By Joe Shinners Mark Massoglia, the long-time Wisconsin wrestling reporter, underwent successful a heart transplant over the summer and has resumed his reporting duties at the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. Massoglia, 40, underwent the transplant in late April and eight weeks later he was back to nearly full strength. He resumed work duties on July 6th this year. Massoglia began feeling symptoms of heart failure at last year's individual and team state wrestling tournaments. Shortly thereafter, he was put on a list to receive a heart transplant. After his transplant and once the ventricular assist devices were removed from his abdominal cavity, Massoglia slowly regained his ability to eat and slowly regained the weight he lost during the trying procedure. After losing more than 20 pounds to 138 pounds, he has seen his weight soar to 160 pounds or more as he regained the weight he lost while his chest was full of medical devices to pump his blood. "Oh, yeah," said Massoglia. "I'm back. I've got my appetite back. They said I'm a young man again. I got out of the hospital and went out with some friends in Madison and ate a big burger, half an appetizer a plate of fries and then had a large ice cream. I'm feeling much better." That was welcome news to all in the wrestling community. Massoglia is a contributor to The Crossface, this website and several other publications. He was a wrestler Stevens Point Pacelli and a high school coach. Massoglia's surgery was performed in Madison and he then lived with his parents before finally moving back to his home in Rapids. His workout regiments have greatly improved his stamina, as his conditioning program enabled him to walk up to three miles. "As far as the doctors are concerned, I'm good to go," Massoglia said. Go Back to the Home Page Read More Articles by Joe../../../Archive.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1