Corvallis, OR (U-WIRE) -- Junior Tony Hook has enjoyed a successful wrestling career during his three seasons at OSU, qualifying for the NCAA Championships every year. During the final home match of the season on Feb. 18, wrestler Tony Hook unleashed a new attitude in front of the home crowd.

With the Beavers trailing against UC-Davis, Hook stepped onto the mat with fire in his eyes, determined to pin his opponent.

With eye-popping explosiveness, he accomplished his mission in a mere minute and a half, sending the Gill Coliseum crowd into a frenzy.

Hook's match swung the momentum toward the Beavers, propelling them to a 27-13 victory.

"My last three matches I've been doing that, getting fired up. It seems like the times before I just I didn't have that fire," Hook explained. "I'm not going to respect who I wrestle anymore and that's the thing -- I was giving guys way too much respect and I was selling myself short."

The match caught the attention of his teammates, who feel Hook has always had that intensity inside him.

"He's always had it in him to do that, but he's just been kind of a little hesitant," said sophomore Ty Watterson. "Now he's finally got the confidence in him and for his last year. He's just got to make it all count. He'll do real good at the national tournament."

After placing fifth as a freshman at the Pac-10 Championships, the junior from Sandpoint, Idaho, has placed third the last two years.

And he will represent Oregon State at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Missouri on March 17-19 for the third straight year.

Not bad for a guy who was planning to give up wrestling after high school.

A prized recruit in football, Hook's speed made him a hot commodity among several big-time college programs -- including Oregon State.

Wanting to focus on obtaining a football scholarship, Hook said goodbye to the mat after winning his third state title in high school as a senior.

"I was way more heavily recruited for football then I was in wrestling, even to here," Hook said. "I was getting all these letters every single week from here and other big schools, I was fast, and that was the deal."

His size (5-8), however, proved to be to an obstacle. So most coaches wanted him to walk on. And that's when he started to have second thoughts about wrestling in college.

"I knew I could wrestle at a school and not have to pay very much," Hook said. "So I came into my wrestling coach's office in high school and I was like, 'its not looking like I'm going play ball, so call some schools and within a day I had five recruiting trips set up for wrestling.

"I just came [to OSU] and that' was it."

During his first season at OSU, Hook made such a strong impression that he was the only freshman not to redshirt, crashing starting lineup in the 149-pound class.

"When he came into his freshman year, there was definitely a learning curve, especially with Pac-10 wrestling," said OSU head coach Joe Wells. "He needed to learn to be consistent in performance, but at times, he was dynamic."

Hook's freshman campaign turned out to be a huge success, as he finished with an 18-14 record, including a double overtime upset over Oregon's Tony Overstake, the defending Pac-10 champion.

"He's a remarkable athlete and he's a fantastic competitor," said senior Matt Ells, who is Hooks roommate. "He can throw, he can shoot, and he's quick on his feet. I don't think he'll ever surprise me at how well he does.

"I know he has the ability to be the best in the nation."

Though he's made the NCAAs three times during his career, Hook refuses to pat himself on the back and be satisfied.

"I've made the national tournament three times, but I'm definitely not satisfied with my college career yet," Hook said. "That's the thing where I was kind of OK with how I was doing and now I'm not OK with it anymore.

"I want to be that guy that everybody comes to and cheers for, and the crowd gets fired up when I come out there," Hook said.

And Wells believes that Hook can be that guy, because he's the complete package.

"Most definitely, Tony can do whatever he wants that's in reach," Wells said.

Looking back on how he ended up Corvallis, Hook knows it was the right decision, even though it meant giving up his football aspirations.

"I wouldn't change it for a minute -- no way," Hook said. "Its hard, but the friendships and the memories, and the respect you get from being a wrestler -- you can't gain that anywhere else."

(C) 2004 OSU Daily Barometer via U-WIRE