University of North Carolina Athletics
Clarke Juggles Success On The Mat And In The Classroom
December 8, 2021 | Wrestling
CHAPEL HILL – Kizhan Clarke has always strived to perform at the highest level on the mat and in the classroom. The graduate student from Tampa, Fla., has already made a significant impact after transferring from American University. The No. 10 ranked wrestler at 141 currently holds a perfect 6-0 record highlighted by a huge win over previously No. 5 Chad Red Jr. from Nebraska on Nov. 17. If that didn't impress you, he is also enrolled in law school at UNC.
He talked about his early success, coming to UNC, funny teammates, and much more during a recent chat. Here's what he had to say:
Clifton: When did you start wrestling, and how did you get into it?
Clarke: Well, I didn't start wrestling till high school. Throughout my life, up until high school, I was focused mainly on football. When I got to high school, I was undersized, and my P.E. coach, who was also the wrestling coach, encouraged me to start wrestling. He was this big one-legged guy, and he told me how much work and dedication it required. After talking with him, wrestling piqued my interest, and I decided to try it out. It was hard at first, but I learned to love the grind. When I got to my sophomore year, I quit football and focused on wrestling, and I never looked back.
Clifton: Why did you choose to come to UNC?
Clarke: When I entered the transfer portal, I had a lot of schools interested in me. The unique thing was that I wanted to go into law school, which added a unique to my recruitment. It was hard to find schools willing to take me as a wrestler and a law school student. UNC contacted me a couple of months after I entered the transfer portal and was interested in joining the team. At first, I didn't think they would be that interested in me because I knew they had National Champion Austin O'Connor and Zach Sherman on the roster. Coach Ramos called me and said they needed a 141/149 guy and was excited because UNC was at the top of my list. Their law school is one of the best in the country, and the wrestling program was strong. When Coach Ramos reached out to me, I was like, yes, UNC is the place for me, and this was a calling for me. That is what pushed me to come to Chapel Hill and join the Tar Heel wrestling team.
Clifton: How do you manage to excel on the mat and juggle going to law school?
Clarke: Many people have asked me how I juggle both at the same time. I honestly do not know how I would manage without either-or. Wrestling is where I can get my mind off school because the academic side dictates most of my day. On the other side law school is a way to get my mind off wrestling and deal with the pressure of leading up to big matches. So to have something academically challenging and athletically challenging balances each other out.
Clifton: How did it feel when you defeated No. 5 Chad Red Jr. at Nebraska earlier this season?
Clarke: I'm going, to be honest with you, it felt like an out-of-body experience because that was the highest ranked guy I have ever defeated. It was just a crazy match with the overtime and once I got the takedown, I was like, dang, I won. I was really excited, and I looked over and saw my coaches and teammates going crazy, which made me so happy. After the match, all my family back home, former teammates, and coaches reached out to me and congratulated me on the big win. I knew I had what it took to be one of the best in the country, but when I got my validation, it felt really good.
Clifton: What do you hope to accomplish personally and team-wise this season?
Clarke: Team-wise, I hope we finish top-10 in the country, and I am pushing for that. I expect a lot out of my teammates. If we all perform to the best of our ability, I feel like we can reach that goal. Personally, I hope to reach the podium and possibly win a national championship.
Clifton: What is something you can eat every day and never get tired of?
Clarke: Probably anything my girlfriend cooks because she is an excellent cook. I also love frozen yogurt.
Clifton: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Clarke: Definitely Zach Sherman. He is probably one of the funniest guys I know. Just him being him and living life is so funny to me.
Clifton: What celebrity or famous athlete would you like to meet?
Clarke: I have always wanted to meet Jordan Burroughs. He's always been a big inspiration of mine, not just in terms of his wrestling style but also his mindset. He is someone I have always followed and looked up to ever since I started wrestling.
Clifton: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Clarke: I have always wanted to go to Japan. I have planned trips in the past, but they have fallen through, and I didn't go. It has always been a place I've wanted to visit because I love the culture and the food.
He talked about his early success, coming to UNC, funny teammates, and much more during a recent chat. Here's what he had to say:
Clifton: When did you start wrestling, and how did you get into it?
Clarke: Well, I didn't start wrestling till high school. Throughout my life, up until high school, I was focused mainly on football. When I got to high school, I was undersized, and my P.E. coach, who was also the wrestling coach, encouraged me to start wrestling. He was this big one-legged guy, and he told me how much work and dedication it required. After talking with him, wrestling piqued my interest, and I decided to try it out. It was hard at first, but I learned to love the grind. When I got to my sophomore year, I quit football and focused on wrestling, and I never looked back.
Clifton: Why did you choose to come to UNC?
Clarke: When I entered the transfer portal, I had a lot of schools interested in me. The unique thing was that I wanted to go into law school, which added a unique to my recruitment. It was hard to find schools willing to take me as a wrestler and a law school student. UNC contacted me a couple of months after I entered the transfer portal and was interested in joining the team. At first, I didn't think they would be that interested in me because I knew they had National Champion Austin O'Connor and Zach Sherman on the roster. Coach Ramos called me and said they needed a 141/149 guy and was excited because UNC was at the top of my list. Their law school is one of the best in the country, and the wrestling program was strong. When Coach Ramos reached out to me, I was like, yes, UNC is the place for me, and this was a calling for me. That is what pushed me to come to Chapel Hill and join the Tar Heel wrestling team.
Clifton: How do you manage to excel on the mat and juggle going to law school?
Clarke: Many people have asked me how I juggle both at the same time. I honestly do not know how I would manage without either-or. Wrestling is where I can get my mind off school because the academic side dictates most of my day. On the other side law school is a way to get my mind off wrestling and deal with the pressure of leading up to big matches. So to have something academically challenging and athletically challenging balances each other out.
Clifton: How did it feel when you defeated No. 5 Chad Red Jr. at Nebraska earlier this season?
Clarke: I'm going, to be honest with you, it felt like an out-of-body experience because that was the highest ranked guy I have ever defeated. It was just a crazy match with the overtime and once I got the takedown, I was like, dang, I won. I was really excited, and I looked over and saw my coaches and teammates going crazy, which made me so happy. After the match, all my family back home, former teammates, and coaches reached out to me and congratulated me on the big win. I knew I had what it took to be one of the best in the country, but when I got my validation, it felt really good.
Clifton: What do you hope to accomplish personally and team-wise this season?
Clarke: Team-wise, I hope we finish top-10 in the country, and I am pushing for that. I expect a lot out of my teammates. If we all perform to the best of our ability, I feel like we can reach that goal. Personally, I hope to reach the podium and possibly win a national championship.
Clifton: What is something you can eat every day and never get tired of?
Clarke: Probably anything my girlfriend cooks because she is an excellent cook. I also love frozen yogurt.
Clifton: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Clarke: Definitely Zach Sherman. He is probably one of the funniest guys I know. Just him being him and living life is so funny to me.
Clifton: What celebrity or famous athlete would you like to meet?
Clarke: I have always wanted to meet Jordan Burroughs. He's always been a big inspiration of mine, not just in terms of his wrestling style but also his mindset. He is someone I have always followed and looked up to ever since I started wrestling.
Clifton: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Clarke: I have always wanted to go to Japan. I have planned trips in the past, but they have fallen through, and I didn't go. It has always been a place I've wanted to visit because I love the culture and the food.
Players Mentioned
Sunday, June 07
Sunday, June 07
Sunday, June 07
Saturday, June 06