next match mindset. Paetzell buckled down for the team.
But despite his initial frustration, Paetzell said winning EIWAs as a team for the third consecutive year was his favorite memory of the season.
"I love wrestling and my love for the sport has grown more and more," Paetzell said. "I rediscovered my (love) sophomore year. I wasn't enjoying it as much as I am now. I have pretty big goals, All-American, being a National Champion and having my picture in the Caruso Complex."
This year, the National Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Santoro and Cruz both said they were confident Paetzell would have earned All-American honors on the mat (he was recognized as a first team All-American by the NWCA). However, Paetzell still has one more year to represent the Brown and White.Â
"The hardest thing for me was I had no choice but to obsess with the season ending because I had no distractions," Paetzell said. "To keep it in perspective people are sick and dying, and even though this is my life and it is a big deal to me, there are bigger things than wrestling."
Â
On February 21, No. 11 Lehigh hosted No. 5 Arizona State inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall for the Mountain Hawks' last dual of the season before the EIWA Championships.Â
For Brandon Paetzell, this match was more than a dual meet. This match was about proving he belonged with the nation's best. Facing No. 9 Brandon Courtney at 125, Paetzell made his 6-1 decision look easy.Â
After his speedy domination, Paetzell walked off the mat toward coach and friend Darian Cruz hugged him, and affirmed, "I told you so."Â
A statement he has been waiting years to say.Â
Paetzell's journey as a wrestler did not come with ease. Amid transferring from Rutgers after his freshman year, to dropping a weight class this season, Paetzell faced plenty of adjustment challenges.Â
However, Cruz has been there every step of the way, literally.Â
"It is funny because I actually competed against Brandon during his freshman year at Rutgers," Cruz laughed. "He was on the rough end of the stick on that one, that was the year I won the national championship."Â
Cruz, a three-time All-American for Lehigh and a current US National Team member in freestyle, said when Paetzell made his decision to transfer to Lehigh, he immediately took him under his wing.Â
He saw Paetzell as a humble, kind, quiet, disciplined and determined new teammate. Now, Cruz considers Paetzell a little brother.Â
Coach Pat Santoro attested to Paetzell's discipline skills. When a wrestler drops a weight class, there can be concerns about diet, strength and overall health.Â
"There was never an issue with him, I didn't have to worry about it because he did such an amazing job, he did it the right way," Santoro said. "He lives a very focused lifestyle, he's a really good person. You always want someone like him on the team."
Â
For Paetzell, he said he had a great support system around him during his transition. The struggles he faced were in his head.
"It was a mental battle at first, I doubted whether I could even cut down my weight," Paetzell said. "Then, it started becoming a reality and I told myself I could do this. Then, the bigger concerns were how I was going to perform and if it was going to be worth it, whether I was still going to be strong. That was an issue I had going into the first match."
Paetzell's first match at 125 was at the Journeyman Collegiate Classic tournament. Paetzell won his first match. And then he won the whole tournament.Â
"His development was unbelievable," Cruz said. "We knew it was going to take a lot of work and he understood and stayed disciplined week in and week out. It was never too much for him. He developed right away and had bigger and bigger wins."
Paetzell said that this season he broke out mentally more than anything else, and everything came together for him. He showed flashes of breakthrough moments last year, but also suffered from winnable losses.Â
He said this year he put himself on the map.
"I know a lot of guys put pressure on themselves," Paetzell said. "I want to win just as much, but now, I have been enjoying this process so much, even when it gets tough for me."
Coach Santoro said the coaching staff and team members expected Paetzell to have his breakthrough season, but the rest of the country did not.Â
"He got so good so quickly because he did all the little things right," Santoro said.
"When you take care of your body, sleep and stay on top of your school work as a student athlete, you take all the little stresses away and you can make big jumps. That is what he did."
Paetzell's test of true mental strength came at the EIWAs.Â
Expecting to win his bracket at 125, Paetzell fell to Columbia's Joe Manchio in the quarterfinals. Disappointed in himself, Paetzell said he took a step back and had an in depth conversation with every single one of his coaches. He knew he still had a job to do.
"After about an hour I had the mindset that I worked way too hard, I can't just throw in the towel," Paetzell said. "I can't let it get to me. I can't give up and I had to qualify for nationals. I went out and continued to plug away and battled back and got third."
Coach Santoro said that although the quarterfinal loss was disappointing to Paetzell, he handled it in a perfect way. He said when you have a goal and get beat, it is really hard to have a next match mindset. Paetzell buckled down for the team.
But despite his initial frustration, Paetzell said winning EIWAs as a team for the third consecutive year was his favorite memory of the season.
"I love wrestling and my love for the sport has grown more and more," Paetzell said. "I rediscovered my (love) sophomore year. I wasn't enjoying it as much as I am now. I have pretty big goals, All-American, being a National Champion and having my picture in the Caruso Complex."
This year, the National Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Santoro and Cruz both said they were confident Paetzell would have earned All-American honors on the mat (he was recognized as a first team All-American by the NWCA). However, Paetzell still has one more year to represent the Brown and White.Â
"The hardest thing for me was I had no choice but to obsess with the season ending because I had no distractions," Paetzell said. "To keep it in perspective people are sick and dying, and even though this is my life and it is a big deal to me, there are bigger things than wrestling."
Â
Players Mentioned
125
/ Men's Wrestling
125
/ Men's WrestlingLehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Thursday, February 20
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, December 04
Season Preview: Wrestling
Wednesday, October 30
