Weekly Weigh-Ins: DJ Russo
Sep 17 | 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 the RU heavyweight senior DJ Russo to discuss getting the season underway, his summer workouts, and his goals for the upcoming season.
ScarletKnights.com:
DJ, team's back, season's underway. How does it feel?
DJ Russo:
It feels great. Everyone's hitting the ground running. Everyone's been working out over the summer and it's showing. We don't have guys falling behind. We have people going at midseason pace and that means that we're going to be that much better come midseason.
ScarletKnights.com:
What are some of the things that you did over the summer to keep yourself fresh and ready for the upcoming season?
DJ Russo:
I did a lot of wrestling in the beginning of the summer and then I tapered that off and did a little bit more weight training and athletic strength-type things. This way, when I came back wrestling is something that I really miss. I did a little bit of wrestling, but I did a lot more strength work.
ScarletKnights.com:
You are one of nine guys with prior NCAA experience. How much does that motivate you to keep going and get an All-America or National Championship?
DJ Russo:
I've wrestled the best out there so when it comes down to it I know exactly what I have to do and how good I have to be. Usually, it's not that much. It's the little things you have to do.
ScarletKnights.com:
You mentioned earlier that you have wrestled a lot of close matches with some of the nation's best. What are some of the things you are doing and some of the mental things that you're focusing on to get an All-America spot?
DJ Russo:
I've been doing a lot of strength stuff over the summer. Wrestling at 285 and weighing in the low 230's last year at the NCAA Tournament, my size and strength was a disadvantage. Now I'm up around 250 so the added size and strength is obviously going to help me. I've been developing a better attack on my feet so I feel like I'm ready to go with the best. I feel like I'm one of the best right now.
Visit RU wrestling on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1603112720499&oid=117162087457&saved) for the extended interview where Russo discusses the state of the RU program and his relationship with the coaching staff.
