A Little Note Heading into the Off-Season

[illiniwrestle]

I started wrestling when I was in the sixth grade, and continued all the way through my senior year in high school. Not being the greatest athlete, I took my lumps in the practice room and on the mat. I was usually the second guy at my weight in Middle School, and I was JV freshmen and sophmore years. I finally got a chance to be Varsity as a Junior and Senior. I probably won about 15 matches combined those two years. Last week I was at my schools tournament helping clean up afterwards when I had a conversation with our assistant coach. I told him that when I look back, that I never did anything in the off season because I had "better things to do". Now I realize that if I had put in the time in the practice room, gone to opens, gone to more than just team camp, that I probably would have had a better career. I want to share this, because I hope that anyone who reads this can learn from my mistakes. Put in that time during the summer, work hard in practice, and achieve your goals. You have four years of High School wrestling, and for many of us, thats all we get. When your done, that skateboard, bike, or video game will still be there, but that chance to do something special won't. If this post inspires at least one kid to go out and work hard this summer, than this post is worth it. Thank you.

I would also like to say thank you to a few people. Thank you Coach Lee, Coach Barclay, Coach Newkirk, and anyone who has volunteered time in the Litchfield practice room to help make our team better.