Carey, 22, mass communications major, made the transfer from UNC to CSU-Pueblo in the spring of 2010 for what he said was because of a coaching change in UNC’s wrestling program his third year there.
In addition to the coaching change, Carey pointed out that the large university atmosphere, like UNC, brought many distractions. This hindered his already hectic wrestling and academic schedule.
“There are a lot more distractions at a bigger school like UNC,” Carey said. “It was tough to balance school and wrestling with all of them.”
He was not alone in the transfer however. His brother Adam, a sophomore who also wrestled at UNC, joined Carey in 2009 to compete in the upcoming 2010 season.
“Me and my brother thought it was best to go somewhere else after the coaching change,” Carey said.
Carey said he enjoys having Adam here with him: “Having my brother here is great because I always have a partner with me to workout with.”
Having his brother on campus to help him compete allowed Carey to have a very successful season for the ThunderWolves as well.
CSU-Pueblo’s wrestling head coach, Dax Charles, said Carey finished an impressive 37-13 in the heavyweight division as a national qualifier in the Division II ranking. He said he believes Carey has a chance to win a national championship for the team this year.
Carey said he credits his success to the competition he faced at UNC, which gave him experience. With that said, Carey came within one round of becoming a Division II All-American last year and yearns to become one this upcoming spring.
He also predicted a standout season this year because of a rigorous training routine this summer with his brother Adam and the U.S Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
With all of his wrestling success this past year, Carey still has not forgotten about his academics while at CSU-Pueblo. When he is not punishing his opponents in the wrestling mats, Carey is working towards his degree in mass communications department with an emphasis in journalism.
Carey, who carries a large figure at a 6-foot-4-inch 295 pound frame, said he found his interest in journalism when he attended UNC.
Although this major is one that interests him, Carey admits that school is still very tough to manage with wrestling. He said however that the peaceful and less distracting environment offered at CSU-Pueblo has allowed him to manage both wrestling and school much easier however, unlike that of UNC.
Carey simply said that when trying to manage wrestling and school, “I find a way to get it done.”
Carey has plans on becoming a news reporter after wrestling and if all works out, will be receiving his degree in mass communications in spring 2011.
However, Carey has not given up on his wrestling goals and will begin training again September 7 for the 2011 wrestling season, in which he plans to continue the success he has obtained at CSU-Pueblo.
