Lovin Line Boring LLC Scholarship for Florida Wrestlers

Wrestling has been part of my life for many years now and has shaped me in numerous unimaginable ways. I am a better man in every aspect because of it, and I could not imagine life without it. Wrestling is a part of who I am and has prepared me for life now and beyond this moment. When I was a middle schooler, I struggled with who I was, with others' opinions, and being confident in myself. My parents had recently divorced, and my life had changed in ways I never thought possible. It had brought me to a point where I had completely turned to food and gorged myself day in and day out. I gained tremendous amounts of weight, and when I received harsh bullying for it, I ate more to hide myself from my problems. During this darker time in my life, I was blessed enough to discover sports, which heavily brought me out of my comfort zone, and I wanted to quit as soon as I signed up. Even within this sport, I found I was teased and made fun of, but it was different this time. I stuck it out despite the teasing because I felt something I never had before with these people; even though I was the butt of the jokes, I was part of a community. Slowly, I began to change due to the company I kept by my side, Jeffersons wrestling program is something I don't know where I would be without. This sport has molded me from the ground up, changing every aspect of my life from how I walk in the hallways to how I interact with others, my previously struggling body image, and even the drive I have to complete tasks in my everyday life. Now I have built a body I can truly be proud of, thanks to wrestling. Wrestling has built me from the ground up, especially my coach, Adam Aultuzarra. In wrestling, I learned how to be disciplined; previously, this was a serious struggle for me. I consistently lazed around and only played video games, but wrestling changed that for me, building a work ethic I can be proud of. Around this time, I began to grow deeply in my faith, and I felt myself growing in my relationship with God. My faiths tied deeply with my wrestling, as every match was done for our lord and savior. It drove me through those tough times where I wanted nothing more than to quit, but having God by my side brought me comfort in every moment and gave me another pillar to live my life by. My coach this year deemed me worthy of being a team captain. I was never more excited to finally be the one to give back to a team that, for three years prior, had done nothing other than build me from the ground up. To be a part of another person's life and growth journey is a blessing from God. I hope to continue this journey of mine well into college as I grow alongside a new community and we all elevate each other beyond what we are now into more than friends, teammates, or even classmates, and become a true family. Though leaving my current team and family behind will be difficult, I'm ready to pursue my passions and dreams in a collegiate setting.

Wrestling is the reason for who i am today. It hasnt only shaped me into a better athlete but a better person. Some days its my get away from the bad and some days its what beats me down. Even the days it gets hard it has taught me to get back up. My freshman year was my first official season and i made the state finals. I ended up losing but hadnt expected to even be there in the first place. The next year i was so determined to show that i wasnt in the finals for no reason. My sophomore year in the regional finals i beat my opponent 7-3. Gaining confidence from that match i was excited for the state tournament. I wrestled the same person in the state finals but i lost 4-3. I remember my heart dropping, i couldnt breathe as i heard the crowd cheer louder and louder. That moment was a humbling expierience and replayed in my head for the next year. From the day of state finals to the following year at state, i pushed myself past every limit possible. For the next 365 days i made sure i didnt miss one moment that would improve me as a wrestler and athlete as a whole. Every hard practice, workout, or tournament didnt get passed up. I exposed myself to national tournaments and harder opponents. I made sure i would never feel the same defeat i expierienced my sophomore year. By the time the state tournament came around my junior year, i was more than prepared to finally win this title ive worked for everyday. I won in the state finals by pinning my opponent in 1 minute and 24 seconds. The feeling was something you can never explain to someone. I knew that once i did it once i could do it again. Now ending my senior year after winning my second state title, ive been able to reflect on what wrestling has done for me the past 4 years of my life. It has pushed me to do things ive never imagined doing. Ive fallen down so many times in this sport and it has taught me to have the determination to get back up. It has made me a more motivated person that i was when i first started. It has challenged me mentally and given me oppurtunities i would never had the chance to have in the past. The saying "Everything happens for a reason" is what has also come to me through the sport. Ive learned that you are faced with adversity for the purpose of making you the best version of yourself. Wrestling is why im as determined, grateful, and humble as i am today. When you go through the tough losses of this sport, you have an understanding of how others feel too. Ill never know how to truly give thanks to this sport, but i will forever thank God for bringing me to it.