The 'Big Brothers' on Little Rock's Team

LITTLE ROCK - Leaders pave the way for those behind them. In Little Rock wrestling's inaugural season, this title bears even more weight as individuals can create a team culture and vision from scratch. In the case of Paul Bianchi, Jose Champagne and Dylan Johnson, they use a more familial term to explain the role.

"We kind of look at it as being the big brothers on the team," says Johnson, a six-foot, 197-pound junior with a kind, southern drawl.

As the only three upperclassmen that start in dual matches for the Trojans, the trio is aware of their unique position. Having transferred to Little Rock from other programs, each are part of the minority on the team that has prior experience competing on the collegiate level. 

"It's cool but also kind of nerve-wracking because we have to set the tone for the program," says fellow junior Bianchi, whose more calm demeanor sharply contrasts his unreserved aggression on the mat at the 133-pound position. 

"Sometimes we'll say something to the younger guys and they'll actually take it and apply it," he continues, impressed at his teammates' fervent eagerness to learn. "So it's cool to not only develop yourself but also have an impact on the others to help them get better."

"It's a lot of looking out for the other guys and pushing each other," adds Johnson. "We have to help the younger guys make the transition to compete at the next level, because college wrestling is totally different than high school."

With 19 out of the 26 wrestlers on the team being either freshmen or redshirt freshmen, many have had to make that transition quickly to fill spots in the starting lineup. In other situations, first years may not always have the chance to see the mat as frequently until their junior or senior year.

Champagne, a 157-pound redshirt junior who handles being the eldest on the team with both maturity and resolve, knows this first-hand. "I've wrestled in the lineup before coming here but I wasn't the starter. That was part of my struggle, not knowing exactly what to work on, because I didn't have the full experience."

Guided by Bianchi, Champagne and Johnson, however, the team is now using these chances to grow. 

"This helps our guys get that exposure so they can handle that experience and pressure in the future," explains Johnson.

Bianchi pitches in, adding, "It's cool to see how the underclassmen pick up on things really fast. We have a number of guys that have done great things that I didn't expect them to do. It's obvious that even if you're young, you can still do awesome things."

While the underclassmen may be learning directly from this group, Bianchi, Champagne and Johnson themselves are fully embracing growth in a brand new environment.

"Even though I'm older, I still feel like a freshman," admits Champagne. "My first year I redshirted, and my second year I was out for most of the season. This feels like my first official season so I kind of feel like I'm in the same boat as the rest of the underclassmen."

"I came from a junior college, so this is a whole different atmosphere," says Johnson. "The amount of hours of drills and training is way more at this level. I've grown so much in these last couple months because of how much coach Neil and coach Javi have put into me."

For all of them, head coach Neil Erisman and assistant coach Javier Maldonado are a huge part of the welcomed change. Both are heavily involved with the team on a day-to-day, if not an hour-to-hour basis.

"Our coaches do a really good job at pinpointing things people need to work on, even though there's a bunch of us," says Bianchi. "It doesn't matter who you are on this team, they'll find a way to get to you and push you every day. At Little Rock, I know I'll always be prepared for each competition because they force us to be. That's a huge difference for me."

Champagne also praises the active coaching philosophy. "Even with academics, we have meetings with them and they check on our grades. As far as wrestling goes, there's so much more focus on developing skills, getting better in certain positions, and building the relationship between the athlete and the coach."

Like any program, there are hurdles to overcome. The Trojans have not yet won a Division I dual in its challenging first-year schedule, which includes several ranked opponents. However, each team member uses the results as fuel for their determination and drive.

"Coach Neil told me that you've got to have the mindset of 'How can I become a national champion today?' and 'What are the small things I've got to do right daily?' says Johnson, who admits that although he hates losing, he has found a way to use every moment as he attempts to constantly improve.

Champagne is logical in his approach as he strives to perfect his focus. "The learning process involves losing. I've learned more from my losses this year than I have ever, really. You're going to have to wrestle these guys again later on, so now you've got to learn from your mistakes and get an idea of what you have to work on to be able to beat them when it matters."

"You've got to just keep plugging away, and as coach Neil says, keep putting a log in the fire every day," adds Bianchi, who has set his sights on going back to the national tournament. "If you're doing the right things and improving, good things will come your way. I think that's something we all want our culture to be, that kind of positivity, hard work and not quitting." 

The upperclassmen are aware that starting a new Division I program will not be smooth sailing. No brand new team comes out of the gates ready to bulldoze their opponents in the first season. However, they are taking on that challenge with not only a positive attitude but also the belief that their efforts will be a building block for success in the coming years. It's a true perspective of both leadership and sacrifice.

"There's a lot of good momentum that we're going off of right now," says Johnson, regarding both the team's energy as well as the nationwide support of the new program. "In the future, people are going to know the type of atmosphere coming here and how it's going to be."

"Yeah, it'll be like a trickle down effect," says Bianchi in agreement. "All the new guys coming in will make the jumps we've been making a lot quicker. Already I feel like a lot of our underclassmen are learning so much, especially with all the opportunities they're given."

Champagne summarizes the trio's confidence in the Trojans: "Once everyone knows what Little Rock's about, it'll help grow the program and attract the right wrestlers. It'll be like a snowball effect. Everything will fall into place and come together."

For the latest information on Little Rock Wrestling, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWRES on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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