Feb. 4, 2016
By Ryan Hickey, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" For a team as talented as the No. 1 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, competition can be found throughout the entire roster. Arguably the most competitive weight on the team is the battle at 165 between Shakur Rasheed and Geno Morelli.
Throughout the season, Rasheed and Morelli have battled back and forth to crack the 165 starting spot. While the constant competition could create some tension and hostility between the two, they both have a healthy relationship, no different than any other on the team.
"It doesn't matter who it is, we are all competitive. Just because me and [Morelli] are fighting for the same spot, there's no negativity towards that," said Rasheed. "That's part of this sport and mostly part of our program. We got four guys at the same weight class that can all be All-Americans. That's just the way it goes. That's what makes us who we are. We are friends."
Aside from their relationship, another reason why Rasheed says there is no hostility between the two is because of how competitive the entire team is. The intensity that is brewed everyday in practice is the reason, according to Rasheed, why Penn State is not like any other team.
"No matter what weight you're at, we are all going to be competitive because that's what we do. That's why Penn State is so good. In here in this room, everything's a competition," said Rasheed. "Anytime I wrestle any of these guys, that's the way it's going to be. We go into practice and the best way to train is to train as if it's a match, as if it's real competition. We help each other, but we are competitive. Everyone in here are teammates at the end of the day."
Rasheed's freshman year has not gone according to his plan, as the New York product was hoping to have fewer losses at this point in the season, but is excited to keep improving his regime. This season has also brought a lot of lessons for the 17th-ranked wrestler, with the biggest one being trusting his coaches. Learning to trust the coaches is most beneficial when Rasheed finds himself in a rut, as it is very tempting to try and figure it out himself.
"I learned to always trust your coaches. No matter how hard it gets, they can help you and they will do what's best for you," said Rasheed. "That's something that I really picked up this year. Anytime I'm having a struggle with something, I know who to go to to help me out with whatever is going on with me."
Part of the roller coaster year for Rasheed has been his impressive performance against some of the nations best. Posting a 14-6 record and ranked No. 17, the freshman has been able to step up in the biggest moments. Wrestling against six ranked grapplers so far this season, the freshman has posted a 4-2 record, wit the most impressive and possibly shocking outcome by pinning Purdue's Chad Welch, who at the time was ranked No. 5.
While having this early success against many of the best wrestlers in his weight class, Rasheed still knows there are always things to work on. One of the biggest areas that the freshman is looking to improve upon during the rest of the season is being comfortable at his weight.
"Just feeling better down at the weight. That's the biggest issue right now," said Rasheed. "Once that's gone, I'm not worried about anything. I'm 100 percent confident in my wrestling ability and all I have to go is get everything feeling good from when I'm at 165 and there's nothing to worry about."
For any athlete, being in a routine can be just as important as anything else they do throughout the week. For Rasheed this season, it has been tough at times to find that rhythm with the constant lineup shuffle. The freshman has been able to adapt, which is something that the Coram, N.Y., native says is part of the sport. This adaption is why Rasheed believes he is always ready for every match, whether he's in the lineup or not.
Attitude, according to Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, is the biggest attribute that Rasheed brings to the team and is one of the reasons why he's been so successful this season.
"Generally when people are evenly matched, you go with the guy that you feel has the better attitude and I'm not saying that Geno has a bad attitude, but I just think Shakur is just a guy that will do anything you ask him to do and wants to win," said Sanderson.
This positive attitude comes from his roots, as Rasheed is the first person in his family to go away to college. Seeing where he came from and what some of the people back at home are doing, the freshman is just grateful to be here doing the right thing.
"From the people I see back home and what they are doing and then I see the position I am in now, I just have to feel blessed," said Rasheed. "Coaches always talk about gratitude and that's exactly what it's about. I'm just so grateful to be here and honestly that's just the way it is. Coming from where I was at to where I am now, it's a lot."