The GO EARN IT Podcast

The GO EARN IT Podcast

Welcome to the GO EARN IT Podcast where we bring you stories each week of people who have battled through adversity, overcame the obstacles, and EARNED their dream! You were born for greatness and our mission is to bring you the stories that will inspire you to Dream Big and GO EARN IT! The GO EARN IT Podcast is hosted by award-winning wrestling broadcaster Shane Sparks.

Episodes

Drew Foster: A resilient champ who's still in search of the big bracket - Go Earn It Ep. 41

February 7, 2025 • 77 mins
Drew Foster, a two-time All-American at Northern Iowa, discussed his journey as a four-sport athlete in high school and the benefits of versatility. He detailed his wrestling career, highlighting his redshirt freshman year where he went 1-9 and his rapid improvement to becoming an All-American in 2017. Foster emphasized the importance of effort, trust, and resilience.

He shared his experience at the White House with President Trump ...
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Pat Santoro: Wrestling, Growth, and the Pursuit of Excellence - Go Earn It Ep. 40

January 14, 2025 • 44 mins
Lehigh head wrestling coach Pat Santoro joined the show to discuss his journey as an athlete and mentor. A two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American at Pitt, Santoro reflected on the mental and physical growth that defined his wrestling career, from early struggles in high school to his breakthrough moments at Blair Academy and Pitt. He emphasized the importance of courage, belief, and embracing challenges, recounting how p...
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Kendric Maple's rise from Wichita to NCAA champion - Go Earn It Ep. 39

December 17, 2024 • 49 mins
Kendric Maple, a three-time Big 12 champion and three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, discussed his high school and collegiate wrestling career. He highlighted his high school state titles and the impact of his coach. Maple detailed his recruiting process, including visits to Oklahoma and Iowa State, and his decision to attend Oklahoma.

He recounted his national title win in 2014 and the challenges of being a return...
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From Underdog to Champion: Mark Branch’s Wrestling Journey - Go Earn It Ep. 38

November 10, 2024 • 71 mins
Mark Branch, a four-time finalist and two-time national champion, discusses his wrestling journey with Shane Sparks. Branch recalls his first meeting with John Smith, who convinced him to join Oklahoma State over the University of Oklahoma. He describes the initial challenges of transitioning from high school to college wrestling, feeling inadequate and overmatched.
 
Branch emphasizes the importance of perseverance, citing his fresh...
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AJ Schopp: The Grind, the Pins, and the Journey Back to Edinboro - Go Earn It Ep. 37

October 24, 2024 • 62 mins
Current Edinboro assistant coach AJ Schopp joins Shane Sparks on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast. Schopp was a three-time All-American for the Fighting Scots and recently returned after spending a number of years on staff at Purdue. School discusses his wrestling journey, emphasizing the importance of hard work and mental resilience. He recalls his time at Young Guns, highlighting the impact of the club on his developm...
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Darian Cruz: From the Lehigh Valley to the Olympic Games - Go Earn It Ep. 36

October 13, 2024 • 69 mins
Darian Cruz, a three-time All-American, NCAA champion and Olympian, reflects on his career, particularly his 2017 NCAA championship win against Thomas Gilman. He recalls the emotional preparation and the pivotal moments in the match, including a crucial takedown in regulation and overtime. Cruz also discusses the impact of his coach, Pat Santoro, and the importance of mental preparation. He shares his Olympic experience, highlighti...
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Teague Moore: Overcoming Challenges, Winning a National Title, and Honoring His Father’s Legacy

October 3, 2024 • 76 mins
Teague Moore, a three-time All-American and national champion at Oklahoma State, discussed his wrestling journey. He recalled losing to Jeremy Hunter in high school and finally winning a high school state championship. Moore highlighted his pivotal meeting with John Smith at Fargo, which led to his commitment to Oklahoma State. He detailed his national championship win in 1998 over David Morgan and the emotional impact of his fathe...
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Cody Brewer: Chasing competition, mentorship and The Punisher - Ep. 34

