By ABE MILLS
abe@du2.byu.edu
Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, once said: 'The quality of any man's life has got to be a full measure of that man's personal commitment to excellence and to victory, regardless of what field he may be in.'
BYU's Rangi Smart (pronounced Rain-Gee with a hard 'g') is the epitome of Lombardi's statement. He is the undisputed starter at the 165-pound weight class for the Cougar grapplers. He is the best kept secret at BYU.
In a year when BYU reached the top 25 for the first time in 11 years, Smart was the constant provider. He provided a spark for the team when it couldn't get it going. He provided points when the Cougars needed that little extra to win. There was the time he provided excitement for the crowd and man-handled his opponent from Cal State Fullerton like a wrestler should. He even finished that match by throwing a disgusted cross face because his opponent wouldn't 'wrestle' him. Now, he has a legitimate shot to provide BYU its first wrestling All-American in 13 years.
Smart has been the man for BYU and he's done it in a unique way. While characteristics of a team leader bring thoughts of an in-your-face, hyped up person who has a lot to say, Smart leads by example.
'There are two kinds of people in this world,' BYU head coach Mark Schultz said. 'There's people who talk a lot and don't work much, and guys that just quietly succeed.'
Smart has definitely succeeded. He lost only one match his first year wrestling at the age of 5. In high school, he was a three-time state champion for Utah powerhouse Pleasant Grove and was a High School All-American. All that, and he maintained humility.
'I didn't have any idea I could be successful in college,' Smart said. 'When schools started sending me letters, I thought maybe I'd have a shot.'
At the time, BYU's wrestling program was close to extinction. So Smart chose to go to the next-closest WAC school, the Air Force Academy.
There his success continued. As a freshman, he finished 29-11, was an All- American and finished second at the WAC Tournament.
'I enjoyed the underdog role as a freshman. I kind of caught people by surprise,' he said.
This year, the roles have been reversed for Smart, who was ranked in the top five nationally for most of the season. Headed into the February 19 dual meet with Arizona, he was ranked third nationally with a 17-3 record, his only losses coming to the top two wrestlers in the nation. Then adversity hit.
Smart lost both his matches that weekend, to the 10th and 2nd-ranked wrestlers in the nation. His losses weren't so much of a worry, but his fatigue was a mystery. Smart then found out he has an infection in his blood that drains his energy.
Doctors have tried a few medications, but without success. Smart is 2-4 in his last six matches, including a second-place finish at the WAC Tournament.
Smart would never make excuses though.
'He's just one of those guys who doesn't complain about anything,' Schultz said. 'He takes full responsibility for his successes and failures. That's the way you have to be. Every good wrestler knows that.'
Rick Smart, Rangi's father, said he's impressed with his son's 'no complaints' attitude.
'He could have decided not to wrestle. He usually does 300 push-ups after practice and this week he could barely do 30. Instead of complaining he put his reputation on the line and it has been tough, but never an excuse.'
Smart is no stranger to adversity. Just before Rangi served an LDS mission to France, the Smart family was touched by tragedy. His mother was struck with cancer. While Smart was serving his mission, he decided with his brother Rocky that they would both go to BYU. Rick Smart said it was so the brothers could be 'close to home.' Rangi Smart provided a spark at home, too.
'He's a great strength always willing to come over and help out,' Rick Smart said. 'It has especially been a strength for my wife to have him around. He's everything you could want in a son.'
So, Smart is no longer the best kept secret at BYU, but he may be when he wrestles in the NCAA Tournament in State College, Pa., March 18-20.
'I think he'll do better back there. They haven't been able to scout him as much,' Schultz said. 'I wish I had 10 of him, and I hope my kids grow up to be like him.'