Drake Ayala Interview 1-30-24
Iowa wrestler interview
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Questions for Drake Allen.
00:08 Drake, how did it feel this weekend,
00:09 just getting a couple wins after a tough loss
00:12 against Matt Ramos, just kind of being able to rebound
00:14 and get back on track for yourself?
00:16 Yeah, I mean, it was good to get the ball rolling again,
00:18 and we had to take care of business in Illinois,
00:20 and that's what we did, so.
00:22 It feels like you were in those matches in particular
00:24 were really the aggressor in both.
00:26 How much was that a key for you
00:28 in just getting to your offense
00:29 and trying to do some different things?
00:31 I mean, yeah, that's how all my matches should be,
00:33 you know, so working to get to that point.
00:36 What have you learned from the two losses you've had this week?
00:40 I think that I've learned when I'm on my attack
00:42 and I'm attacking and I'm finishing tough,
00:46 like, that's when good things happen for me,
00:48 and I think I need to keep that up.
00:50 What word or phrase do you have to describe
00:52 the 125-pound weight class this year?
00:57 I don't know. I mean, mine.
01:01 That's what I'd say.
01:03 I mean, you guys are a program that focuses so much internally,
01:09 but, like, nationally when there's something
01:10 at 125 pounds happening
01:11 where there's so much guy taking out guy,
01:14 it's sort of been a gauntlet.
01:15 I mean, how much do you actually look into something like that?
01:19 I mean, I hear results, right, but I don't really care.
01:23 I mean, it's like rankings are rankings, right?
01:26 It's the same thing. It's like they go.
01:28 They change every day,
01:29 so I don't really look into it too much.
01:32 Has it always been focused?
01:34 I mean, just kind of the way you've operated,
01:35 just working with what's around you and that's it?
01:38 Yeah, I mean, the more focused I am on what I can do
01:41 to get better rather than what's going on around me,
01:43 probably the better for me, so.
01:47 We saw in those matches, too,
01:49 we were used to that traditional single leg
01:51 down by the ankle for you on those attacks,
01:52 but we saw you get after some high crotch,
01:55 get after some different things in offense.
01:56 How good was it to connect on some different types of offense
02:00 a little bit in those matches, too, for confidence?
02:01 Yeah, I mean, for sure my offense is flowing right now,
02:04 and I feel better than ever, and just got to keep it rolling,
02:07 keep getting better, and keep mixing up those attacks, so.
02:11 Did you learn anything, you know, wrestling guy Matt Ramos,
02:14 who was a finalist last year,
02:15 you're a guy that's trying to get to that podium,
02:18 get to the next level.
02:20 I mean, what did you learn from that match in terms of like,
02:21 all right, this is an area I got to improve on
02:23 if I want to be able to reach that goal?
02:26 I got to finish my single legs.
02:28 I got to learn how to win, so.
02:30 Anything else?