The following article is taken from Coaching Young Couch Potatoes the ‘user-manual’ for little league sports.
With special thanks to Dr. Robert Schluter, Professor of Physics MIT and Northwestern University (ret.) and Leo Kocher, Head Wrestling Coach, University of Chicago
Wrestling is the most physically and psychologically grueling of sports. It is defined by effort, determined by mental and emotional discipline and unflinching in its feedback. The one-on-one combative nature of the sport and the unavoidable exhaustion experienced during workout and competitive matches combine to shine the brightest of spotlights on personal character.
No other sport reflects such a powerful correlation between work and success as wrestling.
Size, speed, strength and athleticism are God given talents. Yet, every high school in America is filled with talented athletes who lack the courage to wrestle for wrestling is individual in nature. No team performance to mix with, no slacking performance to place blame upon, no one but self to celebrate victory or grieve through defeat.
Wrestling is liberating because it is the most fair. Personal work ethic is paramount and success for athletes regardless of size is possible. In team sports, especially football and basketball, natural athleticism, size and speed take precedent when determining team members. In wrestling; diligence, effort and tenacity create a place for any athlete willing to commit to the process and not cease trying. Ultimately, there is no loss in wrestling. The only way a wrestler loses is to quit by removing himself from practice. Every coach knows wrestlers who reach astounding success through sheer force of will; who achieve success beyond their natural ability.
Wrestling guarantees opportunity for personal victory, physical exertion, extreme fatigue and humility, yet thousands of athletes stay with it through high school, college and beyond. Why? Because wrestlers find a deep significance in how the experience of wrestling defines them. When an athlete musters the self-control required to practice every day, the endurance to last the entire season, the strength of will to finish every practice and match, the integrity to engage in battle and the courage to put his win/loss record on the line every time he steps on the mat he discovers something very valuable about himself. He discovers that he is much more than the score of the match, the outcome of a call or the result of a battle. As Coach Kocher of University of Chicago points out, “wrestlers love wrestling because of what it reveals to them about themselves.”
No other sport mirrors life like wrestling. No game is experienced as personally as a wrestling match. Few sports can reach so deep into the soul of its competitors and return personal worth. There is not much glory in wrestling but there is much gain. Wrestlers replace weak bodies with strong; trade insecurity with courage, and exchange anger for honor.
Wrestlers have shown me courage, humility, tenacity and bravery.
Wrestling is a teacher and sometimes her lessons are harsh. When we step to the line for battle knowing that we can be defeated the message to self in victory is easily apparent and glorious to enjoy.
But when we seek victory and are handed defeat we are privately taught that both extremes, the ecstasy and the agony, are contrasting mirrors of the same reflection. For without risk we can never know glory. Without defeat we will never understand humility. Integrity requires that the lessons of manhood be seared on our souls by the furnace of consequence and wrestling creates consequence every day.
At any time and at every level, a wrestler’s match, tournament, or season might end in a way other than the one intended. None of us are alone or independent in that experience. Every coach has experienced the emotions of goals not met or victories never claimed. As painful and discouraging as these moments are, we are better people for having worked through those events, because nothing of value comes without cost; not career, not family, not personal relationships. Overcoming adversity in all of life’s arenas is wrestling.
Everyone who wrestles in junior high and high school achieves more than they thought possible and becomes greater through effort and discipline than they were before beginning the journey. Everyone truly engaged in any passionate endeavor does so at personal risk that gets overshadowed by development benefits that can last the rest of their lives.
When I watch young wrestlers who are not yet able to see the value of the lessons they are learning now, I ask that they remember the words of Sir Francis Bacon.
“Heaven knows how to price its goods.”
Heavenly goods like work, persistence, humor and the thousand other emotions wrestlers feel while wrestling are divine gifts that intimately belong to the person who earned them. Character does not come easily because the qualities of integrity and self assurance must be anchored in our lives. Young people who wrestle and experience the lessons taught by this great sport become good husbands and wives, compassionate fathers and mothers, successful professionals and effective citizens. They are also in the best physical condition of their lives, reach home tired at night and share this common experience with quality team mates which is why I love wrestling.
“Unless you continually work, evolve and innovate you will learn a quick and painful lesson from someone who has.”
Cael Sanderson, Olympic Gold Medalist, 4X NCAA Champion
I would love to hear about why you wrestle in the comments section.
