With the 2022-2023 high school wrestling season underway, I am reminded of so many things that I went through when I was a high school wrestler. It’s a very exciting time of year for wrestlers, parents, coaches and fans. But what is really going on inside of that wrestlers head? Well, as a former wrestler I can tell you it’s many things. Of course we think about where in that line up will we be needed and who will be in my weight class that may give me a problem! These things among others are just a few of what wrestlers think about. The mindset of a wrestler is unlike most because we understand in order to reach the pinnacle of our sport, we must put ourselves through things most others would never even consider. The extra workouts, the discipline to walk past the piece of cake your friends are eating or skipping that huge Friday night party all your friends are going to be at because you have a tournament in the morning and weigh ins at 7am.
Why do we make these sacrifices? I have been asked that question many times and I guess the best answer I can come up with is ” I wanted to be the best at something”. For me that was the most honest answer I could think of and I was willing to do whatever I had to do in order to be the best. I would have grueling practices and then come home and run 4 miles. I did this not because I wanted to do it, but because in my mind maybe the guy I would meet at the state tournament is doing it now too. I could not allow myself to be outworked by anyone in the state. I may not have the best technique or athleticism, but I would definitely have the best work ethic.
Of course doing all of the extra work never guarantees success, and that’s another issue wrestlers deal with throughout the course of the wrestling season. They bust their asses and put in the hard work, the extra work and sometimes they will still lose. The question then becomes ” What the hell am I doing here? Why the hell am I putting everything I have into this? Why am I skipping fun things I enjoy? I am doing everything that most others are not willing to do and I still lost”. Well, you just learned a valuable lesson. A lesson that most wrestlers will learn at some point in their career. The lesson is that life’s not always going to be fair, but the wrestling mindset knows quitting is not an option and to keep grinding and just maybe the odds will start to turn in your favor. Wrestling has a way of weeding out the weak minded.
So, good luck to everyone this season and remember that no matter how hard you work, someone may just be doing it a little harder. Keep that wrestlers mindset and don’t get discouraged if you happen to lose. Continue to work on the things you’re not great at and wrestler with the best kids in your room. Iron sharpens iron.