Rock Island Today

Wrestling is not easy – and that is what Brendan Gould likes most about it.

Gould, a junior on the Augustana wrestling team, recently told Rock Island Today all about what being a wrestler involves. It is a balancing act featuring brutal practices, classwork, extra-curricular activities, trying to have a social life and cutting “an unnecessary amount of weight,” he said.

“But hey, it’s worth it,” Gould said. “Looking back on it, the sport has without a doubt developed my personal responsibilities, discipline, composure and mentality to shape the man I am today. Being able to say that I’m a college wrestler is satisfying because people respect the difficult measures it entails.”

Brendan Gould | Augustana

Gould has been earning respect on the mat this season as well. He recently was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Wrestler of the Week after winning the 141-pound division at the North Central Invitational on Dec. 10 in Naperville, according to Augustana's athletics website. He had a 12-7 record as of Dec. 15.

Making this season even more impressive for the Davenport native and Assumption High School alumnus is that he is coming back from a knee injury that ended his excellent sophomore season early.

In mid-January, Gould was in the first 30 seconds of a match when he tore an anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees. The injury happened on his birthday. He said teammate Trace Timmons knew the injury was bad right away because Timmons had never witnessed Gould yell in pain like that before.

“Sadly, he was right,” Gould said.

The injury – the first Gould had ever had that forced him to sit out of wrestling – ended Gould's season with a 19-4 record.

“I was having a decent season up to that point with high expectations for the postseason, too, so yes, it was a little traumatic,” he said.

Gould had two surgeries in about six months. He said his rehab felt rushed, with school starting and wrestling season soon to follow.

“My knee didn’t heal as quickly as planned, but my physical trainer and doctor both did excellent jobs,” he said. “At this point in the season, I have yet to feel 100 percent, but as (Head Coach Eric) Juergens put it, the more mat time, the better. Time will be on my side as I continue to get back into the swing of things.”

Gould has experienced his share of adversity in his wrestling career. In his senior season in high school, he lost the state championship match in triple overtime on a ride-out and lost in the regional semifinals in a multiple-overtime, 25-minute bout during his freshman season at Augustana. However, he said past failures have fueled his drive for success.

“I underestimated the challenge of jumping right back into competition after a 10-month drought, as well as going up a weight class,” Gould said. “The season so far has been a wake-up call, but I know exactly where I am and exactly where I need to be to reach my goals. All in all, it’s been a good season up to this point, and I’m excited for what’s to come.