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.