Weekly Weigh-Ins: Dan Rinaldi
Oct 27 | Wrestling
ScarletKnights.com is pleased to announce a new weekly column dedicated to the wrestling program called Weekly Weigh-Ins. Each week leading up to the Scarlet vs. Black intersquad dual (Tuesday, Nov. 2), ScarletKnights.com will sit down with coaches and student-athletes for exclusive features and Q&A's. Additionally, Weekly Weigh-Ins will post exclusive video content to the RU wrestling social media pages of Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117162087457) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/ruwrestling).
For this week's Weekly Weigh-In, ScarletKnights.com sat down with RU 184-pounder Dan Rinaldi to discuss getting the season underway, moving up to 184-pounds and having the NCAA's in Philadelphia.
ScarletKinghts.com:
Dan, the season is almost here, how excited are you to get underway?
Dan Rinaldi:
It's fun coming back from last year, going to the national tournament and all. I've been chomping at the bit to get back on the mat. So hopefully, I'll be ready to go by the beginning of the season and we'll have a good year.
ScarletKinghts.com:
You mentioned the NCAA Tournament. You're one of nine guys coming back with NCAA experience. Can you comment on how having a bunch of guys who have been there before motives you and the team more?
Dan Rinaldi:
Being there before puts things into perspective about what it takes to be an All-American, which is ultimately everyone's goal. Having been there before, you know what you have to do. It's kind of overwhelming if you haven't been there before, when you think about the tournament and what it entails to be an All-American, but having been there before, it doesn't seem that farfetched. Now it is a realistic goal that you can accomplish.
ScarletKinghts.com:
This year you're making a change in weight classes going from 174-pounds to 184-pounds. Could you comment on how that transition has been going for you?
Dan Rinaldi:
I put on some weight this year and got pretty heavy. I'm just doing what I can to get bigger so I can succeed at 184. Hopefully, I adjust well to it. I don't see any reasons why I shouldn't, but we'll see how it goes.
ScarletKinghts.com:
Being a Jersey guy, what does it mean for you and the Rutgers program to have the NCAAs in Philadelphia?
Dan Rinaldi:
It's great. Usually they'll have it in the middle of the country so it's ideal for everyone, but personally I love that it's going to be in Philly. Everyone I talk to already has their tickets and tells me "not to put any pressure on you" kidding around, but it's great. I love it and it's going to be an absolutely fun atmosphere.
Visit RU wrestling on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ruwrestling) for the extended interview where Rinaldi discusses who has helped him the most in making the transition to 184-pounds.
