Author Description

For the longest time - I got it wrong... I thought the ultimate achievement in wrestling was to win a State Championship... It is not. The ultimate achievement in wrestling is to prepare a young man for his life by having him become the best person he can be by acquiring the "Qualities of a Wrestler" while in pursuit of a state championship. Acquiring these qualities is more important than winning a state championship. They are what is needed to become happy and successful in life. These qualities are acquired during the pursuit, and not in the winning. It is in the pursuit that a kid transcends into a man. It is in the pursuit that a kid is prepared for what life will bombard him with when he becomes a man.It is in the pursuit that this sport is at its finest. Winning a state championship doesn't teach these things. The pursuit does. It is setting a goal that is more than you think you can ever achieve and then achieving more than you thought you ever could. It is in overcoming any and all obstacles that may be in your path in pursuit of that goal. It is in the agony of learning how to "figure it out" on your own. It is in making the necessary adjustments even after you "figured it out." The hard adjustments which will require supreme sacrifice that will only make a small difference. Which will happen to be the difference between winning or losing. It is in working endlessly and seeing no results and still continuing to work because your will is stronger than everyoneelse's doubt. It is in learning that one man with belief, is worth a thousand with only interest. It is in failing miserably and very publicly in front of your peers and everyone who is important to you. It is in learning to master the concept of "Again" - the ability to muster up a little more when the world would understand if you quit.It is in not achieving your desired goal after a very long hard season, one in which you bled to do so, an