Get To Know the Sooners: Jace Koelzer

At Oklahoma, we want our fans to connect with our student-athletes on and off the mat. As a result, we'll be doing a "Get to Know Our Sooner Wrestlers" segment in our newsletters. In this edition, you'll get to know Jace Koelzer.

Question: What's your background off the mat? Where are you from? What is your family like?

Answer: I was born and raised in Olathe, Kansas where I attended Olathe South High School! I come from a big family with a lot of siblings who I see as my best friends. My entire family is close knit, and we are all each other's biggest supporters.

Q: How did you get into wrestling?

A: I first got into wrestling when I was five years old. At my elementary school, flyers were passed out to every kid that promoted registering for "Olathe South Falcons Wrestling Club" that was my feeder high school's youth program. All I remember is getting that flyer and the next thing I knew I was at my first wrestling practice. Of course, my dad and his brothers wrestled growing up, so that played a role too.

Q: What about wrestling makes you love the sport?

A: Wrestling is just such a unique sport. Your body size, shape, weight, background, whatever it may be do not matter. So many sports "require" a specific body type whereas wrestling does not. As humans, we are born with an innate sense of ability to wrestle. It should come naturally to us. The sport is applying rules to it and trying to hone specific skills and techniques that enable you to achieve a winner and a loser. No other sport requires immense amounts of discipline with diet, nutrition, sleep, time, weight management, etc. and I believe that that is what separates the sport from any other.

Q: What are some of your biggest accomplishments on the mat?

A: The biggest accomplishments I have had on the mat collegiately have been being a two-time medalist at the Big XII Championships, a multiple time UWW All-American, and an NCAA Qualifier. I plan to extend this list in the coming weeks!

Q: What made you want to transfer to Oklahoma after spending four seasons at Northern Colorado?

A: After spending years at Northern Colorado, I simply felt that I was not tapping into the potential that I knew I had. I did not believe that my development as a wrestler or as a person had any more growth there. Even being so late in my career, I knew what my aspirations were as a competitor and those were not being fulfilled at the time. I asked myself if I could live with no regrets if I stayed there another year and still did not see the results I wanted, which the answer was "no," so I simply decided to bet on myself and take a chance to see what else was out there. Luckily for me, I ended up at the best place possible.

Q: What are you enjoying the most so far about wrestling for Coach Kish and his staff?

A:. Coach Kish and his staff bring a level of both intensity and fun to the sport. This sport is so grueling and taxing on both the mind and body that if you take it too seriously too often or all the time, then you are doomed to begin to resent the sport and that is where I fell into for a while. Being here with this coaching staff has revitalized my love for the sport, for what I fell in love with as a kid. This staff is all about developing us not only as wrestlers, but as men. They have helped me realize that at the end of the day, this stuff is just a game that we all do because we enjoy it, not because it holds our identity.

Q: What can OU fans expect when they see you on the mat?

A: Every single time I step on the mat, any fan of wrestling will be able to watch me and expect that I will give my full effort for the entire duration of every single match. Whether I win or lose, no one can ever deny my effort and my will to win matches.

Q: Why should fans be excited about this new era of OU Wrestling?

A: Fans should be excited about this new era of OU Wrestling because the history, tradition, legacy, and commitment to the excellence of this program is coming back. The times of mediocrity are done and over and only the best is going to be expected from every single individual on this roster and although I am so excited to be the very start of it and see this program rise exponentially!

Q: Alright Jace, now for some rapid-fire fun questions. Favorite Norman restaurant?

A: Oh man, I've gotta go with either Mamaka Bowls or Nashbird. I haven't had much time to get out and explore the food scene, but after the season I will definitely be hitting some more spots around town!

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of wrestling?

A: I love tattoos, watching movies, reading, anime, music, playing guitar, and traveling!