Rafael Lovato Jr. recently shared the full story behind the end of his collegiate wrestling run with Oklahoma City University…
Explaining the challenges he faced during the season and why his time competing in college wrestling came to a close.
With a packed professional schedule and limited preparation time, he felt he never had the opportunity to fully develop his wrestling throughout the season:
I just didn’t have enough time. If I could have had a whole season, more time to prepare my schedule and clear things out, to do more events, get the experience, really find my wrestling game, I do believe I would have at least made it to nationals.
Outside of the matches themselves, Lovato Jr. was also balancing an intense schedule:
Outside of the actual competition, adding college classes and wrestling practice to my schedule at home on top of teaching, training, running a business, and of course my family.
Still, missing the opportunity to compete at nationals was difficult for him:
It was pretty disappointing to miss that opportunity. I was very excited to have my chance at a national level wrestling tournament in college. Just what an experience, what a rush, and kind of a dream come true that would have been.
Despite the disappointment, Lovato Jr. spoke highly of the team and the environment he experienced at Oklahoma City University.
Having spent decades around high-level martial arts teams, he said the group stood out to him immediately:
I’ve been so blessed to spend time around incredible teams, legends, history-making moments. I can see it, I can feel it when I’m around something special. That’s how I felt every day being around these kids on the Oklahoma City team.
With the wrestling season behind him, Lovato Jr. says he is now shifting his focus back to his regular professional schedule and upcoming events:
Time to get back to doing what I do and not having to worry about homework and midterms and quizzes anymore.
Next stop will be Miami, then Vagner Rocha in May.
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