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THE INTERVIEW WITH ANDRE NIE
Dudley, senior, wrestling

Andre Nie, 17, went 37-7 overall at 119 pounds last season, reaching the Class 4-A state championship match, where he finished runner up. He has more than 100 victories in his high school career, is a three-time state qualifier and has won N.C. freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling titles through USA Wrestling.

Q: When did you first get into wrestling, and why have you stayed with it?
A: I started wrestling in seventh grade. At first, I wasn’t really into it. I wanted to play football. But I was too small for football. I needed to get stronger. I started at Hairston Middle School. In middle school, I wrestled at 83 pounds. At first, I wasn’t all that good, but after practicing I saw results. My matches were getting closer and closer. I used to get beat real bad. … By my eighth grade year, I started wrestling in the high school division. I didn’t try to get beat up, but I wanted to wrestle better opponents to try to get better to see the stuff I needed to work on in practice.

Q: What are your expectations for yourself this season?
A: I’m trying to go undefeated and win the 4-A state championship, both the individual and the dual team.

Q: You got close last season, when you finished runner up. How did you deal with that?
A: I was kind of mad because I worked real hard for that moment and it just didn’t go my way. But everything happens for a reason. I’m going to be ready this year.

Q: You’re a N.C. freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling state champ through USA wrestling, correct? How did you become involved with that organization?
A: My club coach, Carlos Torres, he got me involved in freestyle and Greco. During the summer going into my junior year, we went to a lot of freestyle tournaments and Greco. At first I really didn’t like Greco, because I was more of an upper body-type of guy. But I got real good at it.

Q: How do you get prepared to compete in a big event?
A: First, I have to watch my weight. I start working out even harder after practice to stay in shape and work on my technique. And just stay focused.

Q: Do you have any superstitions or any routines that you follow?
A: No, not really. I try to eat real light, like salad, try to get up early in the morning and lift some weights and do some pushups. After practice I’ll do some jump rope or run the mile.

Q: What does it take to compete at such a high level? What do you do to train?
A: I try to work out even harder with my teammates, and try to make them push me. Me and my teammates, we lift weights every day, three times a week after practice. We do some live wrestling at the end.

Q: When did wrestling go from being a winter sport to a year-round sport for you?
A: My eighth grade year. A lot of high school coaches were saying good things about me, so it motivated me to work even more.

Q: I understand you have a love of all things Taco Bell. What’s the deal with that?
A: Me and my friend Sam Ross, during the summer and spring, after offseason practice every day we’d go to Taco Bell. Or if we don’t have to make weight, we’ll just go to Taco Bell and eat.

Q: What’s something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
A: I tried out for soccer and I quit because it wasn’t for me. That was this year. I told my friend I was going to play soccer with him, because I thought it was going to be fun and kind of easy, but the first day it was difficult and I didn’t know what to do. I talked to some people and they said it was my senior year and I should just focus on wrestling, so that’s why I quit.

Q: What if you would have given up on wrestling that easily? I mean, you could have been the world’s next great soccer star, don’t you think?
A: Probably.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I’ve got two Rottweilers, Chance and Kami. They’re about three years old. We got both at the same time. We just wanted a dog, just to have one around the house. My parents didn’t want to have one. They wanted two so they could play around with each other when we’re not at the house. It’s a good guard dog and you can train it, they’re real smart. They listen to me sometimes. I can tell them to do some tricks, like go fetch or to get me a ball or something. We keep them inside and outside.

Q: What bothers you more than anything else?
A: When I’m cutting weight and people just mess with me. If I’m working out, running the treadmill and someone is just trying to crack a joke, I’m not in the mood for jokes. Or just playing with me, I get real mad. It’s generally when I’m cutting weight. Usually I’m real calm, and I like to have fun with things.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time, other than wrestling?
A: Eat Taco Bell. Sometimes play video games with friends online. Modern Warfare 3. That game’s addictive. I just relax and watch some TV. Basically watch TV, eat and play video games. That’s about it. I watch some George Lopez, I watch football, Auction Hunters and Man vs. Wild, stuff like that.