I knew it was only a matter of time till Papadatos returned to New York!! In 2007 I decided to transfer to Binghamton University. I walked into the wrestling office and talked with Dennis and Pat They were straight forward with me and told me what they expected and where they saw the program going. In my senior year I injured my back and tried to come back early. That didnt work out to well at the Collegiate New York State Tournament. I ended up taking 7th and was completely broken. I wanted to quit and walk away from the sport of wrestling. It was Dennis that found me in the hallway pissed off at the world and the sport of wrestling. He grabbed my by the arms and brought me to a corner and told me what WE are going to do. He told me I had worked to hard to just give up there. He told even with the injury he had never seen me work so hard to just give up. He know I was upset and my back hurt but he made a good point. My goal was not to win the New York State tournament but it was to go to NCAAs and place. I ended up winning conferences again my senior year but I did not place at nationals there was Dennis again knowing I was hurt and lost told me so you didnt place at NCAAs and it is going to sting for life but look what you have done while you were here. You left everything on the mat that is all Pat and I can ask of. With tears rolling down my face all I could do is think about how lost I was going to be without wrestling.It was tough because I knew my career was over but life is a lot like wrestling. Dennis told me I would be successful in life regardless of reaching my goal at the Nationals. He reinforced how hard I work and said you will now have to carry that same attitude into the business world. I now know what he was talking about and understand what people mean when they say: You will use the things you learned while wrestling your entire life. Thank you Coach for being there and congratulations on becoming the new Head Coach at Hofstra!! Looks like I gotta come to Hofstra matches.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 19:20:34 +0000
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