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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 13 • 31 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@ GoldandBlack.com B raden Atwood calls it "brainwashing." Before a match, he'll pump himself up as best as possible, giving himself a little pep talk to get ready for his op- ponent. He — and his teammates and coaches agree — thinks it gives him an advantage. "Some people say it's cocky," the 197-pound wrestler said. "But I just wrestle, tell myself I'm the best. I believe I'm the best, and (you) just hold yourself to that standard, that you are the best. You don't have to be the strongest, fastest guy, but you've just got to tell yourself you are. You can really brainwash yourself in any sport, anything, to make your - self believe you're the best. And you're go- ing to have an edge over someone who maybe questions if they're good enough or not." But Atwood's more than just self-talk, too, with results to back up the words. The fifth-year senior, a native of nearby Delphi, is a three-time NCAA qualifier and three- time place-winner at the Big Ten Cham- pionships with a career record of 79-23. At the league meet, he's finished seventh, eighth and sixth the last three seasons in his weight class, respectable finishes in the ultra-competitive Big Ten. Last year, he was Purdue's Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler. And this season, Atwood has an 8-1 re- cord, 5-1 in dual meets, reaching his high- est career national ranking of eighth na- tionally. "He's a tough kid," Coach Tony Ersland said. "He knows when to be tough and when he has to grind. He understands that moment in a match when the match can go either way. If you respond and are tough in that moment, you can send the match your way and get the momentum back. If not, L A F A Y E T T E S A V I N G S P R E S E N T S L A F A Y E T T E L E G E N D : B R A D E N A T W O O D Believe Atwood striving to be best Purdue Senior 197-pound wrestling Braden Atwood is been ranked nationally 45 consecutive weeks, topping out at his current No. 8. Ready to tak e t h e plu n g e? David and Sonnie Boudia obtained their home loan at Lafayette Savings Bank. We're the Indiana community bank with local decision-making. When you are ready to take the plunge into home ownership, see Lafayette Savings Bank.www.lsbank.com | 742-1064 E v E r y A n g l E . E v E r y P o s s i b i l i t y . Olympic gold medalist David Boudia and his wife Sonnie