2 weeks Ago By Courier News
Balance is a key element in the sport of wrestling. So too is balancing an academic load. For Anthony White, a wrestler at Rutgers, that balance has so far proved to be quite successful.
He was recently named a National Wrestling Coaches Association All-America, as well as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Academic All-Big Ten.The 165-pound redshirt senior has one more season to continue that balance. An NCAA qualifier two years ago, his goal next season is to be an NCAA All-America.
He achieved the ultimate goal his final year at South Plainfield High School, winning an NJSIAA state championship.His Rutgers career has not come without frustration, and while he won 15 matches this season, his career record stands at 39-39. He finished this season ranked 29th in his weight class by the NWCA rankings.
"The results have been tough for me the last four years, but I was fortunate enough where I’ve been a starter. But I’ve always had letdowns,” said White, who turned 22 earlier this month. “So my goal is to be an All-America next year, and I really believe I can do it.
It’s my last year of ever wrestling, so I want to give it my all. Not that I don’t always give it my all, but I’m going to shoot for everything even if it sounds crazy.”The academic success, although a challenging journey, has certainly been more than .
500“It’s been a learning process, like anything else in life. You don’t grow unless you have to,” he said. “Once I got into sophomore year, the accounting business school classes, I had to make some sacrifices.
I didn’t get to see my friends as much. A lot of days I’m out of the house (in New Brunswick that he shares with school buddies) from 9 a.m.
and I’m not back until 6-7 o’clock. Sometimes later if I have an exam.“It’s difficult to balance; especially when we travel.
But a lot of it teaches you to just go with the flow and take care of doing my assignments, putting in the hours studying. Fortunately, I’ve been able to get good grades,” he said, “so I’m in a position to graduate with a Bachelor’s in accounting.”And a minor in finance.
More: Rutgers wrestling 2025 offseason tracker: Hunter Catka transfers from Virginia TechSome classes for his Master’s began this semester. Classes include topics in income taxation, decoding corporate finance, derivatives, and special topics in artificial intelligence.This summer he will intern at KPMG, a tax firm in Short Hills.
Last summer he worked for a company in thermo electrical solutions doing miscellaneous work.No rest for the weary.“I didn’t want to go to school to just wrestle,” he said.
“Wrestling is the most important thing in my life for sure. I care more about how I do in wrestling than if I get a B or an A in class. It was a harder route, playing a sport.
“It sounds cliché, but I was thinking down the line what would be the best thing to do right now, to set me up to be the best man I could be, for the future. like a wife and kids down the line. I have a great opportunity to get a great degree from a well-renowned business school.
Ultimately, I’m glad I did it, even though it took some sacrifice.”Wrestling practice was from 10 to noon, plus an hour if needed to rehab injuries or spend time in the weight room. After 15 minutes for lunch, he’d be off to classes.
Most years,” he said, “I blocked out classes from 12 to 5:30-6. Most of us go back after that to work out at night most times, then go to study after that. I try and get eight hours of sleep at night, so that doesn’t give you much time.
”More: Is there a bright future for Rutgers wrestling after a bleak showing at NCAA Tournament?Having begun the sport at age 5 (“It’s a big thing to do in our town”), he doesn’t hesitate to encourage a young wrestler to do what he did at the State University. “Number one is the coaching staff, even off the mat. Rutgers is a great academic school,” he said, “especially if you want to go the business school route.
It’s one of the best business schools in the Northeast. I would overall say the facilities and support we get is unmatched. I’ve been all over the country and all over the Big Ten the last four years.
I will say I have not seen many facilities that top ours in the Big Ten. You have everything you need at Rutgers to succeed.”So where does he think that success will find him in say 10 years from now?“I would like to think that I’d have a beautiful wife and some kids, making enough money where I’m living a good life and can put food on the table.
I never see myself as living an extravagant life. I think that’s a little overrated,” he said. “Just enough of the simple things, to be in a position where I can hopefully have happiness with my family.
Just to put the job and everything aside, that would be the most important thing for me.”In other words, a very balanced life.This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.
com: Rutgers wrestling: Anthony White balances athletics, academics.
