“Assistant coaches in wrestling are so valuable on the mat, so obviously with Jesse ranked No. 1, my big thing was to get someone who could be an excellent workout partner,” Weiss continues. “Also, Jared’s beaten Jesse twice in college, so I already knew of him from competition. When I met him, I felt he was a perfect fit for the whole team—not just Jesse—personality and everything.”

Frayer only echoes that sentiment.

“I think Weiss kind of knew that I was a people person,” he says. “He knew that I would enjoy working with these guys, and I think that he knew my technical background, as well. He knew I could help in certain areas of the program.”

The other critical aspect to Frayer’s candidacy, Weiss says, was the fact that he was still in the midst of training for international and Olympic events.

“It’s important that he’s not only a workout partner, because both guys will need the training. If both need training, it’s easier that way, and he sets the standard for the whole team: if a guy’s assistant coach is training harder than them, then they know that something’s wrong.”

Indeed, the team is very quick to point out that Frayer’s position as assistant coach is not simply as some kind of special partner hired for Jantzen.

“He’s had an impact on everyone,” Weiss says. “He trains with everyone, even the heavyweights. His style is one that shows he’s been around wrestling. He’s been able to help every individual on the team, and others would say the same thing.”

No. 14 sophomore Max Meltzer (141 lbs.) agrees.

“In practice, he’s not primarily Jesse’s [workout partner],” Meltzer says. “He makes a great effort to work out with all the guys, and makes himself accessible to everyone on the team. Especially over the past few days—if you needed to get a workout in because of a paper or a test, he was just willing to be there for you.”

Eyes on the Prize

None, however, deny that the road to a national championship will most likely run through Jantzen, who is currently the top-ranked wrestler by W.I.N. Magazine, Amateur Wrestling News and the Wrestling Mall.

“Jared’s helpful in that he brings a lot of experience, being in the same weight class and even wrestling at the same time that I did,” Jantzen says. “He knows the way I wrestled, and my technique, as well as the styles of other athletes [I’m competing with now]. He’s able to give me insight on the competition.”

Weiss notes that their past battles—particularly the 2002 NCAA tournament match-up—are especially instructive of Frayer’s perfect role as someone whom Jantzen can use to get better.

“They had a huge style conflict two years ago,” Weiss remembers. “Going into nationals, it was tough because they shared strengths. Jared was good where Jesse was good, and Jared was good on top. Jared’s the only one I’ve ever seen that can counter Jesse’s crab-ride move, which has been murder for just about everyone else. It’s really the perfect training situation, when you get to go against that and prepare.”

Frayer wholeheartedly agrees.