UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Going from weeks of carefully-crafted practices to self-isolation in an eerily empty State College, Vincenzo Joseph faced the largest match-up of his career – quarantine.
The 165-pound senior was weeks away from his last NCAA Championships appearance where he planned on making his third trip to the top of the podium. Joseph, who clinched two NCAA titles and a runner-up finish last year, had one last shot before he'd pursue a post-graduate wrestling career with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.
But as the tournament neared, Joseph worried his biggest obstacle wouldn't just be the top-notch competition, but instead, a pandemic rapidly spreading through the nation.
It felt like every day the wrestlers would gradually hear more rumors about possible delays, postponements and cancellations of the season. Coaches pushed for consistency in practices. Athletes continued with their training routines. But Joseph had his own reservations.
"I was walking to practice the day that they canceled the tournament," Joseph sighed. "I'd gotten a couple phone calls from people telling me they were going to cancel Nationals, so I already had a pretty good idea going into practice that we were done."
With so much uncertainty and misinformation circling the athletic community, even the coaches had no idea the severity of the situation.
"Even though we knew it was coming, it was pretty devastating for most of us, if not all of us," Joseph said. "I took it pretty hard at first. I understand why it happened since it was for a good reason, but it took me a few days to realize the extent. Obviously, I'm still not at peace with it, but it's something I have to deal with."
Joseph boasted a 15-1 record at 165 pounds during his senior season. And though he was looking to round out the year with a third trip to the top of the NCAA podium, Joseph now finds himself more focused on maintaining a good physical and mental state.
"We're kind of just sitting around waiting," Joseph said. "I have a little gym in my basement that I'm working out in, so I can kind of get active again right now. But we're just waiting till Rec [Hall] opens back up, so we can get in there."
But with the future unclear, waiting for those Rec Hall gates to open may be on the back burner for the senior. Instead, he's focusing on individual training.
"I want to keep wrestling. That's the plan right now. And just getting back in good shape since I kind of took some time off there afterwards," Joseph said. "I finally started working out again. I'm feeling pretty good and just getting ready for whatever's next."
When he's not training, he has plenty of time to focus on class work, cook dinner and hang out with fellow teammate Nick Lee, who is also spending his quarantine at State College. But Joseph's biggest addiction filling the wrestling void in his life is the popular Japanese manga TV series "Naruto."
"Nick Lee, Aaron [Brooks], Shakur [Rasheed] and Mark [Hall] have all been telling me to watch it. I've been dialed in," Joseph laughed. "I've gone through a few seasons in a couple days, so it's been a good time for me."
But for a three-time All-American, going from hours of practices to hours of binging television is a daunting task in itself. Missing the security of a routine, Joseph found himself starting a new daily habit: journaling.
"I write a little something every day, like what I need to do to stay motivated and just be better not just at wrestling, but as an individual," the 165-pounder said. "I think it's helping me stay focused. I'm only a few days in but hopefully it helps me in the long run."
With wrestling taking a temporary backseat in the senior's lives, the next big thing is graduation and the uncertainty to follow.
"I'm already trying to re-shift my focus onto what's next and it's hard right now because I really don't know when that specific date will be that I'm competing next," the senior said. "But that's all I have to look forward to right now."
Vincenzo's Quarantine Checklist
Favorite Netflix Series: Naruto
Favorite Music: Classic Rock, Alternative Hip-Hop
Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty Warzone
Favorite Meal: "Oh, that'll get me in trouble. I've been eating worse than in season. I'll leave it at that."
Favorite Thing to do when Bored: Netflix, Hiking or Journaling
