Pinto Featured On theACC.com
12/8/2006 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 8, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Junior Charlie Pinto took some time to talk to the ACC on Thursday and is featured in "Q&A: Getting to Know... Maryland's Charlie Pinto" on theACC.com. The 141-pound junior, ranked No. 15 in the country, discusses how he began to wrestle and his favorite moments while competing in the sport. Pinto and the rest of the Maryland wrestling team travel to New Jersey this weekend for a trio of duals against Rider, Rutgers, and Princeton.
The following is an excerpt from Pinto's conversation. The interview can be read in its entirety at theACC.com.
How did you get started wrestling?
It all started when I was a little kid, I was a basketball player, believe it or not and 5th grade rolled around and I was horrible, a little too aggressive. Obviously being short didn't help. One day I was in the basement with my father and I stumbled upon this box with trophies of men in weird and awkward positions and I asked him what it was and he said it was a wrestling trophy. I said "Really? I want a wrestling trophy." He said that I had to wrestle first. So I said okay, that I would wrestle. He told me that it's just not something to do for fun, wrestling is different from other sports. So I said "Really? How?" and he said "Well you really have to do it in order to find out." So I talked to a bunch of guys on my football team and they said that I should really try it. That's how it all started. By looking at my father's trophies, he gave me the encouragement to go try it out.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far as an athlete?
My greatest accomplishment so far as an athlete is using wrestling to get into a division I school. Then winning the ACC Championship and competing at the National Championship, was something I could only dream of before college. In 2004 it ended up happening and it was probably the most exciting feeling in the world being at Nationals and seeing 16,000 people on their feet, screaming and yelling. It was just great.
Pinto, serving as captain for the second straight season, began the season 9-0 and is currently 10-1. He was tabbed the ACC Wrestler of the Week on November 20 after winning the Body Bar Systems Invitational at Cornell.
Pinto, serving as captain for the second straight season, began the season 9-0 and is currently 10-1. He was tabbed the ACC Wrestler of the Week on November 20 after winning the Body Bar Systems Invitational at Cornell.
The Terps (5-3) are on the road with a pair of duals on Saturday, December 9. First, they will take on a Rider (1-1) squad that has wrestled against a pair of ranked teams. In their season opener, the Broncs beat No. 21 Lehigh 24-14 on November 10 in front of 1,650 fans at Alumni Gymnasium. Rider then lost to No. 25 Pittsburgh, 21-13 at home.
The Terps will then take on Rutgers (0-1) at 5:00 p.m. The Scarlet Knights lost their home opener, 42-0, to Navy last Friday.
Maryland will complete its trip on Sunday with a match against Princeton at 1:00 p.m. The Tigers have gone winless in their first six matches this season. The match will be the first one at home for Princeton at Dillon Gym.
Players Mentioned
