Lakota West High School sophomore Andy Cress (145 pounds) is starting to make a name for himself after placing third at the Greater Miami Valley Wrestling Association Holiday Tournament over the weekend.

Question: You had said on the first day of the tournament you wanted to make a name for yourself, are you closing in on accomplishing that?

Answer: It is a good start. I think people recognize my name now, but I got to keep doing better and keep working hard. If I keep doing better then people will start noticing.

Q: You had a big win in the first round, pinning the four seed, but then had to battle back through the consolation after losing in the quarters. Is that yo-yo of good and bad the hardest thing to handle?

A: That is the biggest part because you put all that hard work in and you see good things happening and then something happens that knocks you back down. You ask yourself if you are good enough and you have to decide to come back and battle back again.

Q: How do you handle that?

A: I don’t deal with it real well right after my match, but it motivates me when I get back in the practice room to work harder so it won’t happen again. One of the big things people say is that wrestling teaches you those life lessons more than other sports … My uncles coached wrestling and they always told me it doesn’t matter how you end up wins and losses, you are learning how to deal with things by going through this that others haven’t.

Q: So, your family got you hooked on the sport?

A: I was a football player too, and I started wrestling because I wanted to get better for football, but then I started winning more and I just liked the individuality of it. You are out there by yourself. Win or lose, you don’t have to count on anyone else or have anyone else to blame. Wrestling just got more important so I quit football.

Q: Has being involved in just the one sport allowed you to enjoy being part of the student section at games?

A: Everybody looks up to the kids in sports and it is a lot of fun to be a part of it. Everyone is there (other games) and excited. It is a lot of fun. I’ve got a job now, but I go when I can to help root the rest of my classmates on.