2023 NCAA All-American Chris Foca hopped on the HeavyweightNation Podcast this week, who had a big year for the Big Red and showed his elite potential this past season.
Since four-years-old, Foca has had experience on the wrestling mat. A New Jersey native, Foca had a tremendous high school career, and was a recruit that many schools around the country chased.
Foca won a New Jersey state title in 2019 for Bergen Catholic, and added on two Beast Of The East titles during his time in Oradell. Not only that, but Foca also won a Fargo title, and was a top five recruit in the country at 182-pounds.
“I think in the past decade or so, some years more than others, it could be argued that New Jersey could be considered the best wrestling state in the country,” said Foca.
Foca committed to Cornell after high school, and saw his first action as a sophomore, where he finished the season 24-8 and a NCAA qualifier.
This past season, Foca had a dominant season with a 50% bonus rate and finished third on the podium at the NCAA’s. On his route to a third place finish, Foca’s only loss during the tournament was a 6-0 loss to 3x NCAA champion Carter Starocci. Foca also beat former NCAA champion Mehki Lewis for third place.
“I was excited to be out there, and wanted to make a run for myself. I wrestled him (Lewis) twice in college before, and wrestled him a bunch in high school so we go way back. Going into that match I said I had to finish strong, and I knew it was going to be a gritty one,” said Foca.
Foca obviously made huge strides since his sophomore season, and spoke about the grind he went through in the summer to now see his hard work paying off.
“That entire summer I was running three miles every morning, and brought my weight down overtime, did strength training with the team a bunch, so I was on a different regimen,” said Foca.
Making 174-pounds is not an easy task for Foca, but that is where we will see him wrestle in the upcoming 2024 season, and claims he has some unfinished business.
Foca still has two more years of eligibility at Cornell, and will be a vital piece to the Big Red lineup who placed third as a team this past year.
