Missed It

[215fan]

2016 marks the first time since 1986 that I have not attended the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals.... an era has come to an end. I still love the sport even though I am nearly 43 years of age, but life has gotten in the way and my own kids take up 25 of the 24 hours that we have in a day. My son plays travel baseball and that has become a year round sport.
I checked IM from time to time this weekend and it reminded me of days, weeks, months and years gone by. I sit here this morning thinking of all the Sunday mornings in February that I woke up in Champaign after a weekend of great competition. There is no other weekend like the weekend in Champaign for a wrestling fan and I hope to get back again in the years to come.
Congratulations to all the boys who trained and competed, not just this weekend but all season long. Congratulations to the coaches and parents of these young men and know that the lessons they have learned on the mat are live lessons that have shaped them at an early age. I hope that they continue to dedicate themselves to something long after they hang their wrestling shoes up for the last time.

[oldpioneer]

Great post 215. I miss it too. Everyone leaves on Sunday with that certain feeling. To me, it was kind of sad. The long season is a grind. And sometimes we say well one more month and we will see the sun again after work. but when it finally ends, I found myself feeling, like I wish it would start all over again. Good news is wrestling is the oldest sport in the world and will never end..........