Pound for pound, Faraj is one of
the best grapplers around

  When he was younger, Waleed Faraj would sit in the stands, watch his older brother Marwan out-wrestle opponent after opponent and dream of the day when he could do the same.

  Well, that day arrived three years ago when Faraj became an instant light-weight impact in Canton's line-up. Now, a senior, Faraj is shooting for his third straight trip to the Division 1 individual state meet.

  The talented 125-pound grappler, who has earned a solid 3.2 grade-point average, took a few moments out of his busy day to speak with PlymouthCantonSports.com's Ed Wright.

ED WRIGHT: What do you like the most about wrestling?

Waleed Faraj: I like going hard at practice. It's different than other sports because you're on the mat by yourself. It's more of an individual effort.

EW: What's the toughest part of the sport?

WF: Probably weight cutting. It takes a lot of discipline, not to give in. It's hard sometimes, but it's worth it in March.

EW: What food do you miss the most during wrestling season?

WF: I miss going out to eat, going to Buffalo Wild Wings. You can't go out to eat at all. I eat a lot of peanut butter, spaghetti and pasta.

EW: What's it like wrestling in the state finals at the Palace?

WF: It's amazing. You walk out of the tunnel and there are thousands of people there watching you. It's an unbelievable feeling.

EW: What's been the highlight of your career so far? Is there a win you've had that stands out?

WF: Last year I wasn't ranked early in the year and I beat the kid that was ranked eighth. After that I was ranked. I was losing 8-7 and I got a takedown with about eight seconds left. It was a big win for the team, too.

EW: What's your mindset when you step on the mat?

WF: I'm really, really focused. I try to break my opponent's will. I take him down, let him up. Take him down, let him up. Take him down, let him up. Then I try to pin him. We're in such good shape because we work so hard.

EW: What's your off-season training regimen like?

WF: I wrestle all summer, usually at Eastern Michigan. We practice in their room a lot.

  Ed Wright can be reached at [email protected] or (734) 453-1980.