You chose Lehigh over Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and many other elite collegiate wrestling programs. What was enticing to you about the Lehigh program?
Craig: Well, first of all, it's a great wrestling program. Coach Strobel is a great coach and he has a great staff. There are a lot fans behind the program, too. It was the best combination for me … it was the best academic school that I could go with, so I thought I'd be better off there.
What was the hardest part about the whole recruiting process?
Craig: I guess the hardest part for me was feeling personally tied to some of the people recruiting me. You can make friends quickly with the coaches and wrestlers on the different teams. You kind of feel like you're letting them down if you don't pick their school. It was tough making the calls. I was just glad when it was finally over.
David Craig (Photo/Jon Malinowski)Craig: I don't know … I just really didn't want to go. I've been out there a lot. It's a long tournament. I just wanted to spend some time at home.
How much have you been able to get on the mat this summer?
Craig: I can't get on the mat every day. I've been taking a little break, I guess. The mats are always open and available at our high school. But I've been on the mats a good amount of time. I went to the Olympic Training Center and was also out at Lehigh for the camps.
You obviously come from a very successful wrestling program in Brandon, Florda … one that has produced Division I wrestlers like Rocky Cozart at Michigan State and Cesar Grajales at Penn. What have they told you about making the transition from high school to collegiate wrestling?
Craig: They didn't psyche me out or anything. Of course it's tough. It's obviously tougher than high school. They just told me to work hard and I'll be fine. It's the same stuff you have to do to get better.
As you begin your collegiate wrestling career at Lehigh as the No. 1 high school recruit in the country … how much pressure do you feel to succeed at the next level?
Craig: A little bit, but I try not to think too much about it. I just try to think about, OK, it's college wrestling … it's whole new slate. It doesn't matter how I did in high school.
Have you had discussions with the Lehigh coaches about whether or not you will redshirt this season?
Craig: I'm fairly sure that I'm going to redshirt. That hasn't been set in stone or anything, but I'm fairly sure that is what's going to happen.
You were a 171-pounder for most of your high school wrestling career. What weight do you see yourself wrestling in college?
Craig: I think 174 at the lowest. I would like to go 184, but I only weigh 180 right now. I could really go either one without any problem as far as feeling comfortable.
David Craig (Photo/Jon Malinowski)Craig: Not really. They all kind of have their benefits. I like them all just the same, though.
Do you plan to continue wrestling the international styles during your collegiate wrestling career?
Craig: Oh, definitely. I'll probably just be wrestling freestyle. I don't think I'll be wrestling Greco anymore. I plan on wrestling freestyle in the off-season. I don't know if I will after college or not … I don't know how that's going to work out.
Was there a wrestler that you looked up when you were growing up?
Craig: Not really. When I was growing up, I didn't really focus too much on other wrestlers. I was just kind of worried about how I was doing.
Last month, Jon Trenge, one of Lehigh's all-time greats, joined the Mountain Hawks coaching staff. What does it mean to you to have such a talented upper-weight, like Trenge, in the wrestling room every day?
Craig: Well, it's going to be a big help because he's extremely accomplished. He obviously knows what it takes to get it done. I'll have a lot of confidence in what he's going to be showing me … and the advice he's going to provide. So it'll be a big confidence booster.
What do you hope to accomplish at Lehigh?
Craig: The most important thing is to graduate. And also win as many NCAA titles as I can.
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