Senior wrestler Luke Stout and his younger brother Mac Stout, a redshirt sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh, went toe to toe at the NCAA wrestling tournament on March 20, becoming the first brothers to face off in the tournament’s history.
“Wrestling has been a huge part of our life and has given us so much opportunity,” Mac said in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. “It was hard to see that in the beginning, but … we did something really cool, and I think it’s something that ultimately did bring us closer.”
A week before the start of the tournament, the brackets for each weight class were released, and the brothers discovered that they would meet in the second round if they both won their first match. They began receiving messages like “you guys gonna flip a coin?” and “you gonna have to forfeit because you’re older?”, according to Luke.
The Stout brothers talked about their potential match following the bracket release. “It’s just a match, no big deal,” Mac recalled them discussing on the call. “And we just brushed over it, and that was really all it was.”
In reality, however, one wrestler would lose and be taken out of the championship bracket, making it impossible to win the 197-pound weight class. “Somebody’s goals and dreams are not moving past that match,” Head Coach Joe Dubuque said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’
When NCAAs arrived, both brothers won their first matches, and the stage was set. Before the match, Dubuque talked with Luke about his strategy and mentality facing his brother. Dubuque recalled saying, “Don’t make it out to be bigger than it is; it’s a wrestling match.When you look back 10 years from now, you guys [are] going to laugh about this.”
For the athletes, this matchup was nothing new. Growing up, Luke and Mac competed on many of the same wrestling teams and even practiced on their basement mat.
The sixth-seeded Mac jumped out to a 4–1 lead in points by the middle of the second period. The 11th seeded Luke pushed back in the third period after gaining a point for an escape from the bottom opening position.
Luke continued to be the aggressor for the last two minutes of the match, but the senior was never able to get his younger brother to the mat. Mac wrestled conservatively to preserve his lead, even risking giving up points for stalling.
When the match ended, Mac won with a final score of 4–2, and the brothers embraced on the mat. Although his season and wrestling career would soon be over, Luke remembers being proud of his younger brother.
“I was just honestly so happy for him,” Luke said. “I wanted to be at the top of the podium and win every match, but after I lost, I just wanted him to go and reach as high as he could on the podium.”
Mac had mixed emotions coming off the mat knowing that his brother would be unable to advance in the championship bracket and make it to the podium, describing the moment as “bittersweet,” adding, “I could feel how happy he was for me, and that meant a lot.”
In support of the Stout brothers, many family members, including grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and other friends, came to watch.
Princeton’s wrestling team brought a total of five wrestlers to NCAAs, with all athletes winning their first rounds and advancing to the Friday matches. The final team ranking was 42.
Dubuque said, “[Returning and new athletes] combined with the coaching staff that I have next to me — there’s no reason why Princeton wrestling can’t be Ivy League champs and why we can’t be a top 10 program consistently moving forward.”
Devon Rudolph is an associate News editor and staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince.
Please direct any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com
Read More
Tiger Tots: Lucie and Constance
Maya ChuIn a return to our Tiger Tots installments from 2021, The Daily Princetonian interviewed Lucie and Constance, the two daughters of Sébastien Philippe and Christine Blumauer. As for advice to current Princeton students, Constance says “I want them to play,” and Lucie says “do more homework!”
In a return to our Tiger Tots installments from 2021, The Daily Princetonian interviewed Lucie and Constance, the two daughters of Sébastien Philippe and Christine Blumauer. As for advice to current Princeton students, Constance says “I want them to play,” and Lucie says “do more homework!”
Female scientists illuminate McCarter in play ‘Legacy of Light’
Lily HutchesonAssistant Editor for The Prospect Lily Hutcheson reviews the play “Legacy of Light,” which explores the stories of two women in the interconnection of science and art.
Assistant Editor for The Prospect Lily Hutcheson reviews the play “Legacy of Light,” which explores the stories of two women in the interconnection of science and art.
‘Excited about experiencing the American Dream’: Princeton releases regular decisions for the Class of 2029
Hayk Yengibaryan and Irene KimThe Class of 2029 marks the final year of the University’s planned four-year expansion. The ‘Prince’ spoke to six recently-admitted students about their acceptances.
The Class of 2029 marks the final year of the University’s planned four-year expansion. The ‘Prince’ spoke to six recently-admitted students about their acceptances.