CBU's Lopez Makes World Stage

California Baptist University will be represented at the 2015 World Wrestling Greco-Roman Tournament after junior wrestler Micah Lopez advanced to the prestigious event by winning a continental title for his native country of Guam. It is a historic accomplishment for Lopez and the Lancers, as CBU Coach Lennie Zalesky has not had a world wrestler since when he coached at the University of Iowa. The World Championships, which will be conducted Sept. 7-12 in Las Vegas, take on a greater meaning this year because berths to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games are also on the line. "To make the world team in itself, if you're 28-30 years old, is remarkable," Zalesky said. "To be a college student and make the world team is a really big deal, it's a huge deal. The World tournament is the same tournament as the Olympic Tournament on a non-Olympic year." Lopez, a 165-pound wrestler for CBU and 75 kg Greco-Roman wrestler, started in Greco-Roman wrestling as a sophomore in high school. Unlike collegiate, freestyle wrestling, Greco Roman is a style that emphasizes throws by forbidding trips, hooking or grabbing an opponent's leg and holds below the waist. The native of the Barrigada village in Guam had success internationally before and had won FILA Oceania Junior 74kg and 69kg Greco-Roman championships in 2013 and 2012, respectively. This year was his first at the senior level, though. It meant a new set of challenges faced Lopez. The 20-year old now finds himself against opponents up to 10 years older than himself. "Honestly, [the biggest challenge] is just dealing with their strength," Lopez said. "You're going up against grown men who are close to 30, and this is their last shot. They have nothing to lose and they are going to do whatever it takes to beat you. They're going to head butt you, they're going to try and injure you, break your arm if it means they get to advance." Still, nothing could stop Lopez from prevailing over his competitors at the Oceania Games held in the Majuro, Marshall Islands in March. Wrestling at 75 kg, he won the continental title, which features 16 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji and the Samoan Islands. These past two seasons at CBU have helped Lopez in his quest for success at the highest level. The Lancers staff of Zalesky and assistant coaches Arsen Aleksanyan and Andrew Nicola have given him a new way to train and outlook at each match. "Their coaching is just insane," Lopez said. "They can read your body so well and tell you what you need to work on." In preparation for the World stage, Lopez is training hard with Guam's seven-person squad, which also includes his older brother. In the mornings, they embark on a three-mile run, followed by weight training focusing on pushing and pulling exercises. Every other day, they jump in the pool for an active recovery drill designed to improve their lung capacity and endurance. Armed with a face mask and snorkel, they begin a non-stop swim that lasts 45-minutes. Five days a week, they come back in the evening for a two-hour practice. Lopez finds a way to balance all this with a full-time, 40-hour-a-week job in pest control. "It gets really tiring but you just have to do it," Lopez said. "Everyone gives themselves an excuse, but I work with people way older than me and you don't see them complaining." That sort of work ethic is just standard for Lopez, in Guam or in the CBU wrestling room. "He's very gifted athletically and not scared of hard work," Zalesky said. "If you have those two things, those are very helpful. I don't remember a day he didn't stay after practice. He's probably one of the very few that do that, and he does it every day." Now, Lopez will look to take down an even more daunting task in his first shot at the senior circuit. The World Wrestling Greco-Roman Tournament will feature the world's best wrestlers for more than 100 countries. "Since it's an Olympic year, every stud wrestler from their country comes out of the woodwork," Lopez said. The odds will be stacked against Lopez. The average World Championship wrestler will be 26 to 28-years old, Zalesky said. "I know he has his work cut out for him, it is going to be difficult to beat anyone over there, but he's wrestling in it at age 20," Zalesky said. "I just know the best wrestlers in the world are going to be in that event. Many of them are well-known throughout the world and have been for years. "Who knows what that may develop into if he continues to train internationally at age 28? It's a good starting place and good experience for him later down the road." No matter what happens in September, Lopez knows he already has plenty to be proud of with the way he has already represented Guam and CBU. "I am super honored to wrestle at this level, there are people who will be way better than me that will never wrestle at this level," Lopez said. "It's so hard to get on a world team; they may be better than me, but I am wrestling at a higher level. It's nerve wracking, but I am honored."