Q&A: Lehigh wrestling team’s Ryan Pomrinca and Randy Cruz

The Brown and White sat down with sophomore Ryan Pomrinca and fifth-year senior Randy Cruz to better understand the wrestlers as athletes, students and people.

Q: When was the first time you two saw each other wrestle?

Ryan Pomrinca: I actually wrestled his brother in high school.

Randy Cruz: Oh yeah was that weird knowing (Darian Cruz) was going to come here with you after that match? Because that happened to me my senior year too. I only lost two matches that whole year and one of them was to Laike (Gardner) and I was like ‘Great.’

Q: So then what was your first impression of each other?

RC: I mean, he isn’t a quiet guy, but when he first got here he was, and I was just like, ‘This kid’s up to something, what’s he thinking?’ Or even if I did say ‘Hi’ and be nice he would just be really short with me (laughs). But it was because we didn’t know each other, and now it is completely different. It’s funny looking back.

RP: Yeah, but I mean I didn’t know a lot of the guys really well when I came in. I mean I knew of them, but I didn’t know them well. So I really took my time getting to know everyone, but once I got to know Randy I was like ‘Oh he’s cool, like really cool. He’s so cool and his tizzop is really good, he likes Clash of Clans.’

Q: So as friends and teammates, what’s it like competing against each other?

RC: It’s hard wrestling your teammates. We compete all the time in practice and everyone knows each other’s moves. I don’t know, I think wrestle-offs in general are hard because of that, but it’s good to be in front of a crowd and be tested.

RP: Yeah, like we know what each person is going to do. But it’s a good thing to compete because it makes us all better and pushes us all to our greatest potential.

Q: Are there ever any hard feelings?

RP: (laughs) I mean yeah, there is some tension sometimes, but at the end of the day we are teammates and like a family, so there’s never really any bad vibes going.

RC: Yeah, for those seven minutes we aren’t friends, but right after, it’s all good. It’s tough, though. I feel like with other sports you never really go head-to-head with someone for a spot to compete. But after the whistle blows and the third period is done, yeah, it’s good.

Q: What are your similarities and differences as wrestlers?

RC: Well, he is very technical and good with his feet, and creates good scoring opportunities with his feet and movements, whereas I’m more of a mat wrestler. I prefer being on top and bottom.

Q: For someone who doesn’t know a lot about wrestling, what does that even mean?

RP: There’s like three technical positions. There’s neutral, meaning the start of the match, standing. There’s mat wrestling where one guy starts down on his hands and knees and the other guy starts behind him.

Q: Why would you prefer that?

RC: (laughs) I think it’s because I’m lazy. Ever since I was little, and I got my first take down, I was like ‘Hell no, not letting him out.’

RP: Yes, it’s called perfecting the tizzop.

Q: What does that mean?

RP: (laughs) Just means being really good at on top. Yeah, also one last similarity is that we are both really competitive. We love competing and winning. No matter what, even outside of wrestling.

Q: What else do you compete in?

RP: Clash of Clans. We get our team together and take on other clans around the world. We hate losing.

RC: Hey, we can’t go out and drink in season so every weekend its like, ‘All right guys, what’s the plan? Who we taking down?’

Q: Basically, you guys all hang out a lot?

RC: Oh yeah, I feel like our team is a perfect size where, being a fifth-year senior, I can hit up anyone — even a freshman — and grab food just us two and its not weird. These are 40 of my best friends.

RP: Yeah, and even though me and Randy don’t hang out with just each other all the time, that’s not weird. During season and the school year it’s hard to hang out with people you aren’t living near because you are constantly busy. But over the summer and winter break, everyone hangs out together a lot more.

Q: What do you guys do together outside of wrestling?

RC: We’re so boring. We literally go to school, practice, Netflix and chill a lot.

RP: We used to go to Alexandra’s and Blue Sky a lot, too.

RC: It’s actually tough. Like when we are in the grind of the season there is just no time. By the time we are done with morning practice, school, practice, shower its like 7 p.m.

Q: Do you miss being able to go out and have a social life? You guys have pretty strict rules.

RP: Even though our coach technically sets these rules, they don’t feel like they’re his. Our team is on board with what we’re doing.

RC: And like I said before, this is all of our best friends, so if none of us are going out, it’s not as hard, and it’s nice having everyone on the same page.

Q: Randy, do you feel like the younger teammates are more your friends or people you mentor and set an example for?

RC: Everyone on the team is my peer. I know when I was younger I used to look up to the fourth- and fifth-years a lot, but now that I am one of the older guys, I learn just as much from younger teammates like Ryan as I do from guys in my class. It’s easy to pick up on their energy, too.

Q: Ryan, do you feel like that? You were never intimidated?

RP: Yeah, I’d say at first I was a little intimidated. I mean Randy is known well. Personally, I think he is one of the best, if not the best, in the country at wrestling on top. So that’s a little scary. But that was also part of coming in and being happy I have someone like that to make me better and compete with someone that good.

RC: Yeah, and it’s been good because like, people are always scared to give away their tricks and want to cradle their move, but (coach Pat Santoro) always says it’s good when people figure it out because it forces you to learn new ways to use it. So it’s good when we figure each other out because it makes us better.

Q: Do you feel like because of your age differences, you have different kinds of leadership roles within the team too then?

RP: Yeah, I mean Randy is the only returning All-American from the team last year, so a lot of the team sees that and follows what he does, including myself. But personally, being a sophomore, eligibility-wise a freshman, I’m not sure how many people even view me as a leader. But I just want to keep reaching out to people and performing. I could definitely be more vocal though.

RC: There are guys like (Darian Cruz), (Drew Longo) or Gardner that are more vocal and get everyone going. I should be more vocal. But to be honest, there are days where I just straight up don’t want to be there, and those are the days I feel like I’m tested as a leader. I try to keep to myself those days and not let my vibe affect everyone else. Some people are energetic and ready everyday, like you (Ryan) are also energetic. I have to lean on you some days for that.

Q: Sounds like you all have a different kind of leadership role on the team then, would you say you guys are all close?

RP: Yeah we’re really close. We actually did an escape room team activity and go-carting together, and it’s always so fun.

RC: I think that was one of the things that sold me to come here to be honest. (Santoro) is a real nice guy and genuinely cares about how I do as a person, whereas I know with other coaches, it’s more about how you perform. I feel like our team’s really awesome.