The GO EARN IT Podcast

Drew Foster, a two-time All-American at Northern Iowa, discussed his journey as a four-sport athlete in high school and the benefits of versatility. He detailed his wrestling career, highlighting his redshirt freshman year where he went 1-9 and his rapid improvement to becoming an All-American in 2017. Foster emphasized the importance of effort, trust, and resilience.He shared his experience at the White House with President Trump and reflected on the impact of his achievements, including the pride and support from his community. Foster also touched on his personal life, including his wife and newborn child.Drew Foster discussed his wrestling career, highlighting key moments such as earning his first scholarship, becoming an All-American, and graduating college as the first in his immediate family. He recounted a pivotal match in the NCAA finals where he successfully executed a take-down sequence, drawing parallels to a similar practice drill.Foster expressed disappointment over not receiving a traditional wall chart for his national title, instead receiving a rolled-up mat instead of a framed bracket.

Kendric Maple, a three-time Big 12 champion and three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, discussed his high school and collegiate wrestling career. He highlighted his high school state titles and the impact of his coach. Maple detailed his recruiting process, including visits to Oklahoma and Iowa State, and his decision to attend Oklahoma.He recounted his national title win in 2014 and the challenges of being a returning champion. Maple emphasized the importance of mental preparation, team support, and the influence of coaches like Mark Cody and Brian Smith. He also shared personal anecdotes and his love for football and wrestling.

Current Edinboro assistant coach AJ Schopp joins Shane Sparks on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast. Schopp was a three-time All-American for the Fighting Scots and recently returned after spending a number of years on staff at Purdue. School discusses his wrestling journey, emphasizing the importance of hard work and mental resilience. He recalls his time at Young Guns, highlighting the impact of the club on his development. Schopp shares his decision to attend Edinboro for its low-key environment and strong academic focus. He reflects on his 2015 NCAA Championships experience, where he overcame a first-round loss to place third, and the significance of team success. Schopp also discusses his competitive nature, particularly his pinning techniques and rivalries with wrestlers like Tony Ramos and Chris Dardanes. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with A.J. Schopp on Episode 37 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Teague Moore, a three-time All-American and national champion at Oklahoma State, discussed his wrestling journey. He recalled losing to Jeremy Hunter in high school and finally winning a high school state championship. Moore highlighted his pivotal meeting with John Smith at Fargo, which led to his commitment to Oklahoma State. He detailed his national championship win in 1998 over David Morgan and the emotional impact of his father's passing. Moore also reflected on his international career, including his silver at the World Cup and the influence of Coach Smith and other mentors. He emphasized the importance of embracing challenges and the potential for rule changes to enhance dual meets. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Teague Moore on Episode 35 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Daton Fix, a five-time Big 12 champion, five-time NCAA Division I All-American and Junior World Champion, discussed his wrestling journey. He highlighted his experiences at Gallagher-Iba Arena, including his final match against Iowa, and his high school career, where he won four state titles. Fix recounted his recruitment process, choosing Oklahoma State over other top colleges. He reflected on his dedication, mentions of his favorite Cowboy growing up, Steve Mocco, and his first meeting with John Smith. Fix also discussed his faith, the impact of setbacks, and his future goals, including becoming an Olympic gold medalist. Check out Shane Sparks’ interview with Daton Fix on Episode 33 of the Go Earn It Podcast. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Shane Sparks talks with Olympic silver medalist, NCAA All-American and respected club coach Brandon Paulson on Episode 31 of the Go Earn It Podcast.

Part 1 of Shane Sparks' discussion with four-time All-American, NCAA champion and 2003 Dan Hodge Trophy Winner Eric Larkin on Episode 30 of the Go Earn It Podcast.

Part 1 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Virginia Tech associate head coach and 2012 Olympian Jared Frayer on Episode 26 of the Go Earn It Podcast.Frayer was a two-time All-American and a 2002 NCAA Division I national finalist for Oklahoma. Frayer is a native of Clearwater, Florida.

Shane Sparks needs little reason to get fired up when talking wrestling, but when he's talking with Jon Reader, the fire just burns a bit brighter. Join Sparks on Episode 25 of the Go Earn It Podcast as he talks with the current Wisconsin assistant and 2011 NCAA Division I champion.

Shane Sparks joins New York native and current Cornell assistant coach Nick Gwiazdowski, a two-time World bronze medalist, four-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast. Gwiazdowski started his college career at Binghamton for head coach Pat Popolizio and followed his coach to NC State where he'd win two NCAA titles and wrestle in the finals three times. Sparks tracks Gwiazdowski’s path from growing up in the Capital Region of New York to his numerous U.S. Open championships to go along with his stellar college career.

Brian Smith has been the architect of the Missouri wrestling program. On the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast with host Shane Sparks, Smith talks about his philosophy on coaching and developing wrestlers, coming from Florida and wrestling at Michigan State and how he's shaped Missouri into one of the top programs in the country.

Shane Sparks catches up with three-time All-American and two-time NCAA Division I champion Matt McDonough from Iowa. Sparks talks with McDonough about his career at Iowa and how he almost ended up as a Northwestern Wildcat.

Shane Sparks sits down with Robert Kokesh, a standout wrestler from the University of Nebraska, to discuss his journey from South Dakota to becoming a three-time All-American. Kokesh shares insights into his wrestling career, the influence of his coaches, and the lessons learned along the way.TimestampsWrestling, Sports, and Personal Background (0:02)Toughness, Resilience, and Wrestling (3:33)High School Wrestling Experiences and Coaching (6:26)College Wrestling Recruitment and Early Conversations with Coach Mark Manning (9:45)College Wrestling, Training, and Competition (12:41)Wrestling Strategies and Mindset (19:12)The Difficulty of Winning a Big Ten Wrestling Title (22:07)College Wrestling Success and Humility (24:55)High School Wrestling and Personal Growth (27:59)Wrestling Preparation and Music Choices (37:14)Wrestling, Perseverance, and Regret (39:58)Wrestling Career, Leadership, and Mentorship (43:19)A Wrestling Match with a Dramatic Finish (50:45)Wrestling Discipline and Lifestyle (53:26)Impact of Wrestling Coach on Son's Life (55:33)Wrestling, Parenting, and Personal Heroes (58:59)