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HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES Honing the Mental Edge by Krista Hawley
The promise was made nearly six years ago. Harvard wrestling coach Jay Weiss was sitting in the home of Ed Mosley, one of the top high school wrestlers in the class of 1995. By the time he graduated from Calvary Chapel High School, Mosley would be an All-American, a two-time California State Champion and a Junior National Freestyle Champion. More simply, he was perhaps the best in the nation at his weight class. Weiss was hoping to convince Mosley to become the first recruit in his tenure as head coach at Harvard, to trust in his ability to turn around a program that finished 2-14 in his first year at the helm. "We lost to Division II and III schools, and as a coach, I'm sitting here thinking, 'Did I make the right decision?'", Weiss now reflects. "After going through that first season, I started questioning myself. The answer was in recruits." Mosley, for his part, was sitting with the first college coach to visit his home in Mission Viejo, California; one who was not offering a storied tradition of All-Americans or a collection of national championships. Instead, Weiss came offering extraordinary educational opportunities as well as a chance to wrestle. And he came offering a promise. "He personally made a commitment to me to do what he could to fulfill my goal of becoming an NCAA champion. I knew that if I went to Harvard I would have someone on my side," Mosley says. "I trusted him." So began the relationship between coach and wrestler, one marked as much by personal admiration and faith as success on the mat. But the success has come, as have other talented grapplers. After Mosley committed, Weiss began landing other top recruits, including future two-time All-American Dustin DeNunzio '99. The foundation was set and, instead of dropping meets to Division II or III foes, Harvard now cont s for the EIWA championship, can usually be found in the nation's top-20, and always seems to have a collection of All-America candidates. The coach still credits Mosley for being the first individual to believe this type of rapid success could occur at Harvard, a school with a wonderful wrestling tradition but where the sport had struggled in recent times. "Ed was the first person to say, 'OK, I believe in you.' Now our program's producing, and it really started with Eddie," Weiss says proudly. "I believe it snowballed. He was the first, and now people follow, figuring we must be doing something right." Still, there is one part of this story that remains unwritten. When goals were set in that living room six years ago, Mosley's main objective was to become an NCAA champion. He believed Weiss could help get him there. That goal began looking more and more realistic as Mosley's Harvard career unfolded. As a freshman, he posted a 25-3 overall record and was named the 1995-96 Ivy League co-Rookie of the Year. He also became an NCAA qualifier and made history as Harvard's first-ever freshman EIWA champion. The following two seasons, Mosley continued to perform at a high level. He placed third, and then second, at EIWAs and made two more trips to nationals. As a junior, Mosley piled up a 33-8 mark and stood one match from becoming an All-American. Despite these trem ous accomplishments, his original goal remained unfulfilled. "I've had a lot of success and I've had a lot of frustrations," Mosley states. "I think I could have been an All-American two years ago, but a couple of things went the wrong way and I ed up in the top 12, instead of the top 8 (which is necessary to be an All-American). Stuff like that happens." But stuff like that can be difficult to accept when you are a perfectionist who expects nothing less than a national championship. In pursuit of that goal, Mosley was training up to six hours a day and placing trem ous pressure on himself, both physically and mentally. So when it came time for the '98-99 campaign, Mosley decided he needed a break. In order to prepare for a final run at a national title, he spent a year away from collegiate wrestling to prepare on his own. "I learned about training – how to peak and how to balance my rest. You try different stuff when there's no pressure," Mosley says. "Now, I think I'm on track. The year off was pivotal. Realistically, I should be an NCAA champion. I have the talent." Mosley's talent has never been in doubt. What may prove to be the difference this season is the mental edge he has gained. Mosley says that although everyone talks about the mental aspect of sport, it's difficult to internalize what that means and how to harness it in competition. He enters his senior season both mentally prepared and somewhat philosophical. "I know how good the other top wrestlers are," acknowledges Mosley, who could compete at either 174 or 184, and would likely be ranked in the top five nationally in either. "But I know I can rise above that when the time comes. You can't change the other wrestlers, you can only change yourself." That type of maturity and personal responsibility has been a key not only in Mosley's own success, but in his leadership role on the team. While leadership traditionally falls on a squad's senior shoulders, Mosley came in as a freshman and immediately made an impact by his examples of intensity and subtle confidence. "He's always had the respect of his peers since his first days here," praises Weiss. "He's not arrogant, he's not cocky. I can't say enough about him. We're just fortunate to have him." And Mosley feels fortunate to be with a coach who has been there for him from the beginning, and who hopefully will be there with him at NCAAs come March, applauding his greatest victory.When the promise will be fulfilled.
Copyright 1999 President and Fellows of Harvard College |
