BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin Wallace University junior 133-pound wrestler Phillip Payne, a resident of Orange Village and graduate of Orange High School, is no stranger to adversity.
Last season, Payne endured the challenge of competing at a high level while being constantly plagued by nagging injuries. Those injures significantly affected his ability to perform at peak level and thus his record suffered. Payne posted a record of 3-12 while wrestling in the 141-pound weight class. This was a significant change to the norm of success in which he was accustomed.
While at Orange H.S., Payne posted a career record of 90-20 and was an alternate to the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) state meet.
"It [wrestling up at 141 pounds and dealing with the injuries] was a bit of a challenge," said Payne, who is now idle along with the entire Yellow Jacket wrestling team until January 5, 2010 when they host Ohio Athletic Conference rival Wilmington College in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium of the Lou Higgins Center at 7:30 p.m. and then compete against perennial NCAA Division III national power Central College of Iowa in a matinee match on Jan. 7 at 1:00 p.m.
"I had been accustomed to having success in my athletic career, and this was the first time that I had faced significant adversity in my wrestling career. I wanted to be able to be successful and help my team."
Payne understood that a change needed to be made if he wanted to have a healthy and successful 2009-10 season. Upon taking the time to reflect on last year's season, he gleaned the notion that he must first change the way he approached the mat at the collegiate level.
"I felt I needed to change the whole way I approached the mat from my physical training regime to the psychological part of the sport," said Payne, who is the starter at 133 pounds this season after backing up 2009 graduate Brian Bucher two seasons ago and current senior 141-pounder Eric Schubert (Oberlin) a year ago.
"I felt I needed to boost my confidence and reassure myself that I could compete at this level. I also felt that I had slightly strayed away from some of the habits that helped me achieve the success that I gained in high school," said Payne. "I also needed to train differently."
In addition, Payne and veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Richard Fleming felt he would better suited to return to the 133-pound weight class, and set the specific goal of posting a winning record as well as attempting to become a national qualifier.
To date, Payne has seen the culmination of his offseason training efforts and mental adjustments pay off as he has a record of 7-3 heading into the month-long Fall-to-Winter Semester Break.
"I am pleased with the results so far, but there is a long way to go in our season," said Payne, a pre-physical therapy major who also works in the BW Admission Office as a tour guide to prospective students and their families. "I want to maintain the same level of success when we return after break, so I know that I will have to work hard during break."
Coach Fleming has seen the vast improvements in Payne's attitude and work ethic.
"Philip has always been a hard worker," said Fleming, who is in his 22nd year as head coach at BW and in his 42nd year overall as a head wrestling coach. "He just elevated his work ethic and training to new levels."
"This has been shown in an increase in his tenacity and focus during practice and in matches,"continued Fleming. "Phillip is showing leadership by working hard every day and producing in his matches. At the same time, he knows that he must continue to improve everyday in order to achieve the success that he seeks."
Junior teammate Korey Leonhard (KInsman/ Pymatuning Valley) is another person who has seen the changes in Payne and is encouraged by his progress. More specifically, he noticed that he has taken a leadership role within the locker room.
"Phil's always working hard to get a little bit better each day," said Leonhard, who is the starting 157-pounder for the Jackets. "He always brings good energy into the wrestling room. When it is one of those days that one may dread going to practice, you can count on Phil to lighten the mood and make practice a little more enjoyable."
When asked about his best quality, Payne cites that his outgoingness best serves him in many aspects of his life.
"It [his outgoing personality] helps me relate with almost anyone," said Payne, who almost always has a big smile on his face. "That is a good quality to have in today's world. In my academic studies at the College, I have come to the realization that I will have to interact with very different people from diverse backgrounds. My ability to be outgoing helps me in my present tasks and will continue to help me in my future endeavors."
He also knows that his outward, postive attitide is a positive when interacting with prospective students during his time in the Admission Office.
"I like being a good representative for Baldwin Wallace," said Payne. "I went on other school tours when I was going through the recruiting process, and some did not have well-equipped tours guides which did not leave a great impression when it came down to the final selection process. I want to be able to give back to the College because it has given me multiple opportunities to better myself".
"Phil is such a positive person and influence in our Admission Office," said Associate Director of Admission Ross Grippi. "He has a great attitude and definitely shows leadership in our office with the younger students. Phil works very hard to show the College in a positive light to our prospective students and their families. We have gotten numerous positive comments regarding him from our visitors, and that's always great to hear."
As the future approaches, Payne has the career goal of attending graduate school and becoming a physical therapist and wrestling coach at the high school level. Payne feels blessed that he decided to attend BW, and that it was the right fit for him.
"I really enjoyed my visit," said Payne of his initial college visit more than three years ago. "Coach Fleming, the coaching staff and the wrestling team embraced me as if I had been a member of the team for years. That made a big impression on me and heavily influenced my decision. BW was definitely the right school for me."
Payne looks for continued success on the mat and in the classroom. His new outlook on his athletic career as well as his progress towards completing his pre-physical therapy degree only guarantees future success.
In addition to the home matches against Wilmington and Central Iowa after the holiday break, the Yellow Jackets will host Mount Union College on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m., the 24th Annual John Summa Memorial Tournament on Feb. 6 at 10:00 a.m. and OAC and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
