Andy Medders, former Gulf wrestler, sets new goals

This article appeared in the Tampa Tribune on June 20, 2003.

By JOHN LAWTON

NEW PORT RICHEY - Andy Medders has just completed one of the most successful college careers of any wrestler from Pasco County. Medders won an NAIA national championship in 2001 and won All- American honors in his other three years. He was runner-up in 2000, seventh in 2002 and third this year.

``I accomplished my goals of what I set out to do, which was to end up being an All-American multiple times,'' said Medders, a former Gulf wrestler. ``My overall goal was I really wanted to be a national champ, which is what I told Cumberland head wrestling coach Jess Wilder the first week that I was there.''

Medders wrestled for Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky. He finished his career with a 13-2 major-decision victory to take third-place All- American honors in the 133-pound class at the NAIA Nationals at Montana State University-Northern in Great Falls.

Wilder appreciated what Medders brought to Cumberland College's wrestling program.

``Andy helped bring our program to the next level. He had a huge impact on our success as a team with his individual triumphs in winning a national title, a second place and two other All- American placements,'' he said.

Medders was a late starter as a wrestler. As a freshman, he was playing football at Gulf in 1995 when coach Keith Newton persuaded him to come out for the wrestling team.

Medders won a district title at Gulf at 103 as a sophomore and was undefeated as a junior, but he did not compete in the Florida state series tourney.

In his senior year, Medders moved to Clearwater and enrolled at Countryside, where he finished 45-0 and won a Class 5A state title at 112.

Unfortunately, winning a state title at 112 didn't provide the college offers that he believed he deserved.

``Andy did a lot for the 112-pounders out there. The first year that he came out, college had just [changed] its lowest class to 125 from 118,'' Wilder said. ``Kids like Medders were passed over. He did a lot for creating respect for kids at his weight coming out of high school.''

Medders took advantage of the opportunity offered at Cumberland.

Medders said his best match in college was the national final in his sophomore year.

``I just knew before going into it that I was ready for it. I was focused,'' he said. ``I wasn't nervous about being there. In my freshman year, when I was also in the finals, I felt that I was so nervous that I felt half up to my potential. I could see it in my opponent when he was warming up that he was all jerky, running around, things like that. I was focused and ready to wrestle. The result was that I pinned my opponent in the first period.''

Medders isn't sure if he has finished his competitive career.

``I plan on wrestling in some opens next year depending on how I feel, maybe up at 141 or maybe back at 133 again,'' he said.

This summer, Medders will work as a clinician at seven wrestling camps, including two weeks at Glenn Goodman's Florida Pride Wrestling Camps at Saint Leo University.