| North Carolina Scout Report's Mat Talk Interview with Chris Bullins and Byron Sigmon |
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| Written by Ronnie Sigmon -- Top Prospects Editor | |
| Saturday, 10 June 2006 | |
 (A first in a series of interviews with top wrestlers from North Carolina)In the last several years when North Carolina wrestling fans and coaches get together and talk wrestling, two names are usually brought up. Three-time state champions Byron Sigmon and Chris Bullins have dominated the North Carolina wrestling landscape for the past four seasons. Sigmon was a state runner-up as a freshman, then won state championships the next three seasons. When the 2006 wrestling season ended, Sigmon had set the state record for pins in a season (55) and was second on the state consecutive wins list with 115 wins. Bullins led that list. Not only did he lead it, he set a new state record with 159 consecutive wins. Sigmon was a 145lber as a freshman and wrestled at 152lbs his last three seasons. Bullins had been at 160lbs his first two years and wrestled at 171lbs this past season. Between them, they have won 369 matches during their high wrestling careers. Naturally, many fans assume there is a big rivalry between the two. Not so. They have been friends since elementary school and have trained together in the off-season many times in the last couple years. Even though they live 93 miles apart from each other, they have remained friends and work out partners. This bond was formed over many years of wrestling together and one common goal, "To be the best they can be in the sport of wrestling!" I recently spoke with the two of them when Chris called Byron's cell phone. Q - RS - So what's up? A - Byron - Chris and his family want me to go to Myrtle Beach with them next week. Q - RS - OK, but how about you guys giving me a wrestling interview for the new Scouting Report web site? A- Byron and Chris - OK. Q - RS - You guys have been wrestling a long time. Chris, when did you start wrestling? A - Chris - My dad would take the high school wrestlers to tournaments when I was about three years old and I would go and watch. I started wrestling in tournaments myself when I was five years old. A - Byron - That was the same for me. You would take me to freestyle tournaments when my two older brothers started to wrestle. I was in the second grade then. I would wrestle and then play video games while you coached the Bandys wrestlers. A - Chris - That was when Byron and I started wrestling together and got to be friends. Q - RS - Was there anything from those younger days that made an impression on you and sparked your interest for the sport of wrestling? A - Chris - I remember one time at the Southeast Regional when they had it at Appalachian State. There was a coach from the Florida team. He spoke to the McMichael wrestlers and me about how great this sport is and all that it can do for us as we grow up. He gave a real good speech to us and it really made me want to be a dedicated wrestler. A - Byron - The first two years I wrestled, you use to take us to work out at the old Catawba Rasslin Club in Hickory. I always had to work with Daren (Burns) and Drew (Forshey). They were older than me and they would always pound on me, but they also helped me a lot and supported me at tournaments. They always did well in wrestling. By watching and working with them got me wanting to be a good wrestler. Q - RS - Did either of you play another sport in high school besides of wrestling? A - Chris - I played football my freshman year, but then decided to concentrate on wrestling. After I quite playing football I started running cross-country, but mainly just to stay in shape for wrestling. A - Byron - I played football every year since I was in the first grade. My senior year I did not play though so I could concentrate on wrestling and be free to take my official college visits during the fall. Q - RS - What is your favorite move in wrestling? A - Chris - My high crotch. It is my takedown of choice and I have had a lot of success with it. A - Byron - Mine would be getting in legs with a power half. I guess that is what people know me for. Q - RS - Is there one particular moment in your wrestling career that stands out in your mind as really special? A - Chris - For me it was when I won my first state championship. I got the MOW then too. Q - RS - Your dad also won a state championship in high school and got MOW as I recall. A - Chris - Yes he was a senior at Madison-Mayodan wrestling HWT. Madison-Mayodan consolidated in 1990 and made McMichael High School. A - Byron - My special moment would have been when I won my second state championship and my pop paw was in the stands watching. Afterward I ran up the stairs to celebrate with him. He missed my first state championship because he was having cancer surgery. Q - RS - Who are the people you give special credit to for helping you make your mark in wrestling? A -Byron - There is a lot of people. Some of them are you and also Coach McIntosh (Geoff) for coaching me. My mom and brother Shawn for always supporting me. My brother Jason and Craig McIntosh for working out with me a lot. A -Chris - I have had a lot of support from my dad, my family and friends from all around the state. They all deserve special credit for helping me. Q - RS - Chris, you have one more year of high school. Is there a lot of pressure on you with the consecutive win record and trying to win a fourth state championship? A - Chris - No. I really just try not to think about it and wrestle one match at a time. Q - RS - How about you Byron, did you feel a lot of pressure your senior season? A - Byron - No. Like Chris said you just don't think about it and just go out there and wrestle your match. Q - RS - What are your goals for the summer and what are you doing to achieve these goals? A- Chris - I am going to compete in Fargo this summer and I am training to win it. I have been working out four days a week and lifting and running in between. This summer I am going to the UNC Pembroke's National Team camp, the UNC Greensboro team camp and the UNC Greensboro intensive camp just before we leave for Fargo. A -Byron - My summer goals are to win the NHSCA National Open for the third time and to win a championship at Fargo. I have been working out 3-4 times a week and lifting and running three times a week. I am going to the UNC Pembroke camp then a couple of days later to Virginia Beach for the National Open. On July ninth I am going for training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. A few days after I come back from there we will leave for Fargo. Q- RS - Chris, how are your college plans shaping up? A - Chris - I want to go to an in state school and be close to home so it will be easy for my family to watch me compete. Q - RS - You have spent a lot of time at UNC Greensboro camps the last couple of years are they your top choice? A - Chris - I like UNCG and coach Loukides, but for now I am keeping my options open. Q - RS - Byron you signed early with UNCG last fall. What are your thoughts about the school and coach Shifflett leaving the program? A - Byron - At first when coach Shifflett called me and told me he was leaving I didn't know what I wanted to do. Soon after Mr. Bobb (Nelson Bobb the AD) and coach Loukides called me and told me that their dedication to the wrestling team was as strong as ever and everything was going to be just fine. I was hurt that coach Shifflett would recruit me like he did and then just up and leave. On the other hand though, I signed to go to UNCG for several reasons. It is close to home, there are good workout partners and it is a good program and school. My cousin Daren and a lot of my friends wrestle there. I feel I will be fine there with Daren and coach Loukides. Q - RS - Both of you guys are good students too. What are some of your academic accomplishments? A - Chris - My GPA is 3.4 and I am the senior class student council president for next year. I also am active in several clubs, Jr. Civitan, National Beta Club, and National Honor Society. A - Byron - I was a member of the National Beta Club and the National Honor Society. This year I was a North Carolina Scholar and I got the Presidental Award at Bandys' award day. My final GPA was 3.72. RS - Thanks for the interview guys. Chris and Byron - You're welcome. |
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