The best wrestler in the Commonwealth of Virginia is not 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, like the monsters of the World Wrestling Federation. He wrestles on a mat, not in a ring. He is simply 5-foot-6 and weighs in at a meager 125 pounds. Fifth-year Cavalier tri-captain Steve Garland may be small, but he has become a big player in the world of collegiate wrestling.
Garland, the seventh-ranked wrestler in the nation at 125, captured the outstanding wrestler award at the ACC Championships in 1997 as well as the Conference title. In winning numerous tournament titles, Garland has compiled an 81-33 career record. Tonight at 7 p.m. he leads the Cavs (2-4, 0-1 ACC) against James Madison (3-2) at Memorial Gymnasium.
This season, Garland's record stands at 20-3 with titles at the Virginia State Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships and the Keystone Classic and a pair of runner-up finishes, most recently at Sunday's American University Congressional Cup. Garland made the finals in that tournament but had to leave before the championship match to fly to East Lansing, Mich., for Monday's 2000 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic.
Garland, one of only 20 wrestlers throughout the nation to be selected for the prestigious All-Star Classic, drew a rematch with Minnesota sophomore Leroy Vega, the nation's third-ranked wrestler. Garland lost to Vega in December in a tight 6-3 match at the Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational, a loss that snapped Garland's personal nine-match winning streak.
"I can't wait for the All-Star Classic," Garland said before leaving for the tournament. "I've been studying film on Vega and preparing for our rematch. This time I am going to win. I'm going to rip his [expletive] head off."
But Garland was not able to follow through on his prediction. Vega beat him for the second time, 9-4. Yet Garland's only other loss in 24 matches this season remains the 10-5 defeat that North Carolina's Skyler Holman handed him Jan. 14.
Virginia Coach Lenny Bernstein said this level of success has come with old-fashioned hard work on Garland's part.
"Steve is a tremendous leader," Bernstein said. "He's not just one of those guys with a lot of talent. He is a tremendous worker that gets on guys who aren't working."
Garland's passion for the sport began at age 12, when the Middleton, N.Y., native stepped onto a wrestling mat for the first time. Garland's wrestling career continued on to Middleton High School, where he was a two-time state runner-up and three-time county champion.
Garland amassed a 15-1 record at Central Connecticut State University in his freshman year but transferred to Virginia in search of a more rigorous curriculum.
"I wanted to go to Virginia because of its academic reputation," Garland said. "Once I got here I fell in love with the school and the wrestling program."
Garland won the ACC title as a second year and put together another solid season in 1998. He took a redshirt last season so teammate Matt Roth could finish his career as an All-American at 125, but Garland hopes to return to his championship ways as the Cavs approach the postseason.
Although this is Garland's last season of eligibility, he said he still wants to be part of the sport after his playing career ends.
"I'm done with competing after this year, so I'm gonna go all out," Garland said. "I definitely want to stay in the sport and coach somewhere, whether it's at Virginia or somewhere else."
If his ability as a team leader is any indication, Garland may make a fine coach.
"He's very coachable," Bernstein said. "Steve listens intently to the entire coaching staff, and his teammates see him listening"
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