Discipline and dynamics: New men’s wrestling coach puts focus on teaching life lessons

Levi Dennis ’28 first discovered his passion for wrestling in middle school, drawn to the sport’s unique blend of individual and team dynamics.

“I like the discipline that it takes to be a wrestler,” said Dennis, now a member of Randolph’s men’s wrestling team. “It also has taught me many lessons I will carry throughout my life.” 

Those life lessons are central to coach Paul Biggs as he leads the new team, which began competing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) this fall. 

“Wrestling teaches self-discipline,” Biggs said. “Sometimes you face adversity. What do you do? You put your head down and go to work, and you look to score the next point or create the next opportunity.” 

That work ethic is directly transferable to the real world, he added.

“I love the fact that you can wake up every day and push yourself in some way,” Biggs said. “You can chip away at becoming a better person, getting better at communicating, getting better emotionally and understanding that not every action needs a reaction. These are quality life skills.” 

Biggs is a 2016 graduate of Ferrum College, where he qualified for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in 2016 after winning at regionals in 2015. 

After graduating from Ferrum, Biggs worked as an assistant wrestling coach there before running his own program at Morehead High School in Eden, North Carolina. 

“He is doing a great job of bringing together a new team and building not only a wrestling culture but a Randolph wrestling culture,” said Dennis, one of 19 wrestlers Biggs recruited for the team’s first season. 

Wrestling coach Paul Biggs speaks to his team during a recent practice.

Teammate T.J. Piluso ’28 said Biggs has fostered a supportive and driven team dynamic from the beginning. 

“Beyond his tactical knowledge and experience, what truly sets Coach Biggs apart is the personal investment he has made in each of us,” Piluso said. “He took the time to learn about us as individuals—our strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.”

Expectations are high, but Piluso and his teammates wouldn’t have it any other way. 

“I enjoy the sense of community with the guys when we’re going through intense workouts, grueling practices on the mat, and just knowing that we are building the foundation for the future,” Piluso said. “My college experience so far has been incredibly positive, and a big part of that comes from doing this alongside my fellow wrestlers. We’re all navigating this new chapter in life together.” 

Men’s wrestling was added as an ODAC-sponsored sport in 2022. 

“Right now our conference is sending a large number of individuals to the national tournament on a very large scale, very quickly,” Biggs said. “In the last 10 years, the ODAC has exploded with wrestling, which tells me there’s a lot of good wrestling in the area we’ve got to tap into and then bring those guys to campus.”

Development on the mat and in the classroom is his chief focus. 

“I want them to do the right things,” Biggs said. “We’re here to develop all your skills, from academics to athletics. I need guys who are willing to help develop the program and keep the culture going. I want to compete, to wrestle whistle to whistle, and long-term success comes from consistently doing the right things. You’ve got to put your head down and go to work.”

Stay up-to-date on the team at https://randolphwildcats.com/sports/mens-wrestling and see their full schedule here.

This story appears in the Fall 2024 edition of Randolph College’s magazine, Vita Abundantior.