AOTW: Collin Isaac ready to return to state this winter

Ed. Note: This week, the Gazette Feature Athlete of the Week is wrestling state qualifier Collin Isaac, who also is part of the football program.

What a great sophomore wrestling season for Tipp’s Collin Isaac. He qualified for the state wrestling championship in Columbus and it has propelled him into what he hopes are two stellar seasons on the mats at Tippecanoe.

“I was super nervous at state (last year); walking out of that tunnel was very nerve racking because there are thousands of people staring at you,” Isaac said. “Now that I know how that feels I can better prepare myself for this upcoming season.”

Isaac and graduate Emma Hanrahan (girl’s state champion) are two wrestlers who reached the big stage last year. That experience has given him the confidence and momentum to carry over his success to this coming winter and what he hopes is a memorable junior season.

“My thoughts on the upcoming season are for my team to win MVL and sectionals,” he said. “My personal goal is to win the state. To elevate my game, I started going to a private wrestling club to learn new techniques and refine my skills. I am getting 18 or more practices a month since April.”

He has also used this summer to not only go training to continue to improve, but he also wants to eat better and use the proper foods to help his body.

“I started working with a private wrestling club where we have practice two times a week plus weekend long camps,” he said. “The club is full of other state qualifiers and placers from Ohio and camps draw in wrestlers from other states. I have also been taking my nutrition more seriously and am focused on gaining muscle and strength.”

First up for Isaac is a fall where he will suit up with the Tipp football team for what he hopes will be another memorable season.

“I think we have the possibility to be the fastest and best team in the MVL,” Isaac said. “Everyone always doubts Tipp because we don’t have much size but we play our hearts out every game and believe in each other and our coaches. To continue our winning tradition, we need to focus on our game and make it perfect.”

While he still has two years left with the Red Devils, Isaac is already looking ahead to his future and sports at the next level.

“My ultimate goal is to be a pro player either in wrestling or football,” he said. “I don’t know if I want to wrestle or play football in college yet, but I am beginning to explore my options and am evaluating the interest I have received so far. I haven’t looked much into what I want to major in so that’s still up in the air.”