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5 Questions With Christian Reed

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

Durant senior 125-pounder Christian Reed never has shied away from the physical sports, and he got into wrestling after some productive time in martial arts, where he was twice a KickUSA national champion.

So you made the transition from martial arts to wrestling. What was it that led you to wrestling?

I liked the physical sports like that and it seemed pretty close. I came in and talked to Coach Dennis Kitko and he told me to come out to the next conditioning camp, and I just stuck with it.

Is there anything that you learned in martial arts training that you find yourself using in wrestling?

Actually, I first started with a bunch of foot sweeps. I used to be a foot sweeper; that's how I'd wrestle. I had a little judo under my belt but not a lot. I had like one or two throws. Actually in my first JV tournament I threw someone and got a potentially dangerous call so I had to change my style up to, you know, shooting, and start working my style up like that.

Describe yourself now on the mat?

I just come out there and I kind of like to please the crowd. I just go out there and keep going, going and going. I like to be aggressive in matches.

So you're a crowd pleaser, huh? Do you hear the crowd when you wrestle, sort of try to feed off it?

When I'm in a dual meet and I hear somebody cheering me on, I go. I get pumped and I'm ready.

In your final year, what are you expecting from yourself?

I've got to win a state championship, that's my goal right now. Me and the guys that work with me in the wrestling room, Yamil Crespo and Derrick Hudson, we're pushing each other. I'm working as hard as I can and having those other guys pushing me. It's all or nothing.

Adam Adkins

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