Senior Feature - Jeff Foust
2/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 6, 2006
Throughout his high school and collegiate career, Missouri wrestler Jeff Foust has earned many titles and honors with countless hours of tireless work on the mat and in the weight room. Foust's extensive work ethic helped him become an undefeated state champion his senior year of high school and a Big 12 Champion in 2003-04.
Foust was named a captain this season, and he believes that his dedication in the off-season is one of the reasons he earned the honor. "It's definitely a privilege," Foust said. "I always try to work hard in the summer and I think that's one of the big reasons I am a captain. The other captains are also hard workers in the summer, which helps them do better in the regular season. That sets an example for the younger guys so they know what they need to be doing to get better every year." In high school, Foust was a three-sport athlete and lettered in wrestling, football and track. Foust said playing football and running track helped him with wrestling by keeping him involved in athletics and solidifying his work ethic during the off-season.
"Doing anything athletic will help you in doing other athletic things," Foust said. "[Football and baseball] helped me by making sure I kept on working hard."
In 2001, Foust's senior season, he went undefeated and won the 4A Missouri state championship. After finishing a successful junior season, Foust made up his mind to be the state champion his senior year. "I put in a lot of time and worked really hard the summer before my senior year," Foust said. "I made up my mind that no matter what I would be the state champ, I thought about who could give me a close match and I made sure that I was outworking them. My senior year I felt good because I felt like I deserved to beat everyone because I had put so much work in during the summer."
Despite being an undefeated state champion his senior year, Foust was not heavily recruited and walked on to the Missouri team. "I went to senior nationals and I didn't do well," Foust said. "That tournament is big for getting scholarship offers from D 1 schools and I came out and wrestled poorly so I didn't get many offers." After walking on, Foust picked up valuable experience wrestling unattached in open tournaments during a redshirt season. Foust went 7-7 his freshman season including a 2-0 showing at the Central Missouri State Open and a third place finish in the freshman/sophomore division of the Missouri Open. During his sophomore season, Foust had an impressive 7-4 win over National Champion Jake Rosholt of Oklahoma State in the Tigers' dual match Dec. 1. Foust also took third at the Central Missouri State Open on Nov. 18. He also wrestled once at 197 pounds, his current weight, winning the match against Harvard's Eddie Jones 7-6. In his junior season, Foust completed the transition to 197 pounds and finished the season with a 13-5 record in dual meets. He took second in the Southern Scuffle Dec. 28-29, losing in the championship match to No. 1 ranked and 2003 All-American and National Champion Damien Hahn of Minnesota in a close 5-3 decision. Foust was seeded third in the Big 12 championships March 6 and won the 197 pound title with win over Oklahoma State's Rusty Blackmon in the title match.
"Winning the Big 12 championship was one of the highlights of my career," Foust said. "I want to win again this year and hopefully make All-American which would be the biggest accomplishment of my career." At the end of his junior season, Foust went to the national championship meet where he went 2-2. He started his senior season strong, with wins in his first seven matches. He also had victories over three ranked opponents, defeating No. 9 Tyrone Byrd of Illinois, No. 17 Joel Weimer of Ohio and he beat No. 18 Trevor Smith of Iowa State twice. This season, Foust has started off strong again with a third place finish in the Central Missouri State Open and a 10-4 overall record with two of his losses coming against top-five opponents. For the rest of the season, Foust has many goals.
"I mainly want to stay healthy," Foust said. "I want to keep on working hard and winning as many matches as possible and return to nationals." Jeff's motivating factor, what he likes the most about his sport, is also the catalyst for his success on the mat.
"You get to push yourself," Foust said. "It's up to you how well you do even if you don't have the most talent, you can make up for it with hard work and experience."
Foust will graduate with a degree in nutrition and fitness this May.
--Written By Jeremy Anders, MU Media Relations Student Assistant
