I used to ask myself this same question every time I walked into a wrestling room, and I thought I knew the answer. But I didn't truly know what Wrestling meant to me until I was injured during the season. Not being able to roll on the mat with everyone else was one of my biggest fears, but it didn't stop me. Even with my arm in a sling, I would go through the motions; top, bottom, natural, all the different positions you can think of. I craved Wrestling, I craved being on the mat, I craved the feeling Wrestling gave me. Not being able to compete during the time I was injured took a toll on me mentally. It was hard to go to tournaments and watch everyone else get better while I felt like I was falling behind, and nothing hurt me more than that feeling. No amount of physical pain could compare to the pain I felt. Before I was injured, I thought Wrestling meant a way of self-defense, self-control, or a way of showing everyone else you were better than they were. I thought it meant being accepted by my friends and family, and I thought I had to be the best of the best to truly love Wrestling. But that's not what Wrestling is really about, and not being able to compete with everyone else showed me what the true meaning of Wrestling is. Wrestling is my safe place. It's my escape from reality. It's the one person who listens when everyone else in the room is against you. It's my way of life. If I need to clear my head, I hit the mat; if I need time alone, I hit the mat; if I need to talk to God, I hit the mat. Wrestling has been the one constant in my life. Nothing will ever sit so highly in my heart like Wrestling does. I love how hard the sport is; I love that it has affected the way I live. There's a quote that I love reading, and it goes, "Wrestling has been a way of life with me day in and day out. I won't get too far away from it. I might walk through the Wrestling room once a week. I could go every day if I wanted. But just walk through, make sure it's still there." - Dan Gable. This quote sums up my way of life perfectly. Just to walk through the Wrestling room and take it in. So when someone asks me what Wrestling means to me, I answer them with one simple word: home. Wrestling isn't just a sport or a family, it's my home.