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Bryan Gibson Senior Profile
1/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
DURHAM, N.C. ? GoDuke.com recently sat down with wrestler Bryan Gibson for his senior profile. Gibson, a native of Tulsa, Okla., is a 133-pound wrestler for the Blue Devils. Gibson discusses his nickname, why he chose to attend Duke, his plans for after graduation, plus much more.
GoDuke.com: What is your nickname?
Bryan Gibson: My nickname is Gibby, but I consider it my real name even though my legal name is Bryan Robert Gibson. More people know and call me Gibby than Bryan. The only person that consistently calls me Bryan is my girlfriend Sara. I have gone by Gibby since I was in the fifth or sixth grade, but I have had the nickname since I was very young.
GD: What's your favorite food?
BG: First of all, I am a wrestler, so during season any food is my favorite food. I am normally not a picky eater because I have always been watching my weight and cutting weight for wrestling. So when I actually allow myself to eat, I tend to eat a whole lot and over-indulge most of the time. My momma makes all of my favorite foods, which includes all breakfast foods and lasagna. I like them sometimes outside of my momma's cooking, but mainly only when she makes them.
GD: What's your best non-athletic talent?
BG: I would like to think of myself as a problem solver or handyman. Ever since I was little, I have always tried to fix different things, even when they didn't need to be sometimes. I have always loved working with my hands and making things. I used to work on my grandpa's farm, which sparked my interest in learning how to work with different tools and to utilize a wide variety of skills. I have also worked in a few different machine shops and such. I really just like building, working and/or fixing things with my hands. I feel like I am fairly skilled at a variety of tasks and my non-athletic talent comes into play when someone may need help or random knowledge on a certain task.
GD: Who's had the most impact on your life and why?
BG: Definitely my parents and family. They have always and will continue to support me, no matter the situation. Their love, support, encouragement, time and effort have made a huge impact on my life and have taught me how to act day-to-day. My mom and dad are two of the most amazing people and I am very lucky to have them as my parents. My dad raised me with a hard-nosed farm mentality he was taught and a half-full outlook for every situation. My mom is the most selfless person I know. She goes over and beyond for everyone and works harder and longer than I ever could. Both my parents have instilled many beliefs, morals and ways of life that I am forever grateful for. They have always been there for me. They were always there to help me when I needed it, but I was still allowed to learn and grow on my own. I hope to one day emulate the way in which they live their lives and the example they have set for me.
GD: Do you have any pre-match rituals?
BG: Yeah, I normally have a routine of slaps I do all over my body and head to get myself pumped up and ready to go. Once I get out on the mat I always put my ankle band on and bounce up and down to get ready. Then I normally slap my face one more time and shake hands. After that, I know it's time for battle.
GD: What are you planning on doing after graduation?
BG: I am planning on finding a lab job or some kind of research job for a year or so. I will also be studying to take my MCAT. I feel like that will be good transition into med school.
GD: What is your dream job?
BG: My dream job is a place where I will be able to make a difference and help people. I hope and pray that I will end up in the medical field where I will be able to combine my passion for medicine and the sciences as well as my ability to work well with my hands. Orthopedic surgery seems to be the best fit for me, but we will see where life takes me. I am also interested in the possibility of working in Radiology or Pediatrics.
GD: What's your favorite memory to date of your college career?
BG: I have not actually lived this memory out yet, but I have played it through my mind hundreds of times. I work out early in the mornings alone in the wrestling room. I normally do stance and motion for an allotted amount of time. For the last seven minutes on the clock ? college match time (3-2-2) ? I will shadow wrestle as if it is the match to make me an ACC champ and All-America. I have wrestled this match a countless number of times. I envision and act out the moves I am going to do, react to my imaginary opponent and work to score if I am down. I have never lost this match. I hope that I will stay healthy and injury free this season so that I have the opportunity to make this vision and dream a reality because I know it will be my favorite memory of my wrestling career once I am able to accomplish it for real.
GD: What would the perfect end to your athletic career look like?
BG: First and foremost, walking away with the health I still have. I also want to have the chance to prove myself at the ACC's and at the big show ? the NCAA's. Once there, the perfect finish to my college wrestling career would be an ACC Championship title and then going on to earn All-America status. I know I can do it ? I just have to show I can.
GD: Being a few years removed from high school, what pops into your head when you think back to your high school career?
BG: The highlight of my high school career was winning the state championship my senior year in front of a huge crowd. It was the only time I was a state champ. I lost in the finals my junior year, and every year before that I always did something to mess up along the way to a state title. My senior year had its own bumps along the way. I lost in the regional finals off of a penalty point ? 0-1. I continued my training following the loss up until the state finals when I knew what I had to do. I don't really remember the match, except for when the final whistle blew and the ref tapped my shoulder and said “stop.” I looked at the score board and I had won 6-0. I remember pointing skyward and then flexing to the crowd and screaming in relief. It was a culmination of all the years of training on the biggest stage of Oklahoma wrestling. I remember hugging my coach and my emotions took over, because I had finally accomplished the goal that I set to achieve when I was six years old. I was finally an Oklahoma State Champ.
GD: What is your advice to children?
BG: Follow your dreams. Believe in yourself and always do your best. Attitude and heart will carry you through. Know that you are the best and do it.
GD: What is your advice to this year's freshmen on your team?
BG: Make the most of your time at Duke. I am now a fifth-year senior and the time has flown by. Make every moment count and be smart in what you are doing. As my dad always says, “Make your short term decisions align with your long term goals.”
GD: Why did you choose to attend Duke?
BG: Duke is simply amazing. When I came on my recruiting trip as a senior in high school, I was amazed before I even got to campus. Coming from Oklahoma, my face was glued to the window during the ride to the campus. North Carolina was just beautiful. Then I got to campus and I didn't know what to think. Everything seemed to be the right fit for me. The academics would set me up for success later in life and I knew I would be able to start wrestling as an underclassman. Everything just fell into place and I knew that Duke was the right place to be.
GD: What do you do in your free time?
BG: I enjoy spending most of my free time with my girlfriend Sara. No matter what we do, whether it be studying or going out to eat, I am a happier and better person when I am around her. I also like hanging out with my teammates outside of the wrestling room, which allows us to grow as a team without beating up on each other.
GD: Describe your SportsCenter moment.
BG: My SportsCenter moment would be in the national finals on the raised platform mat. I would have just won the match in overtime off of a power double-leg in a very dominating fashion to my opponent's back for the fall. I would then get up and do something crazy like a back-flip to get the crowd pumped up.
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