“It’s definitely harder because you have to look for competition to improve,” Baker said. “I grew up going to Virginia Team Predator, which is the best club in Virginia, and they allowed me to level up and go to college.”
Along with the satisfaction of single-handedly conquering opponents that wrestling brings, one of the driving forces behind Baker’s hard work isn’t necessarily a solo mission to put Virginia on the map, but to show young people local wrestlers that it’s time they put on a chip. over their shoulder and ask, “Why not us?”
“I was dedicated to the sport and wanted to prove everyone wrong about Virginia and where I grew up,” Baker said. “You can do it. You can do great things, and I’m proving it again today.
Baker undoubtedly has the will to be big and the courage to excel in the most exposing and demanding sport there is. If a pitcher’s mound is known as “the loneliest place on earth,” ask a wrestler to explain the center of the mat. Baker has proven right by being where he is today that he’s on the shortlist of top wrestlers, but is that good enough for him?
“Starting college as a freshman is a good goal, but I see it more as a stepping stone,” Baker said. “I have much bigger goals than just starting on a D-1 team. I would love to be Campbell’s first national champion; I would love to be an All-American this year. There are a lot of things that come into play and I’m just getting started.