Intensity, hard work and desire are three qualities sophomore Rocco Caponi brings to the mat. However, leadership may be the most valuable asset he provides for the Virginia wrestling team.
"He's been the only guy on the team that has been as vocal as we want them to be," Virginia coach Steve Garland said. "He is the guy that after a tough loss will get on the kids. He will yell at them. He is also a leader in the way that he wrestles on the mat. He runs back to the center no matter what the situation is. That is stuff that hopefully young kids will see."
It is hoped that the young wrestlers can also duplicate what Caponi has done in his short career. The redshirt sophomore out of Ohio finished second in the ACC tournament his true freshman year and also qualified for the NCAA tournament. Even though that is already impressive enough, Garland does not want Caponi to stop there.
"My goal for him is to be an All-American," Garland said. "I know his goal is to be an All-American this year as well."
Caponi has done a solid job this season, defeating highly regarded opponents from renowned programs such as Wisconsin and Lehigh. However, that does not mean this season has been picture-perfect for him.
"At Vegas he lost to a kid ranked 12th in the country right now," Garland said.
"He was beating the kid 8-4 and then he got head-locked with 30 seconds left. He learned a tough lesson on how to finish a match correctly."
Caponi has learned from that tough loss, and he also credits the coaching staff for getting him to where he is right now.
"The coaches have been great," Caponi said. "Having Coach DeGain in the room has really helped me out with more than just the technical side of wrestling. He's helped me with the mental side as well. Having Coach Garland here as well has helped me progress a lot as well. He brings a great attitude to the room and helps me keep my love for wrestling."
Caponi, who was highly recruited out of high school by respected programs, chose Virginia for its academics and the good experience the school can provide. He is also trying to provide the same experience for the younger guys.
"I try to help take care of some of the younger guys," Caponi said. "The season is very long; it's a marathon instead of a sprint and one bad match doesn't break a season. Its how you wrestle and stay mentally sharp over the whole season, and I try to lead by example the best that I can."
Caponi's intensity is characteristic of his family. He also shares the unique opportunity of having been coached by his father in high school.
"You try to keep the boundaries separated between father and coach," Caponi said. "When I'm on the mat wrestling, he's my coach, but once we leave the mat he's my father. You take everything with a grain of salt because you know that he is in your corner. He cares about me more than just a wrestler; he cares for me as a father as well."
Caponi has also been an important recruiting tool for the Cavaliers.
"He and Eric [Albright] are the two kids we talk about the most when talking to recruits," Garland said. "You have to sell your best kids and tell a recruit 'hey look, these guys are doing it, why can't you?'"
Caponi has been a valuable asset to the Virginia wrestling program, and may be able to cash in with a national championship this year.
"I think he can legitimately go out and win nationals," Garland said. "He is so good on top, he's so athletic and he's been wrestling since he came out of the womb. Also, at his weight class, he will throw his hat at the ring with anybody. The NCAA is living proof that anything can happen, and if you get the right style match-up and are feeling good on the right day you can beat anybody."
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