Q&A with Senior Student-Athlete Kyle Weaver

A little about Kyle Weaver

There are many versions of the old saying that involves getting knocked down in life. But, each typically ends with a choice – stay down and be defeated or get up and continue to fight. For Case Western Reserve University wrestling senior student-athlete Kyle Weaver, only the latter applies.

Earning four letters in wrestling and two more in baseball at Olentangy High School just north of Columbus, Kyle excelled both on the mat and in the classroom, finishing sixth in the state of Ohio as a junior along with being a three-time district qualifier and graduating Summa Cum Laude.

When joining forces with the Spartans and late great Head Coach Bob Del Rosa, the success continued. Kyle produced a record of 12-10 in four different weight classes (141, 149, 157, 165) as a freshman before settling in at 157 pounds as a sophomore. That season produced 22 victories, University Athletic Association All-Academic honors and a UAA Athlete of the Week nod in February.   

Then last winter, a fractured vertebrae in Kyle’s lower back during a match on the team’s annual Florida trip subsequently put an early end to his junior season.  

At that point, it probably would have been easy for Kyle to hang up his singlet to focus strictly on his academic career. After all, he does sport a 3.765 grade point average in computer engineering and has been named to the UAA’s Winter All-Academic Team in each of the past three years.

However, when presented with that option, the answer was easy for Kyle. And, in the true “warrior” mentality that so many grapplers possess, Kyle chose to push on, rehabilitate his back, and return to the mat for his senior season as a Spartan.

In this edition of Spartan Spotlight, Kyle talks about his future plans, his love for wrestling and his return from injury.  

How did you end up at Case Western Reserve as a computer engineering major? What are your future plans?

“I came to Case Western Reserve because I saw myself getting a great education, and I also wanted to continue to my athletic career. I knew I wanted to do something with computers in high school after taking a computer science class. Coming to Case, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do strictly software or hardware, so I chose computer engineering to give myself many options and avenues. Following graduation, I will be staying local, working for GE Lighting here in Cleveland and going into the entry level IT program.”

How long has wrestling been a part of your life, and who were some early influences that fueled your passion for the sport?

“I have been wrestling for almost 12 years (starting somewhere around fourth or fifth grade). My dad was the biggest influence in getting me started in wrestling. He took me to the high school to participate in "Little Braves," which was the wrestling program for grade school kids in our district. My dad and I always went to open tournaments in the offseason, and he has always supported me throughout my wrestling career. I have also had great coaches along the way from middle school through Coach D (Bob Del Rosa) and now (current Spartan interim Head) Coach (Chris) Nader. I have wrestled for so long because I love the battle and competitive nature of every match. I love that it is just me and another wrestler on the mat.”  

How big of an influence was legendary Head Coach Bob Del Rosa in your life both on and off the mat?

“On the mat, “Coach D” is the reason why I am still wrestling to this day. Coming to Case, my original plan was to play baseball, but he reminded me of the reasons why I loved wrestling in high school, and I haven't looked back since that first day of practice freshman year. Off the mat, he treated us more like his kids than his wrestlers. He was always checking in on us, asking how school was going, and just making sure that we were enjoying life.”

Returning from an injury that forced you to miss a majority of your junior year, what does it mean to come out and have a successful senior season on and off the mat?

“I am just happy to be out on the mat again. I think my year is already successful just by coming back to finish wrestling for my 12th year and to be able to say I went out fighting. I hope to achieve Academic All-American status and I am going to give it everything I have for my last month and a half and see where that takes me.”

Note: “Spartan Spotlight” is a bi-weekly to monthly series that highlights a Case Western Reserve University student-athlete and his/her exploits on and off the playing field. The series is meant to provide an inside look at the unique backgrounds of Spartan student-athletes and show what it takes to succeed athletically and academically at one of the nation’s premier research institutions.