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It has been just over five months since I wrote my last Idaho Mat Chat article featuring Adam Hall, a former prep star at Bonners Ferry High School, two-time All-American at Boise State, and currently the new Head Coach at Utah Valley University in Orem. Along with Coach Hall, I have highlighted former prep and collegiate standouts Casey Randles, Jake Rosholt, Ridge Lovett, and North Idaho Head Coach Derrick Booth.  

The next Idahoan in my Mat Chat series is Brock Zollinger of Idaho Falls. Brock has been a long time fixture on the wrestling scene in Idaho and abroad. Not only was he an exceptional wrestler, but for the last twenty plus years he has been an accomplished coach and referee at the national and international levels. What’s more, Brock hails from a family that has established strong roots in the Gem State wrestling circles. For instance, his older brothers, Bryan and Brett, were each accomplished prep wrestlers at Sugar-Salem High School, while their father, Ned, formerly served as the State Chair of USA Idaho in addition to being involved with USA Wrestling. Moreover, brother Bryan is also a coach at Skyline High School in Idaho Falls and a member of the podcast team at Idaho Sports that conducts weekly Mat Chat Prepcasts during the wrestling season.    

Brock’s entry into the wrestling circle began at the early age of five when he and a friend frequently joined his older brothers at weekly practice held inside Coach Bob Price’s makeshift wrestling room in the upstairs of his house. Initially, they were there to observe, but one evening Coach Price directed Brock and his friend to take center mat for a series of takedowns. Despite being a little nervous, Brock was ready for the opportunity. From the get-go, he showed no fear and promptly shot a blast double that resembled a locomotive train. Securing the takedown, Brock was hooked from that point forward. He fell in love with the sport and never looked back.

From an early age, Brock developed a strong work ethic instilled by his father, Ned. In sum, he learned how to embrace the demanding process of goal setting, continuous improvement, as well as overcoming challenges or setbacks that came his way. Once he solidified this outlook and focus, it became his common denominator in life, which prepared him for his prep days at Sugar-Salem High School in Sugar City (Population of just 1,200 in the early 2000s). 

Brock began his freshman season at Sugar-Salem with the inititial goal of making an immediate impact on the state level. Despite his intent, he still had to grow into the 103-pound weight group. On average, he weighed anywhere from 92 to 99 pounds throughout the season and held his own against the state’s top level competition. By season’s end, he earned his first district title and engaged in the state tournament with the goal of being on the medal stand. Unfortunately, he fell short of his goal and did not place in the top six (1-2 record). Slightly discouraged, he walked off the mat with the understanding that something had to change. 

Not one to make excuses, Brock got back to work in the wrestling room and put his nose the grindstone to prepare for the next season. For starters, he devoted more time refining his technique, weight lifting, but more importantly, he worked on his mental game. In due course, Brock grew into the 103-pound weight division and by his sophomore season, he was better prepared to compete at the state level and developed a stronger mindset to reach the top of the podium at state. 

Shortly after winning districts for the second year in a row, Brock definitely reached a turning point in his mat career when he beat returning state placer and long-standing rival, Tyson Smith of Snake River in the preliminary rounds at state to reach the finals. In actuality, Brock had lost to Smith in their seven previous matches. While standing on top step of the podium, Brock realized that he could now compete at the state level and much more. His decisive win over Smith early on in the tournament validated that his hard work and commitment to achieving his goal of winning state had paid off. 

The celebration at state was short lived. Brock immediately began his training regimin for the summer circuit ahead. Only weeks after high school state, Brock added to his growing list of accolades by winning titles in both Freestyle and Greco at the Rocky Mountain Regionals. He then followed with a strong performance at the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Open tournament by reaching the championship finals as well as earning his first prep level All-American honor. Moreover, Brock earned additional All-American honors by placing in both styles at the U.S. Fargo Nationals in North Dakota. 

There is the old saying, “Summer wrestlers make winter champions.” True to form, Brock’s hard work and commitment to reach the pinnacle of our great sport was paying off in dividens as he won his third district title followed by reaching the top step of the state podium for the second year in a row. In the post season, Brock earned multiple state and regional Freestyle and Greco titles. On top of that, Brock attained his first Fargo National title in Junior Greco in addition to an All-American honor in Freestyle. With a total of five All-American honors to his credit, Brock capped his junior year with top four placings at the FILA Cadet Nationals (Freestyle/Greco) as well as a runner-up finish at the FILA Junior World Team trials. 

