Growing up in the Midwest, Griffin Gammell never imagined his college experience would find him so far from home at UVA.
“I learned about UVA in the fall of my senior year. I had a breakout tournament, and my performance caught the attention of UVA’s wresting coaches,” he says.
Two of those coaches were Trent Paulson, a fellow Iowa native and a three-time All-American at Iowa State, and his twin brother, Travis Paulson, also an accomplished, three-time All-American NCAA Division I wrestler. Gammell was invited to visit UVA and was immediately impressed by the school’s academic offerings, the wrestling team’s culture, and the supportive coaching staff.
“Coming to UVA has been one of the best decisions I’ve made,” he says. “The community here, the academics, and the beauty of Grounds just clicked for me.”
Gaining Ground
Gammell began wrestling as a complement to other sports. But by the sixth grade, he was wrestling competitively. During his sophomore year of high school, he realized he wanted to compete at the collegiate level. After committing to UVA, he arrived on Grounds, ready to work.
During the 2022-2023 season, Gammell posted a 2-2 record at the App State Open with two pins and was recognized for his academic achievements by being named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. His 2023-2024 season was stronger, winning the Mountaineer Open with a perfect 3-0 record and securing a third-place finish at the Mat Town Open I.
Outside of wrestling, Gammell had other positive experiences, notably the connections he built with the diverse and driven student body in his first-year dorm. “There are a lot of thoughtful and smart individuals who have different stories and backgrounds to share,” he says.
Now settled into university life, Gammell continues to appreciate UVA’s campus and the Charlottesville community. “I love Charlottesville so much. I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” he says.
Marking a New Chapter at McIntire
Gammell’s acceptance into McIntire marks a new chapter in his academic journey. He initially came to UVA uncertain about his field of study but his interest in business grew as he explored different courses.
“The more time I’ve spent in McIntire taking different courses from the professors, the more convinced I became that it was the right fit for me,” he explains.
Despite the rigorous application process, Gammell navigated the challenge with support from the University’s academic staff while managing the pressure alongside his athletic commitments.
“I found out I was accepted into McIntire while in the locker room, alone. I started jumping up and down,” he says. “It was a great, full circle moment to share that success with my other teammates who also applied and got in.”
Gammell is gaining valuable insights in the Integrated Core curriculum, and particularly appreciates the opportunity to work closely with his peers on real-world business challenges. He values McIntire’s collaborative environment and sees it as a chance to build new relationships.
“We’re all going through this experience together. It’s similar to wrestling in that way—collective suffering,” he laughs. “It’s fun to grow stronger bonds in our small groups and in the cohorts. I’m excited to form those relationships.”
Prepared to Prioritize
Balancing academics and athletics at UVA has been challenging, but Gammell has learned to manage his time effectively, prioritizing his mental health and maintaining a steady focus on both his athletic and academic goals.
“It’s been a good experience to learn how to manage time and energy while at UVA because it’ll be similar to when I go out into the real world. I’ve really learned how to do my due diligence and make sure I give myself enough time to fulfill all of the requirements that are expected of me,” he says.
He is interested in exploring finance, potentially in private equity, but remains open to various opportunities within the business field. His primary focus is on building a strong professional network and finding a job that aligns with his interests and skills.
“My priority is to build my network and find a job and then I feel that everything else will fall into place,” he says. “I think there’s a special drive that is instilled in student athletes and isn’t something that can be taught. We want to achieve a lot of success, and we have the discipline to get it done.”