Minnesota Storm wrestler and Team USA member Paxton Creese recently returned from a three country wrestling tour in Europe where he won his first International title in Greco-Roman and placed 5th in Freestyle.
Minnesota/USA Wrestling recently caught up with Paxton and for a Q & A:
MNUSAW: What was your favorite moment of this trip?
Paxton: Wrestling wise my favorite moment was winning a Greco title. Off the mat was coming to Europe my first time.
MNUSAW: Greco-Roman is a big deal in Europe and you won gold. How did that feel?
Paxton: It felt really good to win my first international tournament.
MNUSAW: What is it like training with kids from other countries?
Paxton: The kids are a lot more ballsy. They will throw from every position which is pretty neat because that is what I do.
MNUSAW: What is it like training with other Coaches from countries like Russia?
Paxton: I like the way they do warm ups, they are much longer than what I am used to, but I feel a lot better afterwards.
MNUSAW: How have you been treated as a foreigner? Are people nice to you?
Paxton: Yes everyone here has been nice. But honestly I felt like we had a spotlight on us.
MNUSAW: How is the food?
Paxton: The food has been really good. There was one place that was a buffet that served chicken and waffles that was really good.
MNUSAW: Aside from wrestling you are doing lots of site seeing. What has been some of the things you enjoyed seeing?
Paxton: Kiek in de kok was so cool. It was built in the 1400's. You could see so much of Tallinn from the tower.
MNUSAW: Back to wrestling. Have you learned anything new?
Paxton: I learned a little bit it was not much in the way of technique. I got great coaches already.
MNUSAW: Will you go back next year? And is this something you would recommend to other wrestlers?
Paxton: Yes, definitely a great experience.