Source: Open Mat!
Former NCAA Division I Wrestling champion Mike Pucillo came out as gay in an interview with The Open Mat! The Only reason im posting this as news on a pro wrestling site is because Wrestling, whether indie, pro or college. It’s a male dominated sport. A lot of wrestlers don’t accept gays in the locker room or make fun of them. It’s good to see that the world of wrestling is starting to be more accepting of gays wrestling with them. There are numerous indie wrestlers who are openly gay and college wrestlers now. Darren Young from WWE Wrestling and Pat Patterson are both openly gay and proud. Jason Bryant writes:
For months, the NCAA wrestling champion from Ohio State had tried time and again to share his biggest secret, but he couldn’t bring himself to verbalize two words.
Finally, on a December morning, Pucillo reached for his phone and tapped out a lengthy text message to his best friend and college teammate, Reece Humphrey.
The gist of the message was this: I’m gay.
“I think telling him was an unbelievable weight off my shoulders (and) I didn’t think I would feel that good just telling him,” said Pucillo, the first openly gay Division-I national champion wrestler. “Reece has always been someone with a very open mind and I thought maybe he would understand.”
He is also a three time All-American. He reveals that being gay as a wrestler added additional complications.
“You’ve been told that (homosexuality) is a bad thing your entire life,” he said. “You hear it from your teachers, you hear it from your friends, you hear it from your coaches, you hear it from your parents.”
Pucillo felt wrestling – a physical contact sport – created additional pressure.
“Wrestling is one of the toughest mentally, physically and manly sports there is,” he said. “It’s two dudes rolling around on a mat. People who don’t know wrestling call them leotards. It’s a joke, but it creates a built-in mechanism to say: ‘I’m not gay. I’m too manly to be gay. I’m too tough to be gay.’
“That adds into it. Add in the aspect of doing well, to me, (that) was another aspect that scared me. Not only am I a wrestler, but I’m pretty (freaking) good.”
Pucillo’s choosing to tell his story now, at 26-years-old, in hopes of helping others.
“I wish I was able to be myself seven years ago while still competing in college, but it isn’t until now that I am comfortable with myself to tell my story. I want people to know that you aren’t alone. If I can just help one person get through, then I will be happy.”
