Matt Valenti
Wrestling - Assistant Coach

Matt Valenti enters his first season as coach at Columbia

On the Prowl Archives

What was your weight class?
125 lbs for 2 years; 133 for 2 years (won two NCAA championships at 133)

Why did you want to become a wrestler?
My Dad was a wrestler and my coach from the day I started walking.

The most difficult thing about wrestling is:
Believing in your heart that you are better than the guy who is across the mat from you. Many can believe it in their heads, but few believe it in their hearts.

Favorite moment as a coach of the Columbia wrestling team:
Well considering I've only been a coach for a few weeks, I would have to say it would be watching the guys pick up the technique that I've been showing. They seem legitimately excited to learn and have done a great job of picking up details.

Why do you like coaching with Coach Buckley?
He's very open to the different styles of wrestling. Every wrestler is different and unique in his own way. Coach Buckley allows each guy to embrace that and work with his strengths.

Song do you never tire of hearing:
Survivor ? Eye of the Tiger

Favorite childhood cartoon:
I was a huge He-Man fan for a while, but in the end Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were definitely the coolest. Especially Donatello.

The reality show you'd be on and why:
Survivor ? I'm a huge outdoorsman, and I'm a wrestler so I'll eat anything.

Last movie you saw:
Smoking Aces

Favorite Disney Movie:
The Sword in the Stone

The TV show do you HAVE to watch each week is:
Entourage ? I'm an Entourage junkie

Favorite author:
Ernest Hemingway

Dream vacation:
Yacht trip around the world

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Italy. Specifically ? Palermo, Sicily.