Dear Wrestling,
Thank you. Thank you for allowing my family to be a part of something bigger than we are. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the heartbreak. Thank you for the friends we've made along the way. Thank you for showing us that some friendships aren't truly friendships when its just the two of you on that mat. Thank you for proving that some friendships are
stronger than who's hand gets raised. Thank you for dreams that come true. Thank you for the lessons learned.
When we started this journey 6 years ago (wow, has it only been 6 years, it feels like so much more), I never dreamed how important you would become in our lives. When my 106 pound 7th grader slammed the door after practice one day mid season saying he wanted to quit, I never thought our relationship would continue. We've never quit anything so he endured until the end, but it didn't matter to me either way if he chose to see you again. He had an ok season with more losses than wins and was granted the most improved wrestler award. We tried something new, it wasn't our favorite, and that is ok.
But our relationship did continue. He put on 15 pounds in that first month post season, was happy because he could eat again, and came back as a stronger 126 pound 8th grader. He learned that 2 raspberry doughnuts the night before a match will make you be 4 ounces overweight. He never missed weight again, no matter what it cost him. He had a stellar season, taking down opponent after opponent, until the conference championship. He learned that 6 consecutive backthrows will wear you out and bring the whole gym to its feet. And even if you lose by 3 points, you have the satisfaction of being a part of the best match of the tournament. He received the most valuable award, made a long term friend, & I was a proud momma.
We trained tirelessly through the off season. Practice, tournaments, medals, the top of the podium. It felt good & we started thinking that we liked this sport called wrestling.
Freshman year found him 6 pounds heavier and completely in awe at how the competition changed. That's ok, it just meant he had to work harder. He learned that you have to keep fighting until
the very last second even when you're down by 4 against a senior, because all you need is 12 seconds, a reversal, & back points to win & surprise everyone. He learned what fighting through the pain meant when he suffered a 2nd degree AC tear at Regionals and refused to stop or forfeit the remainder of his matches that day. He learned you can always go to the hospital when its over with. He earned the coach's award that year and realized that 2nd place at AAU States isn't bad for a freshman. And we started thinking.
He put on a few more pounds Sophomore year to weigh in at 138 and learned that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't beat this one local rockstar, but he could finally go toe to toe with him after two years without getting pinned. He learned that some matches will almost always result in needing a police escort and some fans just suck. He learned that 6th in the Region wasn't what he wanted. His teammates voted him to receive the Cardinal award. He returned to AAU States with 2nd place again and we started thinking... maybe there really is a future here.
He returned as a much more confident 145 pound Junior who had
absolutely fallen in love with you. He had a passion that would not be denied. He was a leader, an example, and a teacher. He learned that unfortunately, those certain fans still suck, sometimes friendships cannot overcome that, his momma is always in his corner fighting with him, and his papa has a temper. He learned that your 100th win as a Junior is amazing. He learned that being the Conference Champion, being named the #1 seed in the region and #3 seed in the state is sweet, but the stats don't always reflect the outcome and fighting through the blood round at Regionals is brutal. But oh the relief of placing 3rd at Regionals and having the chance to compete on the state level.
We took 4 to the State tournament last year. We had all been to big tournaments before, but to be able to even witness this level of competition was mind blowing. It was exciting, it was inspiring, and it was scary. Three Juniors and a Sophomore ready to take on the world. We learned the true meaning of the spotlight last year, as the weekend went on and we had the only two wrestlers left competing for hardware in the county. We learned that the parade of champions will make you cry & you will never hear We Are the Champions the same way again. We learned that its entirely possible to be physically sick from nerves. We learned the fastest way to the local hospital after landing on your head and neck and not being able to squeeze your coach's hand. We learned that 2nd
place in all the State is not a bad place to be. We learned that true friends will take a picture with you
in the hospital, neck brace and all, because you didn't get to stand on the podium. Hey, that picture looks pretty cool in the yearbook too. He realized that its ok to take a break and we really started thinking about college.
Over the summer, that upcoming Senior fought to remain at 145 pounds. He learned that JRob Intensive Camp is a beast. He learned what it was like to be over 7 hours from home for 2 weeks and realized even though he's growing up, he still gets homesick. He learned that sometimes, no matter how hard he tries, his body will not cooperate, will catch every sickness going around, and will shut down completely. He learned what sheer exhaustion was.
Before the season ever started this year, we learned the excitement of getting scouted. We learned that all the effort and hard work was paying off. We learned that dreams do come true and we learned he could have a home in Bristol, TN if he wanted it.
This year, my Senior learned that the spotlight isn't as pretty when it shines brightest on you. As an unknown Junior, he came out of nowhere to place 2nd in State. As a returning Senior, all eyes were on him, waiting and watching, picking apart the successes and failures. He learned that some matches just aren't yours to win. He learned that its a harder struggle to lose with grace and dignity than it looks. He learned that some refs are biased and make wrong calls, that sometimes luck wins out, yes, those same fans, plus many more, still suck, and that his daddy will fight for him, even if they both get suspended. He learned that people are going to talk about you, no matter what. He learned that
injuries can decide a period, a match, or a season. He learned the heartache that one bad move can allow the 5th seed to beat the 1st seed and win the Conference. He learned that talk is cheap. He learned that far too many matches are won or lost in the last seconds. He learned that his momma will cry her eyes out after a heart stopping match on the side of the mat without caring who's around her. He learned that 2nd in the Region with a return trip to State is just as sweet as it was the first time.
Unfortunately, my family had to learn the heartache of choosing between two equally important events and I had just watched my last wrestling match in person. I would have to watch the State Tournament via live stream while on a trip with my daughter. I was devastated.
We took our only two Seniors back to state this year and what a duo they are. Those two have had each other's backs since day one. They have fought beside each other in karate at 5 years old. They have battled beside each other for 12 years of football. They have coached, cheered, encouraged, and cried beside each other for 6 years of wrestling. How very fitting that these two finished out the year, the season, and their careers with the same color medal. Silver doesn't shine as brightly as gold, but it ain't dull by no means. That duo, for the 2nd year in a row, placed higher than anyone else in the county. That duo is nothing short of amazing! And we learned that the parade of champions still makes you cry, even harder when one of your best friends is walking along side of you.
I'll be perfectly honest, going into Senior year, just the thoughts of Senior night made me anxious. I thought I would be a basket case. But I developed a love hate relationship with you this year, wrestling. Oh how I loved you, how I loved watching my son do what he loved to do. How I got just as nervous as he did, how I moved right along side of him trying to help him get out of sticky situations. How my heart pounded for however much time of those six minutes he needed, and how I was physically sick when it took longer than six minutes. But oh the pressure. The pressure was physically crushing this year like it has never been before. The pain I saw as his body took a beating. The disappointment I saw in him as he relived every single mistake. The anger when he thought things didn't go the way they should have. The fear of letting everyone down. The sorrow of realizing its over. The uncertainty of what comes next.
Now that his high school career is over, he's made a very adult decision. Even though he worked hard enough to accomplish his dream of continuing with you in college, he's decided that its time to go your separate ways. He has hung up his shoes. He has left everything he has on the mat for the very last time and can walk away with his head held high knowing it was a life changing experience.
So wrestling, I thank you. I thank you for helping turn my son into a man. I thank you for teaching us that some of the most important lessons in life don't come from the top of the podium. I thank you for the joy you have brought me and the tears you have cost me. You have shaped this whole family more than you will ever know. It's been an amazing ride and I wouldn't change the twists and turns for anything.
Sincerely,
A Grateful Wrestling Mom