September 18, 2024 • 81 mins
Cody Brewer, a national champion and four-time All-American wrestler, discussed his wrestling journey and coaching career. He highlighted his mentor, Mike Lightner, and his best wrestling IQs. Brewer shared his early wrestling experiences, including his first state championship and his high school losses. He recounted his 2014 national title win and the 2015 loss to Nahshon Garrett. Brewer emphasized the importance of chasing compe...
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Daton Fix: Fighting through the setbacks - Ep. 33

September 4, 2024 • 54 mins
Daton Fix, a five-time Big 12 champion, five-time NCAA Division I All-American and Junior World Champion, discussed his wrestling journey. He highlighted his experiences at Gallagher-Iba Arena, including his final match against Iowa, and his high school career, where he won four state titles. Fix recounted his recruitment process, choosing Oklahoma State over other top colleges. 

He reflected on his dedication, mentions of his favor...
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Kerry McCoy: World silver medalist, two-time Olympian, former college head coach - Ep. 32

August 23, 2024 • 88 mins
Shane Sparks' discussion with World silver medalist, three-time NCAA All-American, two-time NCAA champion and two-time Olympian Kerry McCoy on Episode 32 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Brandon Paulson: Olympic medalist, All-American and renowned club coach - Ep. 31

August 9, 2024 • 60 mins
Shane Sparks talks with Olympic silver medalist, NCAA All-American and respected club coach Brandon Paulson on Episode 31 of the Go Earn It Podcast. 
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Eric Larkin: NCAA Champion and Hodge winner building something Valiant (Part 2)

July 19, 2024 • 29 mins
Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with four-time All-American, NCAA champion and 2003 Dan Hodge Trophy Winner Eric Larkin on  Episode 30 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Eric Larkin: NCAA Champion and Hodge winner building something Valiant (Part 1)

July 19, 2024 • 29 mins
Part 1 of Shane Sparks' discussion with four-time All-American, NCAA champion and 2003 Dan Hodge Trophy Winner Eric Larkin on  Episode 30 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Jared Frayer: Experiencing the Olympics - Ep. 28

July 9, 2024 • 34 mins
Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Virginia Tech associate head coach and 2012 Olympian Jared Frayer on  Episode 28 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Jared Frayer: Tricks of the trade with the current Virginia Tech associate head coach - Ep. 27

June 29, 2024 • 30 mins
Part 1 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Virginia Tech associate head coach and 2012 Olympian Jared Frayer on  Episode 26 of the Go Earn It Podcast.

Frayer was a two-time All-American and a 2002 NCAA Division I national finalist for Oklahoma. Frayer is a native of Clearwater, Florida. 
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Jon Reader: Battered, Bloodied and always Dedicated (Part 2) - Ep. 26

June 13, 2024 • 54 mins
Part 2 of Shane Sparks' discussion with current Wisconsin assistant coach and past NCAA Division I champion Jon Reader on Episode 26 of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Jon Reader: Battered, Bloodied and always Dedicated (Part 1) - Ep. 25

June 5, 2024 • 33 mins
Shane Sparks needs little reason to get fired up when talking wrestling, but when he's talking with Jon Reader, the fire just burns a bit brighter. Join Sparks on Episode 25 of the Go Earn It Podcast as he talks with the current Wisconsin assistant and 2011 NCAA Division I champion. 
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Cornell's Gabe Dean, destroyer of worlds and two-time NCAA champion - Ep. 24

May 24, 2024 • 77 mins
Michigan native, four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Gabe Dean joins Shane Sparks on the most recent episode of the Go Earn It Podcast.
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Nick Gwiazdowski: Two-time World medalist, two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American - Ep. 23

May 15, 2024 • 69 mins
Shane Sparks joins New York native and current Cornell assistant coach Nick Gwiazdowski, a two-time World bronze medalist, four-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion on the latest episode of the Go Earn It Podcast.
 
Gwiazdowski started his college career at Binghamton for head coach Pat Popolizio and followed his coach to NC State where he'd win two NCAA titles and wrestle in the finals three times.
 
Sparks tracks Gwiazdowski’...
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Part 2 with two-time NCAA Champion Matt McDonough - Ep. 22

May 9, 2024 • 75 mins
Shane Sparks returns for Part 2 of the Go Earn It Podcast with Matt McDonough, a three-time NCAA Division I finalist and two-time champion from the University of Iowa.
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