2023 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 15, 2023

Spencer Lee

Austin O'Connor

Roman Bravo-Young

BOK Center

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Spencer Lee, Austin O'Connor and Roman Bravo-Young Roman.

Q. Wanted to ask you, first of all, about Penn State overall. You guys are the favorites coming in. What's the mood of the team and kind of feeling like you guys just have to take care of business maybe to win this?

ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG: One thing about Penn State we always keep everything the same, coming in here with a lot of gratitude. We're just grateful to be here. We don't change up. Just know the tournament. The sun's going to come up on Sunday. We're ready to go. It's going to be fun. Just one match at a time and enjoy it.

Q. Coming in here, you've beaten Oklahoma State's Daton Fix in the finals the last two years. You guys are on a collision course for that to maybe happen again this year if you guys all win. You're going to have a lot of fans against you here. Does that give you any more motivation, or what are your thoughts coming into enemy territory kind of thing and going against him?

ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG: Take it one match at a time. It is what it is. Just gotta go out there and focus on what I do that's it. One match at a time. We'll worry about that when we get there.

Q. Austin, you won this two years ago. And then you moved up to 157. Some people may have forgotten you. How did you make sure that people did not forget you?

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: I mean, I've been here the whole time. This is my sixth year down here. I'm ready to go. Coming into the tournament 16-0, but just going to take one match at a time. And hopefully we see another finals appearance on Saturday.

Q. Spencer, I was thinking about your past, wrestling Yianni when you were 10 years old. It made me think of all you guys, may have wrestled someone else in this tournament in a different weight class as kids. Think of that, this is your last tournament as young wrestles. What advice would you give to young kids that may want to be here someday.

SPENCER LEE: If I had some advice to give the young kids it would be keep enjoying and having fun, keep that passion. Like I said, we've all been wrestling with each other for a long time. I've competed against Austin. I've competed against all these guys my entire life -- on PA teams versus their representative state.

So just keep having fun with it, enjoy the process. And if you keep that passion high, eventually maybe you'll be up on this stage one day.

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: He's definitely the guy to listen to. He whooped me back up in the day. But I'd say the one thing I keep in mind is consistency is key. I mean, I've always stayed true to that. It's helped me get through college. Consistency in my training, consistency on the mat, consistency everywhere in my life. It gets you through what you need to get through.

ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG: I'm a big believer in hard work to maximize all opportunities one day if this ends and it comes by fast. Just enjoy it, the ups and downs.

Q. Spencer, a year ago you weren't in this tournament. You were out with an injury. Could you contrast your emotions and maybe your physical limitations a year ago to where you are today?

SPENCER LEE: I mean, I was coming off double knee surgery. I was just trying to get healthy. I was cheering on my teammates. They were making a run for the team title and we were doing our best. And I was just doing my role as a mentorship role.

I wasn't really able to do much for a pretty long time. Took me about a year to get 100 percent. I'm doing pretty good now.

Q. Spencer, you mentioned the team race was talked about, where you feel Iowa is and that, and going against Penn State. And what do you guys need to do to be able to pull this out?

SPENCER LEE: Obviously they're definitely the favorites. They've proven that this year. And they're obviously going to be very tough to beat. But when all is said and done, it's one match at a time, like Roman said, for us as well.

There's 10 guys, if we do our job, the team title will come. If we don't we aren't going to win. That's all we have to do is go out there, do our job and focus individually. It's a selfish sport, but it's a team sport. So I'll go out there and do my job, hopefully my teammates can do that as well, do our best and make sure we're having fun.

Q. Austin, a year ago you were injured at this tournament. The extent wasn't known at that point in time. But how excited are you to get another crack at the tournament being 100 percent healthy?

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: Going into this tournament, I couldn't be more grateful. To come back with a sixth year and, I mean, like one person said, maybe people forgot about me.

But I've been wrestling since 2018, just grinding every year. Last year kind of came into the tournament banged up, didn't get to where I wanted to be. I'll show people this year I'm the best in the country, and I'll be in the finals match going for another national title.

Q. Austin, what have you seen from Peyton Robb and Levi Haines this year? Obviously they will be your two biggest competitors for your first national title at 157.

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: Honestly, they're just grinders. I talk about consistency in wrestling. And those guys just both have a solid style. They're going to be tough to get openings on them. And that's why they've had the success that they've had.

But I feel like I'm the best person to do it. Being healthy this year is going to be a big factor. I think I'll be able to open a lot more offense up and be ready when the time comes.

Q. Roman, you guys have talked about how you kind of all know each other and have known each other for years. Tell me about -- have you gotten to know Daton at all off the mat? And what do you know about him, and how have you guys related at all, if ever?

ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG: I don't have an answer for that. I haven't really talked to him. But I've always watched him wrestle. Not a really good answer for that. Haven't really got to know him. But appreciate him. He makes me a better person.

Q. I'm originally from New Mexico, known for really hot chili. When you think about your team who can eat hot food and who is like don't even put it next to me. Who is brave and who is not so brave?

ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG: I can answer that for myself. I'm Mexican, half Mexican, so I eat Mexican food all day. Hot food, I don't know.

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: I can definitely say I do not eat hot food. I'll be the soft one on our team that stays away from it. I couldn't tell you who could eat the hottest food on the team.

SPENCER LEE: Definitely not me. My dad always said, and I agree with him, we don't like food that bites back. I'm not a fan of that.

But gosh, there's some guys on my team that would be probably good at it. Real Woods probably because I could see him toughing it out, be the best at it. He'd make it a pride thing. Just eat it and be stoic.

Q. Roman, this is going to be your last tournament. What does it mean going into this, a chance to capture a third straight title for your team?

ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG: It means a lot to me. Take a lot of pride in it. But at one point it's just a stepping stone. I'm trying to make the freestyle world team too. So, not really -- just grateful, not really sweating it. Whatever happens happens and keep going forward. I've got bigger things on my mind, too.