Chris BrownThat match made Chris Brown the talk of the college wrestling world. But Chris' life and mat accomplishments go far beyond the outcome of a single bout.
The talk of the Tidewater … and beyond
Chris Brown grew up in Newport News, Virginia, raised by his aunt since he was six months old.
He was introduced to wrestling at age four. "I went along with a friend," says Chris. "I was excited by the WWF and all that. I was kinda bummed that there were no (championship title) belts though."
Despite that initial disappointment, Chris stuck with wrestling, and was part of a youth league in Newport News up to eighth grade.
It was in high school that Chris' mat career really took off. He transferred to one of the top prep programs in the country, Great Bridge. As Chris puts it, "Great Bridge wrestles all over the country. I wanted to be exposed to lots of different styles of wrestling … I also chose it for the great coaching." His head coach for two of those years in high school was none other than Steve Martin, who is now Chris' coach at Old Dominion.
Chris Brown made a name for himself in Virginia by being a four-time placer in the state tournament. In recounting his appearances at the state tournament, Chris discloses, "My sophomore year at state felt 'forced.' I was nervous, uptight; I had what coach called a 'fear of failure.' It affected my performance, and I ended up losing. But it fueled my fire." Chris stoked that fire his junior year, winning his first Virginia AAA state championship. In his senior year, Chris went 50-2, claimed his second state title, and wrapped up his prep career with a 176-18 overall record.
Chris' mat prowess earned respect beyond Virginia. He was a USA Wrestling Cadet Freestyle All-American in 2003, and a FILA Cadet National Champion in 2004. As he puts it, "In my junior year, I started winning the hard tournaments." That culminated in his senior year -- the 2004-05 season -- when Chris tested his mettle against the best preps in the nation, and brought home individual titles from the Beast of the East and the Ironman tournaments, one of only three wrestlers to win titles at both of those tough national events that year.
Crossing the bridge to college
When it was time to choose a college, Chris Brown made the decision to go to Old Dominion, in large part because of coach Steve Martin. "I knew I could trust him to make me a better wrestler," says the Monarch 165-pounder. "He's a phenomenal coach. He looks out for all the wrestlers on the team."
"I feel comfortable staying with him. I was concerned that other coaches might try to change my style."
Chris BrownWhen coach Martin was asked to assess Chris Brown's style, he didn't hesitate. "He's a great athlete. Extremely quick … Kinda reminds me of the old Oklahoma State style, always moving. Solid on bottom and top."
Chris also talked about the transition from high school wrestling to the college ranks: "One of the biggest challenges was getting used to wrestling a stud every match. Everybody you wrestle in college is a state champ. In high school, the opponents vary a lot in terms of talent."
"Strategizing is also different, and more important �- when to attack, saving a particular move for later in the match, riding time."
The upset discussed 'round the wrestling world
As of this writing, Chris Brown is 29-7 his sophomore season, with nine major decisions (tied for third in the nation in that statistic) and one pin. He also claims a team best 13-2 record in dual-meet competition this year, and is 4-1 in the CAA. As a freshman, he led the team with 35 wins, including five pins and thirteen major decisions. In tournaments last year, he placed third at the Virginia Intercollegiates and the Mat Town Open, and second in the Michigan State Open.
With all those accomplishments in his first two seasons of official competition at Old Dominion, ask Chris what his college career highlight is, and he immediately responds, "I have yet to win a tournament. That's frustrating."
"I don't have a highlight yet," continues the Old Dominion grappler who recently turned 21. "I'm building towards the nationals."
Ask college wrestling fans that same question, however, and many would immediately say that Chris Brown's upset victory over 2007 NCAA champ Mark Perry would definitely have a prominent place on the highlight reel of the Monarch 165-pounder.
The match took place on November 24, 2007 at the St. Edward Duals in Cleveland. At the tournament, the Old Dominion team had defeated nationally-ranked Division II Findlay University, and the country's top junior college program, Iowa Central, before taking on perennial powerhouse University of Iowa.
When asked about the bout, the first thing Chris Brown said was, "It was a crazy match."
"Coaches and I had a game plan, and we stuck with it."
"I had frustrated (Perry) so much, he couldn't score. Yet I was able to score points pretty easily."
Steve MartinChris Brown: "As his frustration grew, he tried to choke me out three times. The ref blew the whistle, but he kept the hold on for about ten seconds."
Coach Martin: "Perry got frustrated, had words with the ref, and that was the end of it. He was disqualified."
Chris Brown: "(During a blood timeout), Perry and the ref were talking off to the side, away from me, so I wasn't sure exactly what was going on at the time."
"(Being declared the winner was) one of the biggest adrenaline rushes ever," Chris continues. "I didn't fully realize what I had done 'til I was back in the hallway."
Immediately after the match, Steve Martin was quoted in published reports as saying that Chris Brown's upset of Mark Perry was the most significant single victory in the history of the Old Dominion wrestling program, because "Brown beat a guy who's defending a national championship, ranked number one by everyone, and a three-time All-American." A few weeks later, in the interview for this profile, coach Martin put some perspective on the win: "Mark Perry didn't wrestle up to his standard. He probably didn't take (Chris) seriously enough."
What's down the road
When asked to describe Chris Brown, coach Steve Martin -- who's worked with the Monarch's man at 165 in high school and in college -- lists a number of attributes: "A church-going kid. Always smiling, has lots of friends. The comedian of the team. A good talker, but very humble. Capable of beating anyone in the country."
Chris describes his own personality as being "a little bit goofy, a little bit charismatic, amimated."
In talking to Chris, his friendly, outgoing, fun-loving side is readily apparent; he laughs easily and heartily. Yet, he also displays a serious side. He comes across as a thoughtful, polite young man who said, "Yes sir" and "No sir" throughout our conversation.
His coach also cites his leadership skills: "(Chris is) very popular with his teammates. He's been a counselor at my Granby camps for while now. He could be a hell of a coach. He's really great with kids."
Chris BrownThen the Monarch wrestler continues: "I want to go into coaching. I want to give back to the sport, follow in Coach Martin's footsteps. The way he trains us, teaching technique and conditioning. He shakes up our workouts. That keeps us motivated, interested."
"I've taught technique at camps, and really like that."
Right now, Chris Brown's career path seems to be in the direction of sports. He's majoring in regional tourism study, "a management-type degree," as Chris describes it, "You manage camps, parks, recreational facilities."
In the meantime, Chris works towards winning that elusive first tournament, and strives to bring a national title to the Tidewater region. (Even if there's no championship belt.)
Watch Chris Brown vs. Mark Perry:
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