Monday MatChat: Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis

Monday MatChat: Mark Ellis Transcript

Recent Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Gorarrian Award recipient Mark Ellis stopped by Monday, Dec. 3, to answer your questions.

Ranked as high as 11th in the nation at heavyweight, Ellis pinned four of his seven opponents at the prestigious weekend tournament, recording a seventh-place finish after dropping Pittsburgh's Zach Schaeffler in 49 seconds. Ellis is currently 11-2 on the season.

The weekly MatChat session is a season-long campaign in which various TigerStyle wrestlers and staff will stop by to answer whatever questions you throw at them! Now's your chance to learn more about how the team prepares for the NCAA Championships, what work goes on in the practice room and what the life of a student-athlete involves.

Moderator: Be sure to get your questions in now as MatChat begins in one minute.

arkadelphia, ar: Ellis,growing up, what was your nickname that your family referred to you. Just curious...

Mark Ellis: I really didn't have much of a nickname. Most of my family called me Marko because my Dad's name is Mark as well. We used to call my sisters Little Rag-a-muffins.

Nacho St.Louis: Who is your biggest competition at this time and moment?

Mark Ellis: Right now I feel that I am my biggest competition. After this weekend I realized that there are a lot of things I still need to work on at this point. But, I am definitely willing to put in the time and work so that I'm hitting on all cylinders in March.

nick Edwardsville Illinois: Do you think that the team is going to be weaker without Ben Askren?

Mark Ellis: Ben is still very much a part of the team. Having him around coaching is very beneficial at this point. I feel like we are fully capable of winning a national title this year with the guys we have in the lineup.

Landon (Mexico): As a heavyweight, do you have to watch what you eat? Or do you have free regin to eat anything in site?

Mark Ellis: I can eat whatever I want but I feel like my gas tank and my stamina are two of my strengths when I wrestle. So, I like to be pretty selective about what I put in my body. I stay away from most fast food during the season. I eat what makes me feel good.

Don, Centralia: Hey! Congrats on the Gorarrian Award! That's pretty cool. Who was your toughest opponent over the weekend? Also, is there any one dual you're really looking forward to this year?

Mark Ellis: Thank you for the congrats on the award! I feel honored to receive the award but I'm not too pleased with how I came about getting it. I feel like I probably would not have received the award if I had won the matches that I was supposed to.

Zach, Columbia: Do you think it's any harder to be the last guy out on the mat competing? Like for the Hofstra dual...it all came down to you for the win?

Mark Ellis: In the Hofstra instance, I was not necessarily expecting to be in the situation I was. But, when I realized what I had to do I felt a sense of urgency and I was not going to be denied. I felt like I had to do that for my team. I was very pleased with being able to contribute in that sort of way.

Jake (O'Fallon): Who do you drill with most in the room? Sounds like Missouri has a pretty good group of heavyweights this year...good luck with the season.

Mark Ellis: I do have good workout partners. I work out with both the heavyweights as well as Max Askren a lot. Every once in a while I like to mix it up and workout with Raymond (Jordan). It's good to have the heavyweights because I can work on things that I see most of the time in other heavyweights. It also is helpful to work out with Max and Raymond to keep me ready and learn to move better than I would with most other heavyweights in the country.

Brad, Columbia: What's your favorite sport to watch...besides wrestling? Did you play any other sports in high school?

Mark Ellis: Football is definitely my favorite other sport to watch. I like watching college and NFL. I have some really good friends on the Missouri football team and so I am always excited to watch them succeed and have the season they had this year. I did play football in high school. I enjoyed high school football very much. Actually, I was very tempted to try and play college football.

Tom (St. Peters): What's been your greatest wrestling memory so far?

Mark Ellis: Probably Nationals last season. It was really exciting to get that taste in my mouth. I was very honored to be a part of history being made last season with being on the stage and the team taking third place. I really feel like my greatest memories are coming very soon. I can't wait for the National tournament this year.

Drew Bappe (Columbia): Congratulations on an impressive run thru the wrestlebacks at LV! Is Morrison long and lanky, if so, does this body type present unique stylistic problems?

Mark Ellis: Morrison was kind of a stronger build. He's kind of quick on his feet and I did not wrestle close to my capability. I'm disappointed with that loss. I don't feel that any particular style is going to give me problems. I would like to wrestle him again and there would be a different outcome.

Drew Bappe (Columbia): Which Hwt are you most looking forward to wrestling this year?

Mark Ellis: I don't have one really in particular that sticks out in my mind. Whichever ones are going to stand in my way to reach my goal of being a National Champ.

James (Fort Lauderdale): Hey Mark. What's your go to pinning combination? You seem to have the ablility to put down your opponents quickly.

Mark Ellis: I feel like there are a couple of different strengths that I have on top, one being able to turn my opponent and end matches early. I really feel confident on my feet, but we constantly are working pinning combinations and grinding people on top. I feel like all of the work we put in on top in the practice room is something that carries over into tournaments, not just for me, but for the whole team, being able to get bonus points.

Mark Ellis: Thanks for all of the questions. I'm heading up to practice. We're getting ready for our dual with UTC and Pittsburgh. Hope to see you all out at a dual this year.

Moderator: Stay tuned for next week's MatChat and be sure to get those questions in early....

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