LEXINGTON, Va. - "Those who truly have the spirit of champions are never wholly happy with an easy win. Half the satisfaction stems from knowing that it was the time and the effort you invested that led to your high achievement."  - Nicole Haislett, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist

In an Olympic year, it seems only fitting to recall the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius", meaning "Faster, Higher, Stronger". One need only step inside the Thunderdome for a VMI wrestling match, or set foot inside Foster Stadium on a football Saturday during the fall, to see the cadet-athlete perhaps most driven to fulfill that motto. That individual is never completely happy with an easy win, and according to VMI wrestling coach John "Rocky" Trudgeon, is the current cadet who has given the most to VMI athletics. 

Josh Wine grew up in the Richmond area, but moved to New York to live with his aunt and uncle, Crystal and Jeff Furnia, while in the second grade. This move only lasted a short time, but it helped set the stage for an important event in Wine's life. 

"When Josh was in middle school, Jeff and I would bring him to our house every weekend to try and give him a break from his day-to-day life at home," stated Josh's aunt, Crystal Furnia. During that time, his aunt and uncle helped keep him out of trouble, and frequently acted in a supervisory capacity when trouble did arise. Those breaks helped open the door for Wine to be adopted by his aunt and uncle, who he now refers to as mom and dad. 

"When I was younger, my aunt and uncle would always come out to see me no matter if I won or lost," said Wine. "No one else would come if I lost, but if I won and was successful, everyone wanted to come see me and spend time with me. My aunt and uncle still come today, whether I win or lose."

"We've always told Josh we loved him and were proud of him no matter whether he won or lost," stated Furnia. "It didn't matter to us as long as he did his best, and we still tell him that to this day."

The now-VMI junior's athletic efforts had gotten started just before the adoption, and those efforts began somewhat casually. 

"I was a rough kid, and was usually in trouble at home," offered Wine of his football start. "We never had the money to play Parks and Rec., but in sixth grade, I thought I could join. The school said no because of my grades, but I worked on that and in the seventh grade, I got on the team. By the time I got home from practice, my parents were asleep, so that helped keep me out of trouble, plus the coaches really liked me, so I got attention that way instead of acting out so much."

The ensuing wrestling season saw Wine go out for that sport for the first time, and midway through that campaign, the Furnias officially adopted him. Despite the youngster's newfound two-sport status, football was always his passion, and it traces back to those early years. 

"I've always loved football," said Wine. "I love the physical nature of it and all the hitting. It helps free you from tension and anger, whether those things are coming from home or from school."

That love of football showed resoundingly early in his high school career, when he made the varsity team at Massaponax High School as a freshman, passing over the freshman and junior varsity squads. Wine showed a great deal of promise, and his coaches helped him make one important decision. 

"I knew early on I wanted to play football at the college level," remembered Wine. "My coaches explained to me that wrestling would help me with that, particularly with leverage, quickness and fitness." Through that sequence of convincing, Wine met a man who would become quite important in his life, then-Massaponax head wrestling coach Rob Prebish. 

"I first met Josh when he was an eighth grader, and his coach brought him into our wrestling room to train with our guys. When I saw him beat up on my 215-lb senior, I knew we had a diamond in the rough," recalled Prebish.

Of course, it was expected that Wine would immediately swing into wrestling after football season, but unfortunately, he broke his leg late during his first high school football campaign. The injury cost him his freshman wrestling season, but he returned the following year with a third-place finish at the State Championships. He came in one place better during his junior year, which was around the time that Wine's team-first mindset, the attitude that anyone who follows VMI athletics closely has seen, began to develop. 

"At the time Josh was in high school, we had two other kids at Massaponax as well," said Furnia. "They were always there to support Josh, during both football and wrestling, but we had some trouble convincing him to return the favor. We explained to him that the other kids came to support him in his ventures, and if he expected that, he needed to do the same for them. He eventually changed and started to do that."

That attitude of respecting others also began to show through on the mat during his senior year, as Coach Prebish remembered. 

"Josh always pushed his teammates to be the best, with one example in particular. We had a 119-lb junior during Josh's senior year, and all year long, Josh convinced him that he could qualify for states. At the end of the season, not only did he qualify, but he placed sixth. As much as Josh was focused on his wrestling, he always made time for his teammates."

A win in the State Championships concluded Wine's Massaponax career with a 46-0 mark on the mats during his final year, and sent him on to the college ranks, where an interesting dilemma awaited. He knew he wanted to play college football, and he had developed a strong love of wrestling as well, but could he participate in both at a Division I level? 

"I was recruited very highly for wrestling, but I absolutely wanted to make sure I could play football," said Wine. "Delaware and Richmond even wanted me for football, but anyone who was recruiting me for football didn't want me to wrestle, and anyone who wanted me to wrestle didn't want me to play football. When (then-VMI head coach Jim) Coach Reid told me I could do both here, I knew that VMI was the frontrunner. Combine that with the fact that I've always wanted to go into law enforcement, and I thought VMI's military and disciplinary elements would help me with that, I know that this was where I wanted to be."

Since that decision, the accolades have come in. Wine is now a two-time Southern Conference champion at heavyweight, and is undefeated in SoCon dual action during his career (8-0). He was also named Second Team All-Big South on the gridiron this past season, as he posted 63 tackles, four of which went for losses. 

While the Institute has seen its fair share of two-sport stars over the years, few have been accomplished as Wine. That prompts the question: With balancing the demands of two sports, competing at such a high level and the rigors of the remainder of VMI life, how does Wine keep himself going? 

"I'm a family-oriented guy," said the two-sport athlete. "I always ask my parents for their input, particularly my dad. He's the one helping me through here. He told me not to start anything I don't plan to finish, and that's been something I've tried to live by. Both my parents have a lot to do with what I do, and help keep me grounded when things get tough."

Another thing that has driven Wine to success is his goals. "I try to set my goals really high," he offered. "I want to become a National Champion, but if you strive to become a National Champion and you don't get there, you're more likely to become an All-American. It's that way with anything in life."

Now, as the two-time SoCon champion prepares to defend his title at the upcoming conference championship, he also looks toward his eventual goal of a career in law enforcement. 

"I've always been interested in that," said Wine. "My dad always wanted to be a state trooper, but couldn't get into it for physical reasons. We always talked about that goal of his, and since I've always looked up to him, I naturally latched onto that and it became one of my goals." 

One can only expect that if Wine devotes the time and effort to that venture that he has to VMI athletics, he will not only achieve it, but he will indeed be recognized as having been faster, higher and stronger in doing so.