Before, Adam performing the “Sleep” and after, that gator is out cold!

JOINED THE E-TEAM: SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
AGE: 23
EDUCATION: CORNELL UNIVERSITY: BACHELOR’S IN ANIMAL SCIENCE

INTERVIEW
When you decided to audition for Gatorland Entertainment did you know you would have to become a gator wrestler?

Yes. My wife actually called asking about a job and was told that they were looking for a gator wrestler. She was asked if she would be interested in wrestling gators and she said, “No, but my husband would be!”

What were you doing before you came to Gatorland?

I was working as an Educator at the Utica Zoo in upstate New York. I taught people about animals, their conservation, and the importance of respecting them instead of fearing them. I worked with many exotic and potentially dangerous animals there so it was also very fun for me.

It is challenging to learn to wrestle alligators but it has to be fun too. Tell me about what makes it fun and keeps you excited?

I would have to say that a large and enthusiastic audience makes it fun and exciting! Also, just knowing that they are having fun helps me to relax, especially when I realize that the animal I’m sitting on could pop my head in its jaws…..like a balloon, yuck.

What is your favorite alligator at Gatorland and why?

Oprah, and I don’t mean the talk show host, because she is the best looking “sheila” out there!

What is the hardest part of your job as a Gatorland Entertainer?

I am so passionate about what I do, that it’s hard for me to give a short answer to any question. Probably because of my personality, experience and education, there’s so much I want to say when I get asked a simple question like, “Why isn’t it biting you?” The other difficult thing for me is coming up with funny stuff as fast as some of the other guys on the E-Team can but that is half the fun…I’m always learning here and taking risk. I guess the “hard” stuff isn’t so bad.

Have you ever had any close calls working with alligators or any other animal here at Gatorland?

So far the closest I think I’ve been to being bit was with Bari, an alligator used in the wrestling show. I was pulling her onto the sand by her tail and she spun at me with her mouth open and got within a few inches of my right foot. It scared the poop out of me. Can you say poop? Oops…I just said poop, oops I said it again…..I’ve got to stop.

What made you interested in alligators/reptiles?

I grew up having a passion for animals because of Steve Irwin. He gave me some of his love for these less cuddly creatures. Also, my mom never cared for having reptiles around the house, so wanting something that I couldn’t have made me want them more.

What kind of pets do you have at home? Why those pets?

We own: 2 Ball Pythons, 2 Bearded Dragons, 2 Sugar Gliders, 1 Chinese Water Dragon, 1 Quaker Parrot…and a partridge in a pear tree, lol. That’s all we have space for right now but I would love to keep more than this someday. Why these pets? Because I love these animals, also they are amazing! My wife and I like to teach people all about them too.

What kind of hobbies do you have?

Aviation, camping, bird watching, hiking, scuba diving and I’d like to try surfing.

Do you have any special talents?

My talents are more geared toward physical feats. I played soccer in high school and was one who did a “flip-throw” when throwing the ball back in play. (I would do a handspring on the ball, land and launch the ball over my head and back onto the field). I can also run up a wall and back-flip off of it. I learned all of my gymnastic tricks on a trampoline first and will even do any of them on command in exchange for candy.

Do you have someone who inspired you to get into this field?

Again, I have to say Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Some may know him as “that crazy Australian guy on TV” but I know him as the greatest ambassador that wildlife has ever had. He had a passion for all types of wildlife and grew up immersed in a family that felt the same way. His avalanche of experience working with crocodilians and other reptiles gave him the ability to work with animals in a way that made his audience feel like they were right there with him. He knew what he was doing and understood the animals he was working with. My goal is to continue his work in showing the average person that all animals, reptiles included, deserve the love and respect that Steve had for them.

If you had a choice to travel anywhere in the world to study animals, where would you go and what animal would you study?

I would go out to sea to study blue whales. I’ve always loved the ocean and we know very little about the biggest animal that has ever lived on our planet.

If there was one thing you would like for our guests to know about you, what would that be?

I get along with just about anyone. OK, to give you an example; I went to an Ivy League university….and you can imagine the kind of people I knew there but then for my wedding well…..let me explain. I had a camouflage wedding sooooooooooooo everyone had to come in camouflage! It was real wacky but real fun! As I said I like all sorts of stuff to do and experience so that is why I am a gator wrestler. Anyway, I’d love to meet you when you come to Gatorland….we’ll chat!