On The Record: An interview with Brien McMahon's Sawyer Machette

Hour photo / Erik Trautmann Brien McMahon High School's wrestling stand out Sawyer Machette.


Whether he's patrolling the outfield on a baseball field or navigating his way around a wrestling mat, Sawyer Machette has been a valuable contributor to whatever team he's on.

In wrestling, he's been a three-year starter for Brien McMahon, including this season at the 145-pound weight class where he's currently 6-3, including a perfect 3-0 in dual meets. Last year, he started in right field for the Senators' baseball team and has his eye on the starting centerfield job this spring. And for the last two summers, he's been a clutch hitter for the Norwalk American Legion Junior team, which should earn him a promotion to the 2014 Senior Legion team. Sports aren't the only thing he enjoys, though. What else, you ask? Machette revealed a few secrets after a recent practice as he went "On The Record" with The Hour's Associate Sports Editor George Albano.

The Machette File

Parents/Siblings: Marc and Liz; Twin sisters Morgan and Deven (20), both former three-sports athletes at McMahon, and brother Wyatt (13).

Sports/Activities: Wrestling and baseball (at McMahon and with Norwalk American Legion program). Also played soccer at BMHS as a freshman and sophomore.

Future Goals: "I want to play baseball in college and my hope is to go to Endicott College (in Massachusetts) for Sports Medicine."

The Hour: What's the best thing about Brien McMahon?

Sawyer Machette: Everybody is one big group, especially the senior class. We're all friends and everyone shows up to each other's sporting event. There's a lot of support.

TH: What's been your biggest win in wrestling so far?

SM: Last year against Ludlowe. I was wrestling this kid who was expected to be one of the top four seeds in our weight class (132). He was beating me 9-0, but I ended up turning him over and pinning him.

TH: How about the biggest hit you've gotten so far?

SM: In Junior Legion the past two years, in our first-round state tournament game I got the game-winning hit both years.

TH: What was the best Christmas present you got?

SM: My girlfriend got me these Nike Huarache cleats for baseball.

TH: Do you have any nicknames?

SM: A few people call me Machete (as in the large cleaver-like knife pronounced 'Ma-shet-ee.'). Most of my McMahon coaches call me that, but I think it's mainly because they're just mispronouncing it (his name is pronounced 'Ma-shett.')

TH: If you won an ESPY, who would you want the presenter to be?

SM: I think I would want it to be Derek Jeter.

TH: Name something you fear?

SM: Failure. That's why I work hard so that doesn't happen.

TH: Do you have any favorite sayings or quotes you live by?

SM: Change is temporary.

TH: What's the craziest excuse you ever came up with to get out of something?

SM: That's a good one. Let me think. I have a few good ones. (After a short pause) I once told Santa (head wrestling coach Joe Santa Lucia) that I had a church event to get out of practice. I was only a sophomore and it was before I got serious about wrestling.

TH: What's one thing you always have with you?

SM: I always have my wallet, and definitely my phone. I can't go anywhere without that.

TH: What's your favorite app?

SM: I like Tiny Zoo. It's like having a tiny zoo on your phone.

TH: Who's the best dancer on the wrestling team?

SM: I think I can say it's Jimmy Capone. He's got the Spanish thing going on.

TH: What's your favorite late-night snack … when you're not worried about making weight the next day?

SM: I love those frozen waffles you just put in the microwave for a minute. They're the best.

TH: What would you rather do, bungee jump or parachute out of a plane?

SM: I'd parachute, definitely.

TH: What's one thing your parents still have to nag you about?

SM: To always do my own laundry. I never do that and they keep telling me when I get to college I'm going to have to learn how to do it.

TH: What TV show can you absolutely not miss?

SM: 'Survivor.'

TH: If you could invite three dinner guests, who would you pick?

SM: I would have Babe Ruth. I definitely have to have him. I'd also want Mickey Mantle. And I'd have my grandfather on my mother's side because he passed away before I was born.

TH: What's the first thing you're going to enjoy eating when wrestling season is over and you don't have to worry about your weight anymore?

SM: I'll probably go to McDonalds and have five McChickens and about 10 chicken wraps and eat as much as possible. I've been craving that and haven't been able to eat it.

TH: What one word best describes Sawyer Machette?

SM: Hyper … because I never stop.