So far this season, Stephen Dwyer's record speaks for itself.
Dwyer, one of only two true Nebraska sophomores who didn't redshirt as a freshman, has compiled a 12-2 record in the 165-pound weight class.
Jordan Burroughs, the other true sophomore for the Cornhuskers, said he and his teammates always look forward to watching Dwyer wrestle because they can usually count on him for a victory.
"He is a really hard-nosed wrestler that practices hard every day," Burroughs said. "I am just glad that he is in the lineup."
Dwyer finished his freshman season with a 19-13 overall record. The Illinois native clinched a bid to the 2007 NCAA Championships after securing a third-place finish at the Big 12 Conference Championships.
Dwyer finished 1-2 in his first appearance at the national meet, and he hopes to use that experience to achieve even more this season.
"It was a good experience to see what the competition is like at the highest level," Dwyer said. "It is definitely an advantage."
When Dwyer was young, he said, wrestling was a big part of his life. He said he practiced all the time.
Once he started wrestling in college, Dwyer set a goal of becoming an All-American.
Dwyer said he tries to block out distractions and tries to become a better wrestler by not focusing on rankings. He said it is nice to get recognition, but the rankings are just somebody's opinion, and it won't make a difference until he can prove himself.
Though he is one to keep his goals to himself, Dwyer said he mainly wants to focus on his own wrestling skills - no matter the opponent.
"I will respect someone and what they are good at," said Dwyer, who will compete in this weekend's Las Vegas Invitational. "But it is not going to make a difference on what I am going to do."
He tries to ignore all the hype around the matches. Dwyer said if he let that type of stuff get to him, all the excitement may wear him out before the match even begins. It was something he learned when he was younger, when he would often get really nervous before matches and wouldn't be able to wrestle up to his potential.
"I told myself, 'I know I care about this,'" Dwyer said, "but I have to take all my emotions out of it and act like I don't in order for me to perform better."
danaahrens@dailynebraskan.com
