GoPSUsports.com caught up with sophomore Matt Cohen and this is what the Cohoes, New York, native had to say:
Q: What do you do to stay calm and focused at critical times?
A: I take deep breaths, pray for God to calm me, and recite Joshua 1:9.
Q: Why did you choose to attend this university?
I really liked the team and coaching staff on my recruiting trip.
Q: What are some of the things that you wanted to accomplish before your college career is over?
A: I want to be an All-American and win another team national title.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges that you¡¯ve had to overcome?
A: My biggest challenges are plateaus in my gymnastics development and constant injuries.
Q: As a kid what athlete or role model did you look up to and why?
A: I have always looked up to my mother as an athlete and a person. She has a competitive drive and a will to win that I have never seen in another human being.
Q: How did you first get involved with your sport and why?
A: I was constantly getting in fights at school and my mom thought it would be a good outlet for my excess energy and aggression.
Q: What is your favorite moment during a competition and why?
A: My favorite moment is sticking the landing on the last event of a meet that I have performed well in. Actually, that is my second favorite moment, my favorite moment is the one when I find out I/the team won.
Q: What are some of the difficulties in competing in your sport at a high level that the average fan may not be aware of?
A: The average fan may not realize that sometimes the most difficult part of competition occurs before the meet begins, it happens in the gym against your teammates for starting positions. It is difficult to compete during practices against guys that are closer than brothers.
Q: How much do you rely on your teammates both during competition and in your life?
A: I rely on them much more in competition than life. In life we are friends and we just enjoy each others company, in competition we are in battle together and without each other we can accomplish nothing.
Q: What are some of your other favorite sports?
I love running. I plan on running semi-competitively when I am done with gymnastics. I also like wrestling and basketball.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
I want to go on a one year missionary stint either to Africa or Asia. After that I plan to go to seminary and become a Pastor.
Q: What do you do to kick back and unwind after a tough competition?
A: I like to watch movies and eat a lot.
Q: What is the biggest thing you have learned during competition that will aid you in other areas of your life?
A: No matter how bleak things look you have to persevere, the hard times are the ones that God uses to mold us the most dramatically as people.
