After his bronze medal victory in the 65-kg wrestling category at the Paris Olympics, Sebastian Rivera received a congratulatory message from the wrestling legend Jordan Burroughs. The 2012 Olympic champion didn’t hold back his praise for the Puerto Rican wrestler, who had overpowered Tulga Tumur-Ochir, the Mongolian standout. In his X post, Jordan Burroughs also acknowledged Rivera’s coach, Jeff Buxton, who had significantly contributed with valuable inputs to Rivera’s performance. “That’s wisdom and Leadership. Congratulations Sebastian Rivera!” remained the final line. Seriously, the inputs from coaches had been the key difference at the penultimate game in Paris.

The bronze medal match was tightly contested, with the scores between Rivera and Ochir tied. However, a review of a last-minute takedown gave the 26-year-old Rivera the edge. The challenge to review the decision came from Jeff Buxton and Donny Pritzlaff, Rivera’s coaches. Both Buxton and Pritzlaff have backgrounds in Rutgers wrestling, Rivera’s alma mater. Notably, there had been changes in the camp before the Paris Olympics, affecting the team dynamics.

After spending 10 years as the associate wrestling coach at Rutgers University, Donny Pritzlaff left his position as associate coach at Rutgers. Rather, in June of this year, he took on the role of Andrew F. Berth Head Coach of Wrestling at Columbia University. This transition raised questions about Rivera’s decision to continue working with his Rutgers coaches. However, everything is now in place, as Rivera has announced that he will continue working with Pritzlaff, but now as his deputy.

In the podcast with Frankie Edgar, Sebastian said, “I don’t know if they handled the situation the best way they could have, nothing against him, he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.” That might have been targeted at Scott Goodale, the head coach of the wrestling at Rutgers. However, the HC has been full of praise regarding Sebastian’s performance at the Olympics and the role of Pritzlaff in shaping him. 

Recently in an interview with Nick Kosko. Scott said, “I love the guy [Donnie Pritzlaff], I always said this, you know for 10 years, I think he’s one of the best in the world and he showed that in his preparation with Sebastian but even with all of our guys for last 10 years.” Subsequently, he adorned Pritzlaff, calling him “Phenomenal”. But in a later moment, the New Jersey Wrestling Hall of Famer paved the way for the debate, calling out Donnie’s move to Columbia. 

In the same conversation, Scott Goodale laid out, “There certainly was a plan for Donnie here [at Rutgers], but it’s something he wanted to do and wanted to get his foot in the door and be a head coach right now.”  That ambition to claim the head coach position might have made Pritzlaff move to New York City, leaving Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights, behind. Now, Rivera is going to join Columbia University as the associate coach, following his coach’s move. But wasn’t it clear that Rivera would follow his mentor everywhere? 

Sebastian Rivera drops his mindset regarding his favorite coach 

In his tenure for Rutgers, Donnie Pritzlaff brought in numerous accolades for the wrestling fold. A total of 110 dual victories and 34 in the Big Ten Conference came under his reign. That effect would continue in the future as well, as Scott Goodale mentioned in his interview. But Sebastian Rivera saved some special flowers for his personal coaches in Paris. 

In Jeff Braxton, he invested all his trust as he had clapped to the veteran coach for going with the ultimate decision to challenge the ruling by the judges in his third-place defining match. But for Donnie Pritzlaff, he had his heart ready. After his victory against the Mongolian wrestler, he said, “I have a great coach as Donnie, and if I could turn Donnie Pritzlaff off, I could turn anybody in the world. That’s kind of my mindset.” But to take up the coaching job couldn’t be expected, as Rivera hinted at something in the same tete-a-tete. 

The wrestler had a point to prove in Paris—that he was the best in his job. But wrestling is not his life. “I have life. I balance it well. Wrestling isn’t my life. I like to do other things,” he boasted. Now, his passion for the sport or his love for his coach has now made him move to NYC, leaving New Jersey. Let’s hope it comes out well for him.