Stillwater High School standout wrestler Eric Casula committed to the University of Oklahoma to continue his career.
Since Casula was a young athlete, he has always worn the Crimson and Cream.
“I’ve always been a Sooner fan since I was a kid, and just to get that opportunity to compete for OU I’ve been dreaming of that since I was a kid,” Casula said
The journey has been a grind for Casula, but in the end, he said it will all be worth it.
“A lot of long practices, weight cuts, and early mornings, but it’s definitely been worth it,” he said.
Casula said he is looking forward to having another great season for his last year on the high school mat.
“I’m pretty excited, and I just want to go out there and be dominant every time I step on the mat, so I’m looking forward to my senior season,” he said.
SHS Wrestling Head Coach Ethan Kyle said Casula has found ways to grow as a person and an athlete.
“He’s matured a lot and he’s a real playful guy, and just the way he goes about his wrestling,” Kyle said. “He has a better perspective on the bigger picture, rather than being stuck in the moment sometimes.”
Kyle said Casula never fails to show his efforts on the mat and constantly has that positive energy everyone needs.
“He’s high energy, he’s got a lot of personality, and keeps the mood light, which is a good thing around competition,” he said. “You can always expect his best effort, he is always hungry and he wrestles really hard.”
Watching Casula reach this milestone that he’s always dreamed of has been a great experience, Kyle said.
“I’m an OSU Alum, so it’s a little bittersweet, but anytime you get a kid that gets to compete in the Division 1, it’s an unbelievable accomplishment,” Kyle said. “It says a lot about himself and his family and all the work he’s done. The next couple of years I get to follow along and watch that.”
SHS Senior wrestler Julio Aguirre is a close friend of Casula’s, and said they have created memories they’ll cherish forever.
“My favorite memory with Eric was probably when we went to Ironman and he lost his luggage in the airport,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre has seen Casula put in the hard work behind the scenes and is proud of him as his teammate.
“I’ve seen Eric put in a bunch of extra work and dedicate his time towards wrestling,” he said. “He’s definitely the jokester of our team and I’m excited to see him along his career as a teammate.”
