When he was younger, Waleed Faraj would
sit in the stands, watch his older brother Marwan out-wrestle opponent
after opponent and dream of the day when he could do the same.
Well, that day arrived three years ago when Faraj became an
instant light-weight impact in Canton's line-up. Now, a senior, Faraj
is shooting for his third straight trip to the Division 1 individual
state meet.
The talented 125-pound grappler, who has earned a solid 3.2
grade-point average, took a few moments out of his busy day to speak
with PlymouthCantonSports.com's Ed Wright.
ED
WRIGHT: What do you like the most about wrestling?
Waleed Faraj: I like going hard at practice. It's different than
other sports because you're on the mat by yourself. It's more of an
individual effort.
EW: What's the toughest part of
the sport?
WF: Probably
weight cutting. It takes a lot of discipline, not to give in. It's hard
sometimes, but it's worth it in March.
EW:
What food do you miss the most during wrestling season?
WF: I miss
going out to eat, going to Buffalo Wild Wings. You can't go out to eat
at all. I eat a lot of peanut butter, spaghetti and pasta.
EW: What's it like wrestling in
the state finals at the Palace?
WF: It's
amazing. You walk out of the tunnel and there are thousands of people
there watching you. It's an unbelievable feeling.
EW: What's been the highlight of
your career so far? Is there a win you've had that stands out?
WF: Last year I wasn't ranked early in the
year and I beat the kid that was ranked eighth. After that I was
ranked. I was losing 8-7 and I got a takedown with about eight seconds
left. It was a big win for the team, too.
EW: What's your mindset when you
step on the mat?
WF: I'm
really, really focused. I try to break my opponent's will. I take him
down, let him up. Take him down, let him up. Take him down, let him up.
Then I try to pin him. We're in such good shape because we work so hard.
EW: What's your off-season
training regimen like?
WF: I wrestle
all summer, usually at Eastern Michigan. We practice in their room a
lot.
Ed Wright can be reached at
[email protected] or (734) 453-1980.