Brock concluded his final prep season at Sugar-Salem rated among the top lightweights in the state of Idaho and country. He capped it off by winning his fourth district and third state title. In fact, by doing so, Brock was now part of a small group of three-time state champions in the A-2 division. At the time, Brock was the eleventh wrestler to achieve this feat since David Norris of Soda Springs became the first in 1968. What’s more, Brock was now among the elite alumni at Sugar-Salem and to date his alma mater has produced an historical five three-timers and two four-timers.

At the conclusion of his final high school competition, Brock’s name was now set in stone within the Idaho record books, but he was not finished or content with his past achievements. He had more to accomplish. That summer, Brock added an eighth All-American honor when he placed in the Junior Greco division at Fargo once again. As a result of his impressive prep career, Brock was named to the Wrestling USA Magazine (Senior) and ASICS tiger High School All-American teams. 

On average, less than two percent of high school wrestlers continue their respective wrestling careers at the collegiate level. Having compiled an impressive list of accolades at the prep level, Brock entered the collegiate ranks at Boise State with the same mindset he had in high school; establish short and long term goals, adapt to the new process and training regimin, reinforce with hard work, and always move forward pursuing them. 

Early on during his redshirt season at Boise, Brock was wrestling well and at the Cowboy Open in Wyoming he had won an individual title, but unfortunately shortly thereafter sustained a serious injury (tore his MCL) that sidelined him for a significant period of time. Despite his eventual recovery physically, he did not mentally. In short, Brock entered a very difficult period of his life where he lacked any hope, confidence or even clarity of his future.  This situation was definitely a large hurdle for Brock to overcome mentally and for the first time in his wrestling career he did not know what direction to take.

As time passed, Brock transferred to Montana State University-Northern to give wrestling another try. Although he had won his initial wrestle-off, he eventually decided to move in a different direction. It was during this time of flux, Brock realized that he now had a passion to teach and coach wrestling, and strong desire to give back to the sport that taught him so much about life. 

“To say wrestling saves lives, mine is one. To be able to share a passion for something is unmatched. So much gratitude for the sport of wrestling.”

- Brock Zollinger

Prior to taking on a new direction in life, Brock had accumulated a fair amount of coaching experience with Team Idaho during his redshirt year at Boise State. As a member of Team Idaho’s coaching staff, he coached kids at several regional and national level competitions, such as the Fargo Nationals. In due course, Brock held assistant coaching position at Madison, Idaho Falls, and Skyline High School where he eventually served as Head Coach. Furthermore, Since 2010, Brock has built a strong wrestling training environment and culture at the East Idaho Elite Wrestling Club where he is the Owner/Head Coach. As a result, Brock has coached and developed a large share of national level All-Americans, which includes Idaho Falls’ Saxton Scott, a 2023 Fargo National Champion and Outstanding Wrestler in the 16U Greco division. 

As of this writing, Brock is rated among the top referees in the nation for Freestyle and Greco and has refereed at several United World Wrestling (UWW) competitions, which is the governing body for the sport of international wrestling. According to Brock, he was kind of forced into being a referee early on his prep career. For instance, it was not uncommon to observe Brock wrestling in a match one moment then observing him blowing the whistle shortly thereafter. Having Dale Gardner (top level referee from Idaho at the time) as his mentor early on made a huge impact in Brock’s life, which looking back placed him on a new trajectory as a referee. Not only was Brock doubling his duties while competing locally, he was also performing the same at state and regional competitions as well. According to Brock, it was only during his college days at Boise State that he did not referee. In fact, he was contemplating hanging up the whistle for good, but during a trip to Fargo in 2004, he was persuaded to referee once again. 

As fate would have it, after Fargo, Brock never looked back and continued his wrestling journey as a referee. In fact, he has refereed at Fargo ever since and to date has built a strong resume, which includes the IHSAA State Championships, Idaho Freestyle/Greco State, regionals, UWW World Team/Olympic Trials, and multiple international level UWW competitions, where this past October he refereed at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albana. 

In closing, it has been a pleasure to meet up with Brock where we had a great dialogue about his long journey in the sport of wrestling. Without a shadow of a doubt, he is a committed wrestler that understands the meaning of vision, hard work, commitment, and has the mental fortitude to embrace the process of high level achievement. Since an early age, Brock has embraced the process of achievement and does not allow failure or extraordinary challenges deter him from achieving his goals. More importantly, he always moves forward and challenges himself to continuously improve and reach his full potential. Perhaps one day we’ll observe Brock center mat at the Olympic Games?

