COURAGE UNSEEN: When most of us think of courageous wrestlers we think of the wrestlers who have won in spite of great difficulties and there are many stories of wrestlers who demonstrate great courage on their path to great victories. But Ironically I think some of the most courageous wrestlers are ones who seldom win and sometimes never win, at least for a period of time. It takes far more courage to continue to battle and to fight after a loss then to continue the battle after a win. Now think about the wrestler who losses match after match and maybe even gets pinned time and time again. It is such a difficult thing because it is such a personal thing. I know of few things in all of athletics that is more difficult to deal with than being pinned in wrestling. It is such a heavy blow to your spirit, being pinned and returning to fight again and again is every bit as difficult, in my mind, as being knocked down in a fight and getting back up time after time. Eventually that wrestler might learn how not to get pinned and maybe he will learn how to start winning matches and maybe in some rare cases they will become, like John Rutledge did, a state medalist, but some wrestlers might toil and battle courageously and never be able to turn the corner. Maybe just being the guy who showed up and gave his best to be his best will be all that some of these courageous wrestlers will ever accomplish and I don’t think that diminishes their courageous acts at all. To step on a mat and face another man in one on one combat takes great courage, to continue to do so after losing, and maybe being pinned, time after time demands tremendous courage. Interestingly this courage is not just demonstrated only by the wrestler but also by the wrestler’s parents who continue to love him and support him and hopefully by his coaches and teammates who do the same. So I am congratulating all of those wrestlers who lose again and again and maybe even get pinned time after time but never give up and never quit, you are courageous and you have my great admiration. I also congratulate and admire all those parents, coaches, and teammates who support and love these wrestlers and help give them the courage to fight on in spite of the lack of tangible rewards. Remember some of the most courageous wrestlers never stand on the award stand and rarely experience the “thrill of victory.” Please let these young men know that they are still champions. Keenan McCurdy, Jeff Rutledge, Jake Froscheiser, TJ Goeglein, Marcus Hellwege, Dan Davenport, Drew Etherton, Trey Ottley and Joey Morrison I know you guys already support these courageous wrestlers and I want you to know that is something I love about all of you.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 02:28:53 +0000
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