Always remember the saying "Don't knock it till you try it." While many people think that traditional wrestling is an activity where one guy is rolling around with other guys, our Jamoja Member of the Week, Cory Reckart from Kitzmiller, Maryland, knows it’s exactly the opposite. “When you are on the mat, you don’t even think about that. Wrestling is a sport that one must have courage in.” Cory is a freshman at Garrett College in McHenry, Maryland. He graduated last year from Southern Garrett High School where he was a four year member of the wrestling team. He also played football and was a member of the cross-country team. Having participated in many sports, Cory feels that wrestling is the ultimate sport.

            But Cory was not always into being a wrestler. Wrestling was his final option as a winter sport for him to be a part of. “First I was asked by my coach during the summer. Then I was cut from the basketball team, so I decided to give wrestling a try. Also two of my best friends talked me into it.” Being cut from the basketball team was a blessing in disguise, as Cory found a sport that he fell in love with. He had to learn how to wrestle on-the-fly. His coaches and teammates taught him the basics and Reckart worked hard to improve as a wrestler.

            Cory gives it his all every time he steps on the mat. Throughout his high school career, he has had many successful stints. He placed fifth in the prestigious Southmoreland Holiday Classic all while maintaining a 3.25 GPA in the classroom. He even surprised his coaches and teammates with his ability. He was able to maneuver his rival through a Fireman’s Carry. While using the Fireman’s Carry on an opponent, the wrestler first drapes an opponent over their shoulders in a fireman's carry position. The wrestler then takes hold of the thigh and arm of the opponent, which are hung over the front side of the wrestler, and leans forward, pulling the opponent over their head and shoulders, slamming them down on their back in front of the wrestler.

            It’s a move used frequently by WWE superstar John Cena and also one of Reckart’s favorite traditional wrestlers, Ben Askren. “The way he wrestles is so unorthodox and you never know what he will do next,” Cory says while he pursues his General Studies degree. After he receives it, Cory will be studying architecture. To be an architect you have to be extremely creative and think outside of the box, which is something Reckart also does on the wrestling mat with his technique. Cory’s technique is his best attribute as a wrestler. “I think that the best part of my wrestling technique is my stance. I very seldom get taken down when somebody shoots on me.”

            Wrestling does not only aid Cory with his creative and problem solving methods needed in architecture it helps him when he is having personal altercations with others and with himself. “Wrestling helps me keep my cool when somebody is getting the better of me. I also have self-restraint when it comes to how much I eat and what I eat.” On the mat, wrestling has instilled in him a strong resilient attitude. “I lost my wrestle-off last year to a sophomore. I was devastated because I underestimated him. I overcame this by taking the week off from the Varsity line-up, getting my thoughts back on track, then beat him in our next two wrestle-offs.”

            At Garrett College there is no official NJCAA wrestling team, so Cory will do everything in his power to continue wrestling and follow his path to his ultimate goal as wrestler. “I would really like to wrestle on the college level, even if I am just on the practice squad. I would also like to go to more national tournaments and try freestyle,” says Reckart who is known as Wrestling Ram 145 on Jamoja. “I like Jamoja because it helps me meet people who have some of the same interests that I do.”

When Cory is not on Jamoja he is preparing himself in anyway possible for the freestyle matches he has coming up. Without a team at Garrett College, Cory will have his hands in many activities. “I am going to go work out with my old high school team and maybe wrestle in the Middle Atlantic Wrestling Association's Eastern Nationals Tournament series. I am also thinking about becoming a referee, and wrestle with the Southern Mat Club.” Cory is willing to try anything in wrestling whether it is coaching, being a referee or freestyle wrestling. It is evident that he follows his own advice when he says “Don’t knock it till you try it!”

Try meeting Cory Reckart, the Jamoja Member of the Week . . .

Courtesy of Jamoja Magazine