Missouri wrestling junior Brock Mauller has achieved many accolades in his four years as a Missouri wrestler. After redshirting for the 2021-22 season, he continues to focus on his future and perfecting his skills.
Mauller started wrestling when he was 5 years old and has not left the mat since.
“I needed something,” Mauller said. “I had a lot of energy as a kid, so getting on the mat really helped me focus my energy into something positive and really pushed me.”
However, his love for wrestling came later, as he continued to improve and win matches. He did not win his first state title until his freshman year of high school.
“As a kid, I really wasn’t that great at wrestling, [and] I lost a lot,” Mauller said. “I did not like losing at all, so I think that kept me responsible for my wrestling. I was always trying to [get] better. I also played football up until high school, but I was like, ‘You know what, I enjoy wrestling over here, and I don’t want to get hurt for that.’ So after my freshman year, I made wrestling my main focus sport-wise.”
Mauller is a Columbia native and attended Fr. Tolton Catholic High School. When the time came, he chose Missouri, wanting to stay with his wrestling family and continue to grow on the mat alongside them.
“Some of the guys I grew up with ended up at Mizzou, like J’den Cox and Jaydin Eierman, and I saw how successful they were,” Mauller said. “They didn’t need to go halfway across the country to be successful. You’re a family, a wrestling family. I tried to keep an open mind, but I think the decision was made pretty early that I wanted to go to Mizzou.”
At Missouri, Mauller holds an 83-8 record, is a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier and Mid-American Conference champion, and was named to the Team USA U23 Men’s Freestyle Wrestling World Team in 2021. He continues to grow in his offseason through his coaches and teammates’ advice.
“I take [my coaches’] input full-heartedly and I apply it in my wrestling,” he said. “[Also leaning on my] teammates, Jarrett Jacques and Jaydin Eierman. We’ve always been there for each other, always helping each other through the highs and lows of wrestling and life.”
Since coming under head coach Brian Smith’s wing, Mauller has explored wrestling beyond high school and after college.
“I’ve grown tremendously,” Mauller said. “College is vastly different from high school. To stay consistent throughout the season, it takes a lot. [Smith] really does a great job of guiding us in a direction that we need to go to be successful. It’s up to us to meet him in the middle and make it happen.”
However, despite the success of Mauller’s last three seasons at Missouri, he has learned the importance of growth without having to compete.
“Redshirting has given me a fresh perspective on competing in duels,” Mauller said. “We get so wrapped [up] in making sure our weights are good, and at the end of the day, wrestling should be really fun. When we have fun, that’s when good things happen. I’ve been working on my freestyle wrestling [during my redshirt year.] I’d say that I’m kind of getting to open up a little bit in training, and it’s really up to me to figure out what I want to do.”
Mauller’s decision to redshirt this season revolved around his future rather than injury or eligibility issues.
“The way we wanted to time things out, I think it just worked out,” he said. “Either I wrestle this year and redshirt next year, and then wrestle again, or take my red shirt now and wrestle the next couple years. It not only lets me grow, but it lets the team grow as well. When I am able to step back in, I feel like everything is going to align.”
Mauller’s interest in working on his freestyle wrestling is in preparation for life off the college mat when he enters the international wrestling field. Rather than folkstyle wrestling, which is predominantly used in the United States, freestyle wrestling is the preferred method of wrestling in the Olympics and international competitions.
Mauller has prior experience in international competition, which introduced him to the new style of wrestling. He was named to the U23 World Team in 2021 after Arizona State redshirt sophomore Jacori Teemer was unable to make the trip to Belgrade, Serbia.
“It’s very different overseas than over here,” Mauller said. “They focus on freestyle [wrestling], and have an advantage on us [after we focus on] folkstyle for years and years. I’d like to say I had a pretty good match, but it didn’t go my way. [There were] very minor mistakes that I made. When I am able to focus on freestyle for more than four to six weeks at a time, I feel like [I can be] where I need to be.”
Mauller’s life is surrounded by wrestling, but he still tries to find a balance between “experiencing freedom” and wrestling.
“I like to travel in the summer when things open up a little bit,” he said. “[In the summer] I don’t have to be at practice every day, so I kind of get some freedom. [I also enjoy] running camps and meeting new people in [the wrestling world.] I like to go down to the lake and get on the water when I can and just hang out with friends.”
Mauller spends time with his family as well and understands how they have helped him become a better wrestler and person.
“My No. 1 supporter is my mom; she’s always had my back,” he said. “Whatever I need, she’s got me. She manages her work and travels around the country following us to be there to watch us wrestle. It’s pretty awesome. The rest of my family has been very supportive as well.”
Mauller’s current plan after graduating is to continue pursuing a career in the international world of wrestling and improve at freestyle wrestling. However, his future is not decided, and his passion for helping others remains at the forefront of his plans after college.
“I wouldn’t mind sticking around here (Columbia) and training,” he said. “I’m open to go wherever, and I’m also looking to coach college guys. It benefits me and it benefits those younger college guys as well, getting to talk to them and coach them. I feel like it’s helped me to get that perspective.”
Mauller’s advice on how to be successful is to find a group of other wrestlers whose views align with your own and who push themselves to be the best they can be.
“I had Jarrett Jacques, Jeremiah [Kent] and J’den Cox to talk to, to look up to,” Mauller said. “I feel like we’ve always pushed each other. If you tell [coaches], ‘this is something I want to do,’ they will push you and help guide you along. Also, having fun with the sport [is important.] Wrestling should always be fun.”
Mauller looks forward to continuing his career on the mat next season and focusing on pushing himself to become the best that he can be.
Edited by Brandon Haynes | bhaynes@themaneater.com