February 14, 2008

Seth Gruen
Special to Rivals High

"I can grab people and throw them out of the way, right?" he asked.

Growing Pains

Not immediately knowing what to do on the football field, Garrett Goebel just used his wrestling knowledge to get by, asking coaches "I can grab people and throw them out of the way, right?"

"He's got great size and great mobility; he's learned how to use his legs for leverage and power," Andriano said of Goebel's maturity as a football player. "He's mean, he's tough, he's nasty. He plays to dominate."

While that mentality has helped Goebel become one of the most sought-after defensive linemen in the class of 2008, his competitive nature started long before he laced up his cleats. Goebel currently is the nation's No. 2-ranked high school heavyweight wrestler, and he began his career in that sport when he was 6.

When Goebel got to high school, Montini wrestling coach Mike Bukovsky ? also the football team's defensive coordinator ? thought he could be a star wrestler. Goebel delivered immediately on his potential, beating nationally ranked opponents as a freshman.

"I really think what sets Garrett apart is something that a lot of people don't have, and that's that sense of competitiveness and inner drive," Bukovsky said.

Bukovsky saw that inner drive the first day of football practice. Goebel stepped onto the track for a timed mile and was clocked in under six minutes ? a tremendous accomplishment for someone his size.

While competing at such a high level in multiple sports takes a tremendous amount of talent, Goebel sees it different.

"I think it's just working hard," Goebel said. "I wasn't the fastest guy and I just kept working at it, and I think it helped me a lot for both football and wrestling."

Goebel's future as a wrestler came into question when he was being recruited for football. Some schools wanted him to begin their weightlifting program immediately after the end of football season. But Ohio State coaches understood that Goebel wanted to wrestle as a senior; he will give up wrestling when he gets to Ohio State.

Goebel has lost one match this season, to Eric Thompson, from Waverly, Iowa. Thompson is the nation's top-ranked heavyweight.

"He was crushed," Bukovsky said. "He was very upset and takes things very seriously. We talked about the fact that he's an athlete and you're going to have ups and downs."

Goebel says wrestling has helped him develop as a football player because it taught him a sense of individual competitiveness.

Excelling on the Gridiron

Goebel's knowledge of leverage from wrestling has helped him develop on the gridiron. He ended his senior year ranked No. 64 in the nation by Rivals.com

While Goebel's first love is football - and he's already excited thinking about taking the field at Ohio Stadium - he said he is focused on his last season as a wrestler. Goebel hopes to repeat as Illinois' state heavyweight champion.

"I haven't really thought too much beyond high school because my goals right now are to win a state championship in wrestling and win a team championship and finish my high school career strong," he said.

As a heavyweight, Goebel has had to keep his weight under 285 pounds despite playing football ? a sport that demands heavy weightlifting. Goebel has been consistent in his weight training while keeping also his weight consistent through two-a-day wrestling practices.

The individuality of wrestling also causes his pre-competition routine to differ.

"When I wrestle, I get a little bit nervous," he said. "In football, I just get pumped up. The day before, I may get anxious for a match to start. In football, I just get really excited for the game."

The sports have their similarities, which have made Goebel better at both. Bukovsky credits wrestling as part of the reason Goebel was so talented on both sides of the ball ? allowing one sack in the past two years as an offensive lineman.

"Wrestling is very brutal, combative and competitive. The physicality of wrestling is more stringent than it is in football," Goebel said. "You have to be a better-conditioned athlete and in more ways mentally tough."

Andriano has a more philosophical opinion.

"[He] gets coaching by different people, different philosophies and arenas of competition, different team make-up," he said. "You learn from your experience.

"I think he has a chance to play on Sundays."

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