MOORE OF THE SAME
Even with new school, Scotts still pinning foes
cott Moore is learning the more things change, the more things stay the same.
Besides the fact the 141-pounder, who transferred from Penn State to Virginia, is wearing a different school’s singlet this season, the native of Franklin, Pa., also went into 2003-04 wanting to make changes to his style.
"After a couple of years, I learned that I had to get in better shape and I’m wrestling the whole match," said Moore, who won last year’s Schalles Award, given by the AAU and W.I.N. Magazine to the nation’s top pinner. "I’m trying to work for the fall the entire match instead of trying to hold on to a couple point lead in some matches."
As of Feb. 10, the top-ranked Moore had reached the 40-win plateau for the year, running his unblemished record to 40-0.
But like last year, when he set a Penn State record for most falls (21) while finishing fourth in the NCAAs with a 54-9 record, Moore has continued to be a master of the pin by flattening 28 of his opponents.Moore also nearly scored a pin against Ware when during the first 30-second overtime period of their match in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the Cavalier broke open a 6-6 deadlock by locking up a standing cradle on the Sooner. Moore immediately put Ware on his back; giving him the eventual 11-7 victory.
"That’s where I’m good at and looking for a cradle is one of my best moves," said Moore, who has over 60 pins in his collegiate career. "I can cradle from almost everywhere.
"I tried to turn into (Ware) and had his leg caught. I said to myself, ‘Go for his head. If you can get the cradle, you are going to win this.’ It took me a few seconds to actually pull his head in. Once I had it, I knew that I was going to get it."
And while the victory was not supposed to have any influence on this year’s NCAA seedings, Moore believes this win proves that he is ready to wear the national crown at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis on March 18-20.
"After (Teyon) won the title last year I
knew that he would have to be the guy to beat," Moore said. "I don’t pay attention to the rankings. To me it’s another match and it means something to me to be able to push through that match and get that win against the defending national champion. Now I know I am No. 1 and I haven’t even peaked yet."
Moore, whose twin brother Josh is still with Penn State where he is ranked sixth at 133 pounds, said he is not surprised with his success after choosing to finish his career in Charlottesville, Va., where he is now working on a graduate degree.
"I kind of feel refreshed coming down here, new people, new coaches, a whole different atmosphere, a whole different style of wrestling," he said. It’s all exciting again."
Moore said he considered not wrestling at all after his "lower weight" coach, Sammie Henson, also decided to leave the Penn State program.
"I was going to graduate and start looking for a job," Moore recalled. "Sam-mie Henson kind of talked me into wrest-ling another year. That’s when I decided to wrestle somewhere else. Virginia had a good graduate program. The coaches were good. Every-thing came to-gether."
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