ITHACA, N.Y.—Cornell wrestling freshman has been named the 2010 Amateur Wrestling News Rookie of the Year after capturing the NCAA title at this year's championships. Fellow freshman Steve Bosak also made the All-Rookie team.
From the May 2010 Amateur Wrestling News
Cornell's Dake Snares AWN Rookie Award
By Lindsey Mechalik
Cornell freshman Kyle Dake entered his collegiate career with a goal of winning a NCAA title at the end of his rookie campaign. Dake never waivered from that goal and turned his dream of standing on top of the podium into a reality at the 2010 NCAA championships. Instead of folding under the pressure of entering the second semester as the top ranked wrestler at 141 pounds, Dake thrived from the high expectations and finished his freshman season with an impressive 34-2 record and an individual NCAA title.
One of the reasons that Dake seems to have found success so early in his collegiate career is his positive attitude.
“Kyle is a great asset to our team as a leader as well as a wrestler,” Cornell head coach Rob Koll said about why Dake had what it took to be a NCAA champion. “He leads by example, with a youthful exuberance and a positive attitude that is contagious. He brings that same attitude into every aspect including sports, life and school. Kyle motivates coaches to want to work hard with our athletes, his teammates to want to work out, and kids who are looking at Cornell to want to come to our school.
You can't force what he brings to the wrestling room and mat. We can't coach optimism and it is hard to change an athlete's overall outlook on life. Kyle brings his optimistic outlook on life into the room every day. We want to bring more athletes in with the same attitude.”
During the course of the season, Dake always had his sights set on the end goal of an NCAA title. Like all athletes, he experienced bumps along the way of a match that might not have started to his expectations. Dake continued to excel by learning to adapt to all situations.
“One of the reasons that Kyle is so successful is that he sticks with a game plan,” Koll explained. “He has a plan for any scenario he may encounter on the mat. Most kids panic if a match starts to not go their way, but he is patient and never panics. We saw that in action in our very first home dual against Maryland and he carried that throughout the season. This will continue to help Kyle in everyday life long after he is done wrestling.”
All wrestlers take the mat wanting to win, but it takes more than that drive to create a champion.
“A lot of people wrestle because that is what they have always done, or just because they are good at it,” Koll reflected. “Kyle has always enjoyed it. He enjoys the entire wrestling experience including drilling and working out. Many wrestlers succeed just because they want to win. Kyle wants to win, but to him it's not a job, but a way of life. That is why he continues to get better throughout the season, and I look forward to seeing him progress throughout his career.”
Dake grew up around five miles from the Cornell campus and follows in the footsteps of former Big Red NCAA champions Travis Lee, Jordan Leen and Troy Nickerson all of whom he watched wrestle on East Hill. The freshman draws a significant crowd of fans that have followed him throughout his high school career and now cheer him on at Cornell.
“It is great to be able to wrestle in front of people that have followed me throughout my entire wrestling career,” Dake said about wrestling for Cornell. “My entire life I knew I wanted to wrestle in college. I attended the very first wrestling match that was in the Friedman Wrestling Center. I remember sitting in the stands, looking around, and knowing that this is where I wanted to wrestle someday. There is a picture of that first match in the entry to the Friedman [wrestling center]. I am in the picture sitting in the stands.”
With living so close to Cornell, Dake was on Koll's radar at an early age.
“Sometimes when Kyle comes into the room I still remember when he was in seventh and eighth grade wrestling exhibition matches before high school duals,” Koll said. “Many of his opponents were 10-15 pounds bigger than he was, but he held on and found a way to win the match. Those experiences help him, and now he throws guys around. I have been around Kyle his entire life and have seen him watch our matches, wanting to be the next Travis Lee, Jordan Leen or Troy Nickerson. He set his goals high from an early age.
I remember something my father [Bill Koll] used to always say. 'Good wrestlers can be an All-American, but it takes a great wrestler to be a National Champion.' Kyle has always wanted to be a great wrestler, and he is certainly on his way.”
With so much success during his rookie campaign, Dake extends his goals his sophomore season.
“I want to try and not let my opponents in on my legs,” Dake commented when asked about his specific goals. “It will help me not use up so much energy, and I want to win all of my matches. I also want to get more pins, to help Coach Koll with his Pin Pool.”
Dake will continue to train hard during the summer and has the advantage of the wrestling room just minutes from his home. He looks ahead to possibly competing at the Junior World Team Trials and University World Team Trials. No matter what his summer holds, it is certain Dake will take the mat in the fall ready to continue working hard toward his goal of a second NCAA title in 2011.
