Remember that scene from “Mrs. Doubtfire”? The one where Daniel Hillard, played by the late, great Robin Williams, is tasked with preparing dinner for the family. Hillard’s bosom catches fire as he leans over a lit stove. Hilarity ensues. Remember that?
Drake Houdashelt does.
Houdashelt watched the 1993 classic with his teammates the night before his semifinal match at the NCAA National Championships. Houdashelt, the reigning national champion at 149 pounds, didn’t say Williams’ awe-inspiring performance spurred his championship run in St. Louis; but he also didn’t say it didn’t. We’ll let you decide.
Houdashelt defeated Edinboro’s David Habat in the sudden victory period of the championship match. Though he said he wasn’t thinking during post-victory bliss, he explained he had often conceptualized that moment.
“All I’ve thought about everyday was Nationals in St. Louis,” Houdashelt said. “Everything I thought about, it happened to a tee. Everything seemed to be going right that weekend.”
The past few weeks have been Houdashelt’s first as a national champion, but they’ve also been his first as a non-wrestler in eight years. He celebrated his national championship by spending the week in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his family. Throughout his five years as a college wrestler, he’d never been away from Columbia for that long.
After spring break in Tulsa, Houdashelt returned to Missouri to begin classwork and an internship with Mizzou Athletics.
He’s spent time at the Hearnes Center and other athletic facilities on campus this semester helping out with housekeeping and making phone calls to donors. He said the work has helped him maintain ties to the program.
Houdashelt said he still feels as though he is a member of the team in spirit.
“The only difference will be that I’m not cutting weight and competing anymore,” he said. “Other than that, I’ll still be at every practice; I’ll still be there for them.”
Sophomore J’den Cox, who won the national championship at 197 pounds as a freshman in 2013, is often looked up to as a leader for the team. However, Cox said it’s Houdashelt who provided the primary source of inspiration for the Tigers.
“A lot of people call me a leader, but Drake was my leader,” Cox said. “I watch Drake, I followed Drake. He’s truly the one who makes me work hard every day.”
Houdashelt said he relished his reputation as a leader.
“Knowing that guys look up to me, that made it easier for me to work hard,” he said. “It’s not always easy when you’re in college. There are always opportunities to go have fun and be like everyone else on campus. But you have to turn your shoulder and remember why you’re doing it, you want to achieve something great.”
When he’s not working with the department of athletics and the wrestling team, Houdashelt said he has been spending his time fishing and golfing.
Houdashelt said he’s staked out a fishing hole — but its whereabouts are top-secret.
“I can’t say where my fishing spot is,” he said, laughing.
Houdashelt said he’s pursuing a master’s degree in positive coaching as the first step in a potential career as a wrestling instructor.
“I’m getting a feel for coaching,” Houdashelt said. “I’m going to dip my toes in the water and see if I like it. If I do, then I’ll pursue it big time but If I don’t I’ll go out and find something I enjoy.”