Wrestling at Rancocas Valley Regional Highschool has impacted my life in many positive ways over the last four years. I have learned self-control, perseverance, leadership, consistency, adaptability, and the importance of respect. I use all of these key aspects in how I train in the offseason, how I practice during the season, and then go beyond to apply it to matches and life outside of wrestling. I believe that they are good traits and lessons to learn that help you succeed in life; because for many highschool athletes, after their senior year is over, participating in sports is over.
I can't imagine what my physical and mental health would be like without wrestling in my life during my time in highschool. I joined my freshman year looking like skin and bone, and through this program I've gained muscle and grown tougher, but it went beyond that. My want to succeed more and more each year and the addiction to thought physical stimulus made me want to go to the gym, and run and come back bigger every year. Without that fire being lit within me from wrestling, I think I would definitely be a different person. It also helped with my mental health, even though I still get nerves before every match. Going through a pandemic, where people were isolated and apart isn't healthy for an individual, let alone a nation. Looking back, being able to go into a room where I had time to exercise, compete, and socialize while still still having the percautions to keep everyone healthy, was such a relief for me mentally.
My coaches are being when it comes to a sense of togetherness when it comes to a team. We are supposed to treat each other like family, not talk down to each other, and support each other because we are the only one's that know the triles and tribulations of what it takes to wrestle competitively at a high standard. I truly felt the sense of community that was built over the last decades by the former coaches and wrestlers that came before me. I am grateful for my teammates, for which I've grown to view as brothers and sisters no matter how long they are in the program for. I am extremely grateful for my coaches who have helped build me as a competitor from the ground up , and I am especially grateful for the impact that my head coach Thomas Callahan has had on me. I view him as more than a head coach, He's a mentor and like a second father.
It's very hard to put into words the impact wrestling at my highschool has played, But I will forever appreciate the friends and mentors I have gained along my journey. I look forward to see what comes from my final season, and I hope to be a positive impact on the young incoming wrestlers.
Would you want to engage in a sport that involves grabbing other sweaty men? Does anyone not? This is how wrestling generally works. This is something that my peers have said to me multiple times, and every time, I find it hilarious. More than just a sport, wrestling is a way of life. More than just hard effort and determination are things I've learned from wrestling.
One of those sports where your summer body shows up in the winter and vice versa is wrestling. You must shed pounds while wrestling, wait for hours in between matches, and are unable to celebrate Christmas or Thanksgiving. Wrestling is the world's toughest and most taxing sport, even though it initially seems like a horrible activity. Now, growing up with all my male cousins, my uncle peer-pressured my father into putting me into wrestling. A 50-pound girl going into 3rd grade would tackle other boys. My mom would be worried to death that I would get beat up, come home with a black eye and a bloody face, and cry that I lost every match. Yet realizing that gender doesn't matter and that I was easily beating these boys brought a smile to my face. But wrestling was so much more than that.
Simply losing weight for wrestling has taught me a lot. I've discovered that you should always keep a little extra gas in the tank, no matter what. There is always a solution to the chaos in your life, therefore you must make the most of it whenever you feel depressed, lost, or hopeless. I also gained discipline and commitment through wrestling. These two qualities have demonstrated to me that I am unable to give up and that if I must accomplish something, I should give it my all. I believe that this sport has continuously taught me how to give or be given. I've learned how to devote everything I have to the people, things, and activities I love through the sport of wrestling. It has taught me to extend my generosity even when it seems impossible. I've learned through wrestling that sometimes you have to sacrifice everything to achieve your goals. A person needs to learn to give first before learning anything else. Because of the lesson of giving, the me-first culture in which we live is reversed. Giving need not involve an item either. You may contribute time, optimism, inspiration, love, support, strength, and dedication in both life and wrestling. On and off the mat, the capacity to give contributes to the greatness of oneself, of others, and of the world.
I've discovered through wrestling that the little things add up. A word can be changed by changing a single letter. Gadson becomes Gadsen, or Walk becomes Talk. Taking care of the minor details will enable your ambitions and vision to materialize and be seen by people all over the world, which is the best thing you can do in life and as a wrestler. You cannot effectively grow and develop if you don't take care of the little things. Focus on the fundamentals of wrestling and life because they will help you become a better wrestler and person instead of trying to be showy.
