Max Black (60 kg, NMU/NTS) is always interested in doing everything that he can to power himself towards becoming a World and Olympic champ, therefore it should have been no surprise when he signed up for yet another overseas trip. Black, who made the US Senior National Team this past April at the 2024 Olympic Team Trials, is also on the country’s U23 World roster that will compete this coming October in Tirana, Albania. Like his American U23 World Teammates, the fiery Northern Michigan wrestler wanted an opportunity to compete and train with the types of athletes he will encounter come tournament time. The best way to do that, obviously, is by hopping on a plane and going straight to the source.
Just short of a week ago, Black managed to put in a sparkling effort at the ’24 Drunskinikai Cup in Lithuania that resulted in a silver medal. It was not the pair of victories why the performance landed positively, nor was it the medal, though both factor into the equation. It was more that, having only recently returned from a serious chest injury, Black still demonstrated fluid and convicted entries from tie-ups into transitions on the feet, and still competed with the same degree of ferociousness that has defined his progress as a full-time athlete. Hence why this trip was, is, so important to the two-time U20 World rep and current U23 roster member: even if some healing remains to be ironed-out, Black needed to get back on the horse so that he can hit this last stretch of the training cycle with the requisite amount of confidence while still keeping an eye on tactical items which may demand his attention in the room.
The tournament ran through last weekend and Monday morning ushered in the start of a multi-national training camp that will not conclude until early next week. Thus, a check-in with Black was necessary. He seems to be doing quite well in Lithuania, which is one more unsurprising development. Black — who also earned bronze at Thor Masters in March, giving him two international medals this year — knows how to adjust to overseas surroundings and he asserts that his time thus far in LTU has likewise been enjoyable.
He of course has no zero issues with breaking down everything that involves his actual wrestling concerns. Black has rapidly become one of the more popular, outspoken, and honest voices in the US program. As such, whatever he describes pertaining to his competitive exploits, be them positive or negative, his intent is to reinforce areas upon which he would like to improve, as well as to convey in no uncertain terms what that process might entail. Given how quickly he has turned into one of the country’s best lightweights, this approach to the sport clearly works for him.
Max Black — 60 kg, NMU/NTS
5PM: For starters, how have you liked LTU just as far as it being another country you’ve visited?
Max Black: Lithuania has actually been one of my favorite countries that I have visited so far. The facility they have us in is actually very nice. They have everything here that we could possibly need. They have served good food, the dorms are nice, we have AC (air conditioning) and also Netflix, which is nice. There is also a really nice weight room, as well as a sauna and a pool. Vilinius, the capital, was a really cool experience. It is very medieval, which was a cool change of scenery, and the people are nice. The town we are in is a very small town. It is really similar to Marquette. There are a lot of trees and not many people. Everyone here has told me that it’s mainly a town for people to come chill at and spa.
5PM: Did it take long to acclimate time zone-wise?
MB: No, it didn’t take long for me to acclimate to the time zone. I’m pretty good at getting used to the time zone because I am pretty disciplined with my sleep when I go overseas.
5PM: You had been injured pretty seriously for some months. How did you feel getting in some legit official matches for the first time in a while?
MB: I’m not gonna lie, I felt extremely rusty and exhausted. These where the first real matches I’ve had since Olympic Trials, so my chest and everything was definitely feeling it (laughs). I just haven’t competed in so long and only had like 2 weeks of training, but I did learn a lot from it.
5PM: You wrestled very well in the tournament and plus, you got four matches in. How did everything feel as far as your pre-match prep, warm-ups and cooldowns, and then, of course, in-match stuff like your position and timing on attacks?
MB: My pre-match prep was kind of lacking, partially because I forgot my headphones in Marquette and so I didn’t have music. I like to listen to music before my matches. But, honestly, not too much music. Just a few songs, but it definitely would’ve been nice. My warm-up is always good no matter the tournament. I have a set warm-up that I like to do and I do it at every tournament, so that was not a problem. I do the same cooldown every match, as well. I just jog a few laps, maybe skip, so none of that was a problem.
My in-match tactics were not my best, for sure. I kind of coasted in some of my matches when I should’ve been attacking, which has been a problem before. I did a lot of drilling leading up to this though, just because I have been dealing with other little injuries — like splitting my face open and popping my bursa sac and having it getting infected — so my moves honestly felt pretty good other than me not being able to execute because I was out of shape. But honestly, a lot of the mistakes I made this tournament were mistakes I’ve always made but just worse, if that makes sense.
5PM: This was your second overseas medal of the year so far. Yet, since I know you, I’m figuring that the two losses stuck in your mind. Were you able to work out some of this frustration in camp? Or were you not frustrated at all, and just looked at the tournament strictly as practice matches for the World Championships?
MB: Obviously, I was frustrated, as anyone who knows me might guess. But I would say that I have been able to take out some frustration in camp, now that you put it like that. I have been actually wrestling pretty well in the camp and am slowly getting back. I’m pretty motivated right now because I missed being in training camp since the injury, so it has been actually extremely fun. I was also not as frustrated because, about two weeks ago, I talked with Andy (Bisek) and asked him what my mindset should be leading into the tournament since I’m not fully prepared. He told me that I should obviously want to go win it, but that it isn’t the end goal. Worlds is obviously the end goal, and that I should go out there and try to learn and pick up some tricks even if I don’t win it, though gold would be the best-case scenario. Talking to Andy about that really helped me because usually when I lose, I get pretty upset thinking that I’m like getting worse or something. But, no, this tournament and camp are just a learning tool for Worlds.
5PM: You’ve done this before, traveling overseas for training. How do you bring back positive things you pick up overseas and take them with you back in the wrestling room at Northern?
MB: So every time I go to these camps, I swear, I literally get better. Like insanely better every time. Some ways I like to keep this progress is 1) by bringing that intensity back into the room to my teammates, since these camps are very intense; and 2) I like to teach some of our guys some of the things I’ve learned. I am a big believer that the more you teach someone something, the more you learn from it. So I like doing that.
5PM: A new semester is about to begin at NMU, and soon enough a whole new season for international Greco-Roman. Your program had a big year last year, and you did personally, as well. What’s the attitude like for NMU guys at the moment considering how much momentum and success some of you are starting to have?
Max Black: The attitude is at an all-time high right now. I got off the phone with Payton (Jacobson) today and we where talking about how we are the old guys of the group now, how we are leaders and so now we are going to have to take charge. Before, it was Benji (Peak), Alston (Nutter), David (Stepanyan), and Austin Morrow. But now it’s Payton and I, and we have to use the tools our older guys gave us to help the team be better. We talked about motivating our team and making sure that they make every practice and stuff like that. So I think with Payton and I taking leadership roles this year, we are going to push NMU and see some massive progress.
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