Precin ready to move on to a new chapter in his life

After Northwestern fifth-year senior Brandon Precin suffered the most devastating loss of his college wrestling career -- a 3-1 loss in the semifinals of the 2011 NCAAs to Iowa's Matt McDonough -- it was gut-check time.

"In my mind, I had a decision to make," said Precin, a three-time All-American for the Wildcats. "Either I could take third or I could take sixth. I just had to buckle down."

Northwestern's Brandon Precin finished his college wrestling career as a three-time All-American at 125 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

Precin did just that. He rebounded to win his final two matches the following day to finish third at the NCAAs for the second time in his career. It was by no means the way Precin wanted -- or envisioned -- his college wrestling career ending, but he was not going to be ungrateful.

"It was bittersweet," said Precin of his third-place finish. "I was pretty emotional. I was happy that I went out there and gave it my all."

Precin had climbed to No. 1 in the rankings at 125 pounds earlier in the season after beating McDonough, a 2010 NCAA champion, in the finals of the Midlands Championships. Precin and McDonough met again a month later in a dual meet at Northwestern. In that match, Precin controlled the action through the first two periods and led 3-0 late in the match before McDonough threw a headlock and secured a pin. McDonough edged Precin in the Big Ten finals and finally in the NCAA semifinals.

"I went into each match (against McDonough) thinking I would win," said Precin. "That's the way you have to go into each match. You have to respect your opponent, but you have to know going into the match that you're going to win. Obviously, it didn't go my way, but I went into each match thinking I was going to win.

"We both have respect for each other. I think we both knew coming in that it was going to be a battle and there weren't going to be any easy points scored."

Northwestern's Brandon Precin and Iowa's Matt McDonough get in a scramble in their semifinal match at the 2011 NCAAs (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)

Precin's weight class was won by Arizona State's Anthony Robles, who defeated McDonough in the NCAA finals.

"I would have liked to have wrestled Robles," said Precin. "We were 1-1 against each at the 2009 NCAAs. He beat me the first time and I beat him the second time. We established some competitiveness against each other. I definitely would have liked to have another shot at him. But as the saying goes, you have to wrestle the guy in front of you."

Precin graduated from Northwestern with a history degree in March. He will walk at Northwestern's graduation ceremony in June.

"It was a world-class experience, athletics, academics, socially," Precin said of his college experience. "It was a great experience for me. I learned a lot by going to Northwestern. I don't have any regrets in that sense. Even though I finished third, instead of first, I put forth as much effort as possible."

Northwestern's Brandon Precin defeated Utah Valley's Ben Kjar to finish in third place at the 2011 NCAAs at 125 pounds (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)

Precin's focus has now shifted to freestyle wrestling. Last year he placed seventh at the U.S. Open and true fourth at the U.S. World Team Trials. He chose not to compete at this year's U.S. Open, which took place in April 8-9, because he says it was too close to the end of the collegiate wrestling season and he wanted to "work out some kinks" while making the transition from folkstyle wrestling to freestyle wrestling.

Instead, Precin opted to compete at the 2011 University Nationals in Akron, Ohio, which took place two weeks after the U.S. Open. He dominated the competition in Akron, winning a University Nationals title at 55 kg, which included a victory in the finals over Cornell's Frank Perrelli, a fifth-place finisher at the U.S. Open. By winning University Nationals, Precin qualified for the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials, which are set for June 10-11 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

In addition to Perrelli, Precin has beaten other top contenders on the senior level at 55 kg, including 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel. Precin defeated Hazewinkel in the seventh-place match at last year's U.S. Open.

"Being able to compete with all the top guys last year gave me confidence that I can go out there, compete, and beat these guys," said Precin. "I feel at last year's U.S. Open I did pretty well and that helped propel me at the World Team Trials."

Precin currently divides his time between Northwestern and the Overtime School of Wrestling in Naperville, Ill. He says that it's a lot of "flip-flopping," but he feels it gives him the best opportunity to succeed. For Precin, there is no shortage of wrestling brains to pick. His coaches include Northwestern coaches Drew Pariano and Tim Cysewski, as well as Overtime coaches Sean Bormet, Kerry Boumans, Ed Giese, and John Kading, among others.

Precin has not only had to make a quick transition from folkstyle to freestyle, but also adjust to the 55-kg (121-pound) weight class, which is four pounds lighter than his collegiate weight class of 125 pounds. However, in college wrestling, competitors weigh in an hour before competition. In freestyle wrestling, competitors weigh in the day before competition.

Northwestern coaches Tim Cysewski and Jake Herbert talk to Brandon Precin before the 2011 Big Ten finals at 125 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

"The weight cut is definitely different," Precin said of the difference between his college weight class and freestyle weight class. "There is a different plan of attack for cutting weight. In folkstyle, you have to keep your weight low all the time. In freestyle, there's a little bit more leeway, but you still have to keep your weight somewhat low. You have to be able to cut the weight safely and be within striking distance."

Precin has his immediate sights set on winning the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials. He has aspirations of winning World-level medals, like his former Northwestern teammate and coach Jake Herbert, who captured a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships.

"To have Jake bring home that medal and actually see it, it made it real," said Precin.

Soon a World-level medal could become even more real to Precin.

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