A fun fact about Brock was brought to my attention while writing this article (Checked with National Wrestling HOF promoter Jason Bryant to determine whether another person has achieved this great feat). Brock is the first person to achieve this trifecta; Win a Fargo National title, Coach multiple Fargo All-Americans and a National Champion/OW in addition to being a referee in the Fargo championship finals in both styles. Impressive!!

More recently, I conducted a brief Q&A with Brock. Below is our Q&A and his list of high school, college, and coaching, and referee accolades. Enjoy!!

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF WRESTLING? 
BROCK ZOLLINGER – I can remember my first double leg! I was 4, turning 5. I had been watching my brothers who just started earlier that year, 7th and 4th graders. One night at practice, upstairs at Bob Price’s house. They called on my friend (Ryan Price) and I to go out in the middle thinking it would be cute, neither of us had even practiced before. They said, “GO,” and it was “green light” and blast double. 3 months later the kids' season started. To say I enjoyed taking someone down would be an understatement.
 
WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN WRESTLING?
BROCK ZOLLINGER  – My Father hands down! The support I had at home for goals are unmatched. He even went as far as pretty much paying for my partners to travel with me so I wasn’t alone on trips (It ended up making a pretty awesome high school team in the process). He was okay with me virtually not living at home for at least 6 weeks every summer. 1 week in Portland at Cobra, 2 weeks at the Olympic training center, 2 weeks at BSU for team Idaho and of course Fargo for 10 days. Many others have had a large influence. Of course, Bob Price, he taught me how to wrestle from day 1. He was very demanding of us and we even had written tests of our wrestling knowledge at age 10. He taught the importance of not drilling a technique for only a day and so many valuable skills. He taught me how to break down film and to really be a student of the sport. Chris Owens, the great wrestling mind of Idaho. My first year at Team Idaho Camp was when I made my biggest gains with my wrestling (Only year I didn’t place). The next year at camp, he taught me to believe in my abilities and mental toughness. I was 2nd in FS that year. I think I wasn’t 1st because I still didn’t believe it until after it was over.
 
WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED IN WRESTLING THAT APPLY IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Nothing is impossible, except I cannot dunk a basketball without a trampoline, ha-ha! No, in reality it is amazing what can be done when you are willing to not just “say,” you want to do something and put a plan into action and have a great support system. The sport is also very quick to humble you. If you’re one to point fingers and create excuses, it is difficult to get where you need to be. Wrestling taught me to only compare myself to me and not other’s success. Much less pressure when it is for yourself and you only compare yourself to yourself to get the greatest version of yourself. It taught me that anything worthwhile is not easy.  I learned you’re going to have bad days, but they don’t define you or your career. Always landing on your feet, running and moving forward is more important. Most importantly, love the fight! Learn to enjoy doing hard things.
 
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG ATHLETE WANTING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN WRESTLING?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Focus on what you love about wrestling. Everything has some negative things to them. Focus on what you love about it. Create a love for the sport and make sure you are doing things for yourself and not others. The sport is hard enough, no reason to put that extra pressure on you and make it even more difficult. At the end of the day, it is just a game! Also, development over winning at a youth level is crucial. Win first concept works for very few long-term.

DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE COACHING AT THE EAST IDAHO ELITE WRESTLING CLUB.
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Every day it is my favorite time of day. Whether they are new or All-Americans, everyone loves wrestling. It is a joy when kids are excited to get better. Of course, not every day is everyone on the same page (we all have those days). Coaching can take my worst days and make them great days. To say wrestling saves lives, mine is one. To be able to share a passion for something is unmatched. So much gratitude for the sport of wrestling.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF WRESTLING? 
BROCK ZOLLINGER – I can remember my first double leg! I was 4, turning 5. I had been watching my brothers who just started earlier that year, 7th and 4th graders. One night at practice, upstairs at Bob Price’s house. They called on my friend (Ryan Price) and I to go out in the middle thinking it would be cute, neither of us had even practiced before. They said, “GO,” and it was “green light” and blast double. 3 months later the kids' season started. To say I enjoyed taking someone down would be an understatement.
 
WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN WRESTLING?
BROCK ZOLLINGER  – My Father hands down! The support I had at home for goals are unmatched. He even went as far as pretty much paying for my partners to travel with me so I wasn’t alone on trips (It ended up making a pretty awesome high school team in the process). He was okay with me virtually not living at home for at least 6 weeks every summer. 1 week in Portland at Cobra, 2 weeks at the Olympic training center, 2 weeks at BSU for team Idaho and of course Fargo for 10 days. Many others have had a large influence. Of course, Bob Price, he taught me how to wrestle from day 1. He was very demanding of us and we even had written tests of our wrestling knowledge at age 10. He taught the importance of not drilling a technique for only a day and so many valuable skills. He taught me how to break down film and to really be a student of the sport. Chris Owens, the great wrestling mind of Idaho. My first year at Team Idaho Camp was when I made my biggest gains with my wrestling (Only year I didn’t place). The next year at camp, he taught me to believe in my abilities and mental toughness. I was 2nd in FS that year. I think I wasn’t 1st because I still didn’t believe it until after it was over.
 
WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED IN WRESTLING THAT APPLY IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Nothing is impossible, except I cannot dunk a basketball without a trampoline, ha-ha! No, in reality it is amazing what can be done when you are willing to not just “say,” you want to do something and put a plan into action and have a great support system. The sport is also very quick to humble you. If you’re one to point fingers and create excuses, it is difficult to get where you need to be. Wrestling taught me to only compare myself to me and not other’s success. Much less pressure when it is for yourself and you only compare yourself to yourself to get the greatest version of yourself. It taught me that anything worthwhile is not easy.  I learned you’re going to have bad days, but they don’t define you or your career. Always landing on your feet, running and moving forward is more important. Most importantly, love the fight! Learn to enjoy doing hard things.
 
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG ATHLETE WANTING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN WRESTLING?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Focus on what you love about wrestling. Everything has some negative things to them. Focus on what you love about it. Create a love for the sport and make sure you are doing things for yourself and not others. The sport is hard enough, no reason to put that extra pressure on you and make it even more difficult. At the end of the day, it is just a game! Also, development over winning at a youth level is crucial. Win first concept works for very few long-term.

DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE COACHING AT THE EAST IDAHO ELITE WRESTLING CLUB.
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Every day it is my favorite time of day. Whether they are new or All-Americans, everyone loves wrestling. It is a joy when kids are excited to get better. Of course, not every day is everyone on the same page (we all have those days). Coaching can take my worst days and make them great days. To say wrestling saves lives, mine is one. To be able to share a passion for something is unmatched. So much gratitude for the sport of wrestling.

BEING A NATIVE OF IDAHO, DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCES GROWING UP IN REXBURG, AS WELL AS COMPETING FOR SUGAR-SALEM HIGH SCHOOL, FREESTYLE/GRECO, AND BOISE STATE.
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Growing up in Rexburg, was a little sheltered to be honest. It wasn’t a bad thing, just a bit of a shock going to train at other places. Competing at Sugar-Salem was awesome, as a child it seemed like a rite of passage to wrestle. If we didn’t win state, it seemed like a down year to be second or third place. Coach Berry and coach Hanson were also two of my favorite people. Kids loved to wrestle for them. Many of us would run through a wall for those two guys. They were also good leaders and cared about our lives outside of wrestling. True community people. That is the best part about going to a small school. It’s never just the school; it’s a community behind you. Boise State had ups and downs for me. It had a dark era of life for me shortly after. Most of it was from self-disappointment. I learned a lot about myself one could say and failure is life’s greatest teacher. I learned how not to handle an injury and how important it is to keep friends around that share the same goals as you.

WHEN DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN OFFICIATING?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – I was kind of forced to do it at age 16 at local tournaments. Dale Gardner helped me get started and was a good mentor for me. Idaho hosted Western regionals when I was a cadet. My dad, state chairperson, made me referee and wrestle. The next year Dale took me to Montana to referee Western regionals again. I then never refereed another match for 2 years (college wrestling) and had zero plans to do so. Then Fargo approaches and my dad tells me I have a flight and don’t have to ride the bus. I was pumped until I learned it’s because I was being forced to referee, lol. After working Fargo, I had around 8-12 guys try to teach me about the sport. I would say 3 of my leaders really knew wrestling. I identified an issue and realized I needed to referee, can’t say I wanted to (wrestler mindset is I HATE REFEREES). I thought as an athlete I could be a leader and lead the charge making it okay for wrestlers to become referees and really help our sport grow. The better the referees, the better the coaches and eventually the better wrestling product we get. 

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – The ability to be around the best wrestling in the world. I literally have a moving seat for the Dake vs Burroughs Overtime match for example. I have been able to ask Russians for technique tips, I have built irreplaceable friendships around the globe through wrestling. 

