Two weeks ago, the wrestling team had what head coach Chris Ayres called its best performance since he began coaching the Tigers in 2006. Princeton had the best finish of any Ivy League team at the Keystone Open in Philadelphia, finishing fourth overall. Junior 149-pounder Luis Ramos has been a mainstay on the team for his skill, intensity and humor. The ‘Prince’ sat down with Ramos to learn about growing up in North Carolina, his love of dubstep and cauliflower ear.
Q: What was your “welcome to college” moment?
A: I took FRE 101: Beginner’s French I my freshman fall because I wanted to be ambitious, and I just assumed girls would like French. I failed the midterm, dropped that class immediately, and I learned not to be ambitious at Princeton.
Q: Where are you from and what is it like there?
A: I’m from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s sweeter than the dew on a honeysuckle underneath a dogwood tree on a misty spring morning. Yea, kinda like that.
Q: Who is your professional athletic role model?
A: Mike Tyson. He’s almost as crazy as I am.
Q: What is the best thing about being a wrestler? The worst thing?
A: The best thing about being a wrestler is having cauliflower ear. The worst thing about being a wrestler is being short.
Q: Describe wrestling in three words.
A: Tougher than anyone.
Q: Who is your quirkiest teammate?
A: My team is full of characters, but I’d say [sophomore 133-pounder] Joe Dequinzio. He always roots for the antagonist in movies. He’s the “bad guy.”
Q: What’s the strangest thing that’s happened to you in a match?
A: Someone scored on me once.
Q: If not wrestling, what sport would you play?
A: I would play women’s volleyball. I hear they need a new libero.
Q: Do you have any pre-match rituals?
A: I always make weight, which is harder than it seems. Then I chug Pedialyte, eat a bagel, warm up and then I imagine ripping out my opponent’s heart from his chest while listening to Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” Dubstep remix, of course.
Q: Does the wrestling team have any traditions?
A: We have a few, but because Public Safety may read this, I can’t disclose our unilluminating feats. We do, however, blast techno in the wrestling room. Coach thinks it sounds like power tools.
Q: How did you get started wrestling?
A: I randomly picked it up right before my freshman year. I wanted something different.
Q: What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
A: Dubstep remix to a Backstreet Boys song. But I love it when the beat drops.
Q: If you were coach for a day, what would you do?
A: I would make everyone on my team run sprints. Toes on the line boys.
Q: Besides wrestling, what’s your favorite thing to do?
A: Hang with the boys in my room while blasting techno. Or eat chips with queso. Or shop.
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