Brayden Roscosky wants to win every match he wrestles.

He also has a firm grasp on reality, and the Washington & Jefferson freshman lets that guide his mindset.

“If I’m not going to win, I want to lose that match in style,” Roscosky said. “If I’m going to lose. I’m going out the way I like to do it.”

It might seem odd, but Roscosky’s approach is partly why coach Tommy Prairie wanted the Kiski Area graduate to join the Presidents’ program.

“The big thing about Brayden is he’s a points scorer,” Prairie said. “He’s not one of those guys trying to go out there and win every match 3-2. He’s very physical and aggressive. Of course, there’s been a big adjustment at this level.”

Roscosky has handled that adjustment quite well.

The 184-pounder is 7-0 with four pins — tied for the team-high — and a technical fall. He and Jaden Datz, a Southmoreland grad, are the only unbeaten W&J wrestlers after two weeks.

“I actually could not have seen myself getting off to this start,” Roscosky said. “It’s been pretty nice. I really feel like I’ve gotten into the swing of things with school and wrestling. I’m getting it figured out. It’s coming together, and I’m feeling really good.”

Roscosky dominated the competition at the season-opening Lycoming Invitational, starting his collegiate career with an 18-2 technical fall in the first round and finishing with a pair of pins. The performance earned him Presidents’ Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honors.

He followed a similar pattern Nov. 13 at the W&J Invitational, winning his first-round match by decision before pinning two opponents to reach the final, in which he defeated Lake Erie’s Brylan Clouse, 3-1.

His performance helped the Presidents finish second in the 17-team field, and Roscosky earned PAC Rookie of the Week honors a second consecutive time.

The tournament win at home provided Roscosky, who finished with two section titles, a sixth-place finish at PIAAs as a junior and 107 career wins at Kiski Area, a much-needed confidence boost.

“It’s kind of crazy. After my senior year in high school, I didn’t feel the way I wanted to,” Roscosky said. “The last couple of individual tournaments didn’t go my way. This really was a pick-me-up. I hadn’t felt success in a good, close match in a while. I needed that finals match. I was beaten up and tired because I spent too much energy in my other matches. I didn’t wrestle a sound tournament, but I came out on top.”

Roscosky said he worried too much about rankings and the talent of his opponents while at Kiski Area. It occasionally led to disappointing results. Since arriving at W&J, he altered his mindset and the results have been positive.

So positive that people within the program already are thinking big.

“I think he’s capable of being a NCAA (Division III) All-American this year,” Prairie said. “He’s wrestling well. He hasn’t wrestled any nationally ranked guys yet, but I think he’s ready.”

Roscosky wants that, too, but he’s going to enjoy the process, no matter what happens along the way.

“So far this year, I haven’t been nervous. I just go out and enjoy it,” he said. “This is my 14th year of wrestling. For me, winters are for wrestling. I’ve never been to go out and play in the snow. … I see myself improving. I’ve seen major improvement.”

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