UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Cornell-bound Nickerson aims for fifth NY title
When Harvard NCAA champion Jesse Jantzen became New York’s first four-time state champion five years ago for Shoreham-Wading River High, few imagined he’d have much company at the top any time soon.
The very next year, Troy Nickerson of Chenango Forks High began a state title streak that is expected to surpass Jantzen’s within the month. Translation: He’s expected to become the first five-time state champion.
Should Nickerson win his fifth Division I state title at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, Mar. 4, Nickerson is expected to add his third consecutive Outstanding Wrestler award as well.
On Jan. 6, Nickerson announced in a press conference at the Chenango Forks High library that h
e would stay close to home and attend Cornell University … just 40 minutes from his home. Ranked 15th in a class of 125 with a 3.8 grade-point average, Nickerson chose the Big Red over another Ivy League powerhouse, Harvard.Nickerson’s legend at Fargo is worth noting, too. He has five national titles at the FargoDome, including last year’s dominating double Junior National title and double Outstanding Wrestler award at 119 pounds. Selected only to the Asics All-America Second Team at that weight, Nickerson made his case as only he could.
Here’s what Nickerson had to say about the past and about the future.
WIN: Why did you ultimately decide on Cornell? What did you like most about it, and what are you looking forward to the most about being there?
Nickerson: Basically, I was really intrigued by the whole experience up there. It’s a top 10 wrestling program, steadily improving, and the academics are amazing up there. And it’s real close to my home. I think I’ve got the best of all worlds there.
WIN: What do you like most about Coach (Rob) Koll?
Nickerson: He’s really my kind of guy. He’s really upbeat, he’s sharp, I pick up things from him all the time. I really think he can help me get to where I want to be in the future, academically and in wrestling, and (assistant coach Steve) Garland as well. They’re both great guys and I’m really looking forward to working with them.
WIN: Your final decision was between Cornell and Harvard. I’m sure the success Jesse Jantzen had there was one of the reasons Harvard was so high on your list.
Nickerson: Yeah, it was. And coach (Jay) Weiss is an excellent coach, great guy, and you can’t beat the academics. I was going one way one day, the other way the next. It was a really hard decision to make.
WIN: You looked up to Jesse a lot as you were coming up. How does it feel to know that you’re about to break one of his most important state records?
Nickerson: I’m following in his footsteps, I guess. This year, I’m looking at taking the next step and passing him. But he was always a guy that I looked up to. I think we have a lot in common. We both have a lot of the same goals.
WIN: Since you won your first state title as an eighth-grader, it’s obviously been in the back of your mind that winning five titles could be a realistic goal. How have you managed to keep that in perspective the last four years?
Nickerson: Starting off, I just wanted to get that first state title. Since then, I’ve just been taking it one at a time, not really worrying about it. Now that it’s actually become a fact that I’m going for that fifth (title), there’s a lot of pressure. But I’m trying to stay focused as much as I can, working hard and training hard.
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