Sport: Wrestling. Weight class: 165 pounds
Parents: Sean and Renee Hodel
Hometown: Winchester
What do you love about wrestling?: I love the environment the most. It’s competitive. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. After I get off the mat it’s like, ‘Whoa, I just accomplished something good.’ When you put all this work in for years upon years, and it finally starts to show, it shows that what you’re doing really works.
Most memorable moment in wrestling: At the Loudoun County duals event [in December], I beat one of the top kids in the nation. (Cole Wilson of Paul VI is ranked 10th nationally among 165-pounders by Sports Illustrated.) It was a pretty crazy moment. I pinned him in the first period. I prepped myself up more for that match and really took it to heart.
Most embarrassing moment in wrestling: I’ve got [lateral]-dropped a couple times. Not pretty, but I learned for sure from that.
Most difficult moments in wrestling: Definitely practices, especially club or offseason. And then every day, cutting weight. When you’re down 15 pounds and you have a practice back to back to back, it’s a lot.
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: [Pro wrestler and actor] “The Rock,” Dwayne Johnson; Alex Hormozi; and Donald Trump. They kind of [represent] all aspects of my life. The Rock, as a child, I wanted to be strong like him. Hormozi is kind of the entrepreneur that I look up to, and he’s kind of where I succeed from. And Donald Trump is just a chill guy for me.
Biggest athletic influence: Cayden Henschel. I have some of his shoes. He is a D2 wrestler [for Parkside in Wisconsin] and is a big YouTuber. He released some shoe brands just because of his name, and I’m sure he must make money from that.
Favorite teacher: Ms. [Seneca] Sowers. She was my Algebra II teacher my freshman year. She’s just very personable. If you have a problem, you can go and talk to her about it. She’s honest with you.
Favorite athlete: [Virginia Tech wrestling commit from Pennsylvania] Bo Bassett
Favorite movie: “National Treasure”
Favorite TV show: “Reacher”
Favorite song: “Take Me to the River (I Will Swim)” by Alex Yurkiv and Thelma Costolo
Favorite food: Steak. I like it at Texas Roadhouse or Outback.
Worst thing you’ve eaten: Chili
Plans after high school: I want to go to UVA to get my business degree and run my own business. I want to be an entrepreneur and make my own money, not work for anyone else. It will be a marketing agency, that type of thing. That’s what I’m currently doing now. I run a lot of ads in Winchester, and we have 40 clients.
— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki
— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com
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