Badgering: Evan and Zander Wick
November 21, 2018 | Wrestling, Varsity Magazine
Wrestling together since childhood, twin redshirt sophomores share what it’s like to be teammates and competing as Badgers
MADISON, Wis. — Whose idea was it to start wrestling?
Evan: My dad had wrestled, but it was me who asked my parents if we could go to wrestling practice. I actually started wrestling one day before Zander. I will always have one day more experience than Zander!
Zander: It was our dad's idea, but our mom likes to claim it was hers. So we don't really know anymore. We were both all in from day one.
How many times have people confused the two of you at tournaments?
Evan: My parents alone account for probably 200!
Zander: It seems to happen more now that Evan is a total beast and gets a lot of recognition. I don't know if there is a correlation or not. I think it's that people are just so excited to see Evan. What is funny is that I don't tell them I'm not Evan, ha ha.
What is it like having to watch each other wrestle a match?
Evan: I'm usually worrying about my match, because it is usually right after his. But when I'm not wrestling, I get more nervous for him than I do for myself
Zander: I like watching Evan wrestle. He puts all out there. I think I stay calm most the time, but at NCAAs I yelled a lot.
Evan placed third in the country and finished his freshman year as an All-American, but Zander had to sit out the year due to injury. What was the year like for both of you? Was it fun to cheer on your brother, Zander?
Evan: It was an incredible experience. I did not achieve my goal of being a national champ when it was all said and done, but it I definitely exceeded my expectations going into the tournament. It is a moment that will live with me forever. The season had a lot of ups and downs and I felt like ending on a high note really showed everyone my potential as a wrestler.
Zander: Yes! Evan is a beast!
You guys were known for riding razor scooters last year, instead of the more traditional motorized scooters. New fad on campus?
Evan: We started the razor scooter trend, then everyone saw how tight it was and started doing it too, then it became too mainstream, then we were too cool for the razor scooters and started walking everywhere. Everyone thought it was tight. Next is Heelys… get ready.
Zander: Dude, the razor scooter was amazing. We don't ride them anymore, but they were very good to use around campus.
What's it like to be teammates with your brother? Best and worst parts?
Evan: The best part is that I have someone who I am comfortable losing to. I am never nervous when I wrestle Zander. I also have someone to socialize with during practice and I don't have to worry about going too hard. We never have any bad practices together.
Zander: The best thing is that we always have a partner to go hard with and we don't really care if the other wins. We just want the other to get better. There is no worst thing.
What's your favorite thing about Wisconsin since you guys are from California?
Evan: Definitely not the seasons! Ha ha. I came here for the wrestling and it has not disappointed. The sports culture is second to none. People are very enthusiastic about athletics and that is something that California does not quite have.
Zander: The thing that I like most is how people from Wisconsin think that they live in the dairy state, but we all know that California is the true dairy state.
The Badgers knocked off two quality opponents in today's doubleheader! #JumpAround
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) November 18, 2018
