Wrestling Mindset

Gene Zannetti talks with Dragon Wrestling Club founder Eleazar De Luca about why cutting weight is overrated, how confidence comes from drilling proper technique, and teaching wrestlers to shoot to positions of strength instead of uncertainty.Timestamps:2:40 - High school wrestlers focus on the wrong things3:38 - Learning from his own mistakes7:16 - Soviet Union model: one coach for life10:36 - Drilling proper technique and chain wrestling12:23 - Teaching proper vs improper wrestling positions17:00 - Confidence is brought by the drill20:10 - Competition frequency recommendations27:04 - USA Wrestling's systematic approach🎯 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 Woodbridge High School Head Coach Mike Monaco about kids wrestling to avoid disappointing parents instead of for themselves, how social media creates unrealistic expectations at young ages, and why there's no better feeling than being the underdog who lets it fly.Timestamps:2:03 - Parental pressure and wrestling for yourself5:44 - Professional-level coaching from a young age7:27 - Learning from losses even when you do everything right10:19 - Weight management and discipline13:25 - Wrestling community brings different people together19:06 - The sport is growing21:14 - Being the 10 seed with nothing to lose25:00 - Loading up districts and wrestling the best🎯 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 West Essex Head Coach Michael Markey about why wrestling has become mentally heavier with social media and national exposure, balancing tough competition with building confidence, and why coaches need mindset training as much as their athletes.Timestamps:1:15 - How social media has made wrestling heavier4:37 - Balancing between testing and confidence building9:17 - Mindset as the edge when everyone has access to technique10:20 - Battling imposter syndrome14:22 - Staying current as competition gets tougher19:06 - Wrestling as a self-development tool, not just winning20:26 - Coaches need mindset training too24:11 - Forcing your goals versus their goals🎯 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 Brick Township Head Coach Joe Lindenbaum about why kids and coaches change every two to three years, reframing nerves as excitement for competition, and building community to keep wrestlers home in your program.Timestamps:1:55 - Weight cutting struggles and better nutrition resources3:02 - Kids change in cycles every 2-3 years6:19 - Having fun and incorporating games into practice7:11 - Reframing nervous as excited for competition10:01 - Focus on what you have, not what others have10:49 - Building community to keep wrestlers home15:43 - Scouting helps some but hurts many more18:24 - Off-season focus on improvement, not just wins🎯 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 High Point Head Coach Billy Smith about overcoming nerves through deep breathing and relaxation, why team wrestling prepares athletes for individual success, and keeping fundamentals basic for 50+ years of program success.Timestamps:0:46 - Struggling with nerves despite confident preparation3:53 - The moment deep breathing beat the nerves5:13 - Kids need structure and guidance with checklists6:28 - Overthinking as a cerebral wrestler10:17 - Love winning but more than just a competitor14:00 - Team goals prepare you for individual goals18:01 - Being part of something bigger than yourself22:15 - Managing personalities harder than coaching technique🎯 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 Rutgers RTC Coach Kyle Kiss about belief being the biggest battle at every level, why middle school results don't predict college success, and focusing on long-term development instead of immediate wins and tournament pressure.Timestamps:1:40 - Building Triumph and Garden State Wrestling4:32 - Summer travel with international competition9:46 - Biggest lesson: belief is always a battle12:51 - Mental struggles at every level of wrestling17:33 - Middle school phenoms don't always pan out18:10 - Half of college wrestlers weren't best in middle school20:14 - Writing down mental reminders before matches22:22 - Focus on scoring points today, not future🎯 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 Southern Regional Head Coach Dan Roy about using hard training to build mental toughness, why kids need to understand the "why" behind their work, and learning that confidence issues made him a better coach for understanding his wrestlers' struggles.Timestamps:2:59 - 23 years at Southern Regional5:59 - Kids become like your own children10:53 - Community support and environment at Southern13:40 - Wrestling teaches life lessons, not just winning17:16 - Train hard so adversity doesn't break you mentally20:20 - Importance of warm-up and nutrition routine24:17 - Different kids need different motivation approaches33:16 - Gratitude mindset: "I get to" not "I have to"🎯 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 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