Tyler McCormickTyler McCormick

MatChat: Tyler McCormick

 Tyler McCormick

Tyler McCormick Chat Transcript

On Nov. 27, junior Tyler McCormick stopped by to answer questions on Mizzou's 133-pounder's season to date.

The chat session is the third in a season-long campaign (Monday Mat Chat) in which fans will have the opportunity to communicate with various members of the Missouri coaching staff and team. Each chat session will be held Monday at 2:30 p.m. (CT).

Coming off of a seventh place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships, McCormick, a Tiger captain, is expected to make a run at the 133-pound national title. A success off the mat as well, McCormick last year was the only wrestler in the Big 12 Conference to post a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. His combination of athletic and academic success earned him ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team honors last year.

Moderator: Once again, we're about 10 minutes away from our MatChat with All-American Tyler McCormick. Get your questions in now!
Steven ( Independence): First I just wanted to say great job. The program is definatly heading in the right direction. What do you think it will take to keep it going there.
Tyler McCormick: Steven-Hard work and dedication both on and off the mat by our incoming recruits to keep the tradition that we have started.
Conquistadors (Chesterfield): Congrats on your All-American run last year and your outstanding academic performance as well! Without giving away state secrets, is there one aspect of your game that you've most worked on since last spring? Best of luck this season.
Tyler McCormick: I've most worked on pinning this year. I've got a lot of decisions an major decisions last year. This year I'm going to work on pinning a lot more often.
Joel (Springfield): I was wondering what you did to maintain your weight throughout the season? Is it a difficult task?
Tyler McCormick: Maintaining your weight is about discipline. As long as you stay disciplined with your diet it's not a difficult task. I know I love to eat fruit and breakfast is a big meal for me everyday. I like eating cereak and fruit and stuff like that. I haven't eaten fast food in about four years. We pretty much work out about every day for about 3.5 hours. Lifting weight and wrestling.
Jake (Omaha): Congrats on your All-America honors last season and best of luck in your run for a title this year. I was wondering how you manage to balance your time between wrestling and academics. I would think it's pretty hard to find enough hours in the day to get it all done. And you manage to hold a 4.0 GPA. What's your secret?
Tyler McCormick: Organization. I keep an organizer which has basically my whole day plane out for me. I follow that to make sure I get everything done. Time management is a big key in college. For the average student, but it's so much further for an athlete. You really have to have your time planned out.
David Columbia: Tyler, I noticed you didn't wrestle at the Black and gold or Missouri Open, have you been injured? Are you expected to wrestle at the Cliff Kleen Invite? Best of luck this year on the mat.
Tyler McCormick: David-I actually did wrestle in the black and gold against one of our new outstanding recruits, Willie Saxton and I do plan to wrestle in the Cliff Keen Invite in Primm, Nev.
Matt (Newberg): I see that Missouri is hosting the Big 12 Championships this year. How excited is the team about that?
Tyler McCormick: The team is very excited. It's a big deal to have a home field advangage. You get to sleep in your own bed the night before. It's exciting to have the Big 12's here this year and Nationals the next two.
Steve (Moberly): What sold you on the Missouri program? Was the fact that your brother wrestled here a major contributor? Good luck this year.
Marc (St. Louis): Were you surprised at all by your success last season? Us fans knew you were a great wrestler but it was still a pleasant surprise.
Tyler McCormick: No, can't say I was surprised. I know we have one of the top rooms in the nation and by competing in the Big 12 you compete against the best of the best. When I went to Nationals last season I felt really prepared for the competition.
Frank (Joplin): Which team are you looking forward to facing the most this season? Are there any other matches that the team has circled on the calendar?
Tyler McCormick: Well, Frank let's take this one match at a time. You're next match is your most important match every time.
Bill (Minneapolis): Congrats on your All-America honors last year. Who do you see as your biggest competition at 133 this year?
Tyler McCormick: I have to say that it's really too early in the year to determine the top competition. A lot of my losses last year were to Shawn Bunch (Edinboro) and I lost to Tom Klum (Wisconsin) and I lost a couple more times, but revenged those loses later in the season. Most of my competition from last year has either graduated or was someone I beat later in the season. So...we'll just have to wait and see.
Moderator: Thanks once again to everyone who submitted questions. Next week sophomore 184 pound wrestler Raymond Jordan will stop by and take your questions at 2:30 p.m. (CT) Monday, Dec. 4.
Moderator: Be sure to check out Ben Askren's move of the week online at mutigers.com. Tyler McCormick's move will be put on line tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.