Wrestling Mindset

Gene Zannetti talks with Olympic Champion Kendall Cross about breaking down opponents with sport intelligence, placing low value on failures to stay optimistic, and why being motivated to compete matters more than being the best athlete.Timestamps:2:50 - Positive outlook and optimistic mindset4:01 - Being a cerebral wrestler without elite athleticism8:04 - Early influences9:55 - Demystifying the Olympic process12:40 - Naysayers doubting the unorthodox style16:35 - Social media's impact on young wrestlers today21:30 - High motivation to compete drives success23:30 - Placing low value on failures and mistakes🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti talks with coaches Mike Foca and Donny DeFilippis about why parents need to step back and let coaches do their job, the dangers of club hopping, and why customer-is-always-right doesn't apply to wrestling coaching.Timestamps:1:43 - The difficulty of coaching your own child12:28 - What parents should do when entering your room14:10 - Parents can't let go of their kids19:38 - Parents proving coaches wrong instead of kids proving themselves21:46 - Stop chasing kids and begging them to stay25:11 - Private lessons vs practice room development32:03 - Academy and military discipline in coaching40:28 - Club hopping destroys consistency and coachability🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti talks with Virginia Tech Head Coach Tony Robie about his kidney donation to an athlete's father, why effort matters more than results, eliminating the fear of getting tired, and how doing hard things strengthens your mind and spirit.Timestamps:4:21 - What makes Virginia Tech unique7:13 - Brotherhood and team culture10:00 - Donating a kidney to Norm Latona14:12 - Doing hard things strengthens your spirit15:50 - You can care too much17:20 - Coaching philosophies20:13 - Eliminating the fear of getting tired22:01 - Approach what makes you afraid🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti talks with Jackson Liberty High School Head Coach Gianni Ghione about the importance of continuity in coaching, the value of genuine passion, and why wrestling may not be for everyone.Timestamps:1:58 - Gianni's journey4:53 - Upcoming season6:00 - The continuity of coaching9:36 - You can't fake passion10:40 - What's changing and what stays the same14:15 - Social media's long-term effects18:36 - Wrestling is not for everyone21:30 - Jackson Liberty culture🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti talks with Ridge High School Head Coach Roy Dragon about the widening gap in high school wrestling, doing more than the top kids to close the distance, and why being a great person comes before being a great wrestler.Timestamps:3:49 - The evolution of New Jersey wrestling talent5:54 - Doing more than the top kids to close the gap7:17 - Social media's impact on young wrestlers10:34 - Watching and learning from elite wrestlers12:20 - The tight-knit wrestling community of the past16:06 - Public school mindset and representing your town20:06 - Creating great people first, wrestlers second21:45 - Wrestling is the toughest sport for parents too🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti talks with Warren Hills Head Coach K.C. Wanamaker about the importance of training your mind as much as your body, succeeding at public schools without making excuses, and why it's less about where you go and more about what you do when you're there.Timestamps:3:04 - Believe in yourself and train your mind4:17 - Wishing he had mindset training as an athlete8:18 - It's less about where you go, more about what you do9:00 - Building a high-level public school program11:44 - Stop making excuses and comparing to others15:03 - Competing against local powerhouse programs17:16 - Where athletes train and club opportunities19:29 - Building youth wrestling 🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti reconnects with longtime friend and teammate Matt Stanzione, Head Coach of Mountain Lakes High School Wrestling, to talk about the highs and lows of coaching, the evolution of youth sports, and the lessons wrestling teaches far beyond the mat. From childhood memories and rivalry stories to navigating setbacks as a coach, this episode dives into why persistence, relationships, and resilience matter most.Timestamps:3:40 – Growing up teammates: football, baseball, wrestling, and more7:55 – Starting a coaching career while still in college13:22 – Building the Mountain Lakes program and early struggles18:48 – Stepping away after a low point and learning perspective25:10 – Coming back as head coach with renewed purpose32:14 – Balancing family, teaching, and coaching for 20+ years40:28 – The importance of multi-sport athletes and avoiding burnout47:15 – How COVID impacted feeder programs and rebuilding numbers53:20 – Why wrestling makes everything else in life feel easier1:05:44 – The power of rivalries, friendships, and lifelong lessons from the sport🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti talks with Parsippany Hills Head Coach Chris Wells about overcoming adversity in wrestling, how social media affects young athletes, and why building great human beings matters more than just winning matches.Timestamps:4:03 - The importance of mindset in competition8:16 - College struggles and rock bottom moments10:20 - Parents' unconditional support changing everything12:06 - Learning from losses more than wins15:27 - Wrestling the same opponent repeatedly17:06 - What the mind can overcome vs. hold us back from20:14 - Fear of failure leading to self-sabotage24:40 - Social media's impact on young wrestlers🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI

Gene Zannetti talks with Coach John Azevado about the vocation of being a coach, the importance of pressure on wrestlers and their opponents, and why we change our mentality when wrestling a bigger name than us.Timestamps:6:45 - Showing freestyle to Kalika10:43 - Coaching from multiple perspectives13:03 - The vocation of being a coach15:34 - Wrestling culture on the East vs the West coast17:37 - Importance of pressure24:45 - How your pressure affects your opponent27:08 - Why we change mentality when we wrestle big names32:23 - The importance of faith🎯 This episode is sponsored by:🥗 Eat Clean Bro – eatcleanbro.comUse code MINDSET for 15% off your order💪 Champion Athletes Sports Nutrition – champion-athletes.comUse code MINDSET25 for a special discountPlease LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast and go through the archives to hear more great episodes.If you want to support the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating & review on Apple Podcasts.For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email mindset@wrestlingmindset.com🎙Stay connected with Wrestling Mindset🔗 Visit our website: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/📞 Book a free consultation: https://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1-on-1-coaching/Wrestling Mindset Social MediaInstagram: / wrestlingmindsetFacebook: / wrestlingmindsetTwitter: / wrestlingmindse🎧 Listen to our podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65xcqo9ZdPY36HeQOltPUI