HAVING OFFICIATED AT THE STATE, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS, WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL AS AN OFFICIAL?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Is it weird, I don’t actually have one? I am just along for the ride and humbled and grateful for the opportunity. My only goal is to be better each season I am a referee. I enjoy getting better at things. A goal would be to possibly see more coaches willing to try both, coaching and a referee. It will help the sport. No reason to be shy. Look at it as continuing ed for wrestling.

IF ANYONE WERE TO APPROACH YOU ABOUT BECOMING AN OFFICIAL, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE? 
BROCK ZOLLINGER – Stop thinking about it and just do it. Confidence can’t come first. Trying things first and confidence second. Many seem afraid to try. Reminds me of that 7 year old first year kid afraid to shoot.

WHAT OTHER SPORTS OR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WERE YOU INVOLVED IN?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – I played many sports. Baseball until 6th grade, Football until my senior year. I probably should have played, but I had different goals in place and needed more time for strength training (I was not very big) and weighed 116 and wrestled 119 my senior year. I dabbled in golf; I played church basketball for fun in high school. I enjoyed doing anything you could compete in. If it's monopoly, it was for blood, ha-ha! We would have sleepovers and either wrestle at my friend’s house on the mat, play Football outside, turn the lights out and have a pillow fight in the dark (that ended after I dislocated a friend's shoulder with a pillow) or play basketball until 2-3 am. We were always competing though. 
 
OUTSIDE THE SPORT OF WRESTLING, WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU HAVE?
BROCK ZOLLINGER – People don’t know, but I am into art on the side to free my mind sometimes. I like to draw. A day in nature is always therapeutic as well. Can’t beat a hike to a hot spring. I play golf…it’s an easier game that is still challenging that I can compete with myself in.

WRESTLING - COACHING - OFFICIATING ACCOLADES

WRESTLING ACCOLADES (Prep/College):

• Cowboy Open Champion (Univ. of Wyoming), Boise State, 2002
• ASICS Tiger High School ALL-AMERICAN ’02
• Wrestling USA Magazine Senior ALL-AMERICAN ’02 
• 3x Idaho State Champion (A-2 Div.), 2000-’02 
• 4x IHSAA District Champion, 1999-’02
• Fargo Junior Nationals (GR), 6^th Place/ALL-AMERICAN ’02 
• 2001 USAW Championship belt series winner
• FILA Junior World Team Trials runner-up (FS), ’01
• FILA Cadet Nationals (FS), 4^th Place/ALL-AMERICAN ’01
• Fila Cadet Nationals (GR), 4^th Place/ALL-AMERICAN ’01
• Fargo Junior National Champion (GR)/ALL-AMERICAN ’01 
• Fargo Junior Nationals (FS), 7^th Place/ALL-AMERICAN ’01 
• Northwest Regional Champion (FS), ’01
• Northwest Regional Champion (GR), ’01
• Western Junior Regionals (FS), 2^nd Place ’01
• Western Junior Regionals (GR), 2^nd Place ’01
• Southeast Regional Champion (GR), ’01
• Southeast Regional Champion (FS), ’01
• Fargo Junior Nationals (FS), 2^nd Place/ALL-AMERICAN ’00 
• Fargo Junior Nationals (GR), 6^th Place/ALL-AMERICAN ’00 
• NHSCA National High School Open, 2^nd Place/ALL-AMERICAN ’00
• Rocky Mountain Regional Champion (GR), ’00
• Rocky Mountain Regional Champion (FS), ’00

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

• East Idaho Elite WC – 2010 – present
• Team Idaho – 16 years
• Skyline High School (Assistant/Head Coach), 2010-’17 
• Madison H.S., Idaho Falls H.S. (Assistant Coach)

REFEREE ACCOLADES: 

• Bill Stecklein Award – Top international official ’24    
• Tom Clark Award – Best Greco Official ’17    
• Glen Blackman Award ’10 

REFEREE EXPERIENCE: 

International Competitions

• U23 World Championships, 3x (Albania, Hungary, and Jordan)
• U20 World Championships, 2x (Russia, Spain)
• Freestyle Senior World Cup (Los Angeles, CA)
• Junior/Senior Pan American Championships (Canada, Peru)
• Tbilisi Grand Prix (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

National Competition

• U.S. Fargo Nationals (since 2004)
• UWW Senior World Team Trials/Final X (11x)
• Olympic Team Trials (3x)

Regional Competitions

• Northwest/Western Regional Championships

State Competitions

• IHSAA State Championships, Freestyle/Greco State