I am currently a Junior, wrestling Varsity in high school. I have been on

Varsity for the past three years and have definitely noticed an improvement

in my abilities. My freshman year I started out with a Varsity

record of 2-3 and now my junior year I’m presently 14-4 with 13

pins.

I started wrestling in the 7th grade where I won all of my matches

but 2 and I made it to the Middle School States but did not place. In 8th

grade I had the same record, also made it to the States and placed 9th/10th,

and qualified to go to the nationals but I did not attend. I'm at

a high school that has enhanced my skills and level unbelievably, if I

had not made the decsiion to go here I would never be where I am now and I am grateful

for it. My freshman year was a great success in my mind. Although my

record wasn’t much, what I had accomplished out on the mat showed that I

give 110% and never give up. And it all starts in your practice room. I

recommend to all freshmen reading this that in the practice room you should

partner up with someone who is more advanced then you. Yeah you might get

your but kicked around but it will prepare you for your following years, and

you’ll develop your skills better by wrestling someone of higher

capability. So that’s what I did and it helped me a lot.

Sophomore year was a great leap in my high school wrestling career. I had a record of 18-8

and placed 4th in districts. Over the summer I had attended the J Robinson

Technique Camp, and I recommend it highly to those who need to brush up on

their technique and for those looking to better themselves. It was an

excellent Camp. This year I had quit playing soccer and decided to focus

all my attention on wrestling. Once I get my license in March I plan to

join either Shore Thing or Edge wrestling clubs and keep myself wrestling

yearlong.

Someone once said that wrestling is 10% physical, 10% technique, and 80%

mental, and that’s the absolute truth. If your mind is not cleared of your

daily problems and you have something on your shoulders, wrestling that day

is going to be tough for you. Also during a match, if you convince yourself

that you will win the match, chances are that you will be the one getting

your hand raised at the end. During the six minutes I am out on the mat I

tell myself that I am going to win numerous amounts of times. Wrestling to

me, however, is more then just a sport. It is truly a lifestyle. It

extends beyond just your average sport. Your teammates are not just your

friends; they become somewhat of your family. I guarantee you this

atmosphere of closeness is not felt by other sports. Wrestlers push each

other to succeed not just physically but mentally as well. Whether it’s

about dieting, loosing weight, or just a pat on the back before a match, you

know that they are going through the same thing. Wrestlers sweat and bleed

together, that’s a bond that you cannot break. For me, balancing wrestling

between school, homework, band, my social life, and proper dieting is not

easy. I’m sure no one else can understand it except for you fellow

wrestlers but it definitely sucks. The only thing I ever regret about

wrestling is not starting at an earlier age. And when I was in middle

school, I didn’t do anything really to better myself and that really took a

toll on me I think. I wish I could of changed that, I would have really

been better faster and more experienced to wrestle at Varsity and not have

to wait till my Sophomore year to get completely comfortable like I did.

Cutting weight is not one of my favorite things in the world. It was never

really a problem for me until this year. It’s not that bad though I usually

only have to drop 6-8 pounds. My advice to weight cutters: wear a decent

amount of clothes for when u run at practice but when u wrestle don’t go to

heavy on the clothing otherwise you wont be able to finish the practice.

When you get home, a glass of Gatorade and a little salad with some chicken

works. Also fruits like apples and bananas are good stuff to have. Just

don’t go overboard with the eating. You can even take a jog after u eat if

u still feel heavy. However, since the two-pound allowance has gone into

effect, I have been eating like non-stop. It’s a beautiful thing.

Though the season is in full swing I have been asked to keep a weekly journal. This is my life:

1-26-05

Tonight’s match was heartbreaking. We wrestled a team that hadn’t beaten us

in over ten years. The intensity in the gym was sky high as we took the mat

to warm up. And just like at every other school we wrestled at we were

disrespected. But tonight was different. Their entire crowd booed us as we

warmed up. The first time this year that I heard the opposing crowd boo us.

And this fired me up; I was extremely pumped and angered at the same time.

The starting match was the weight class right after mine, which meant I

would have to go last and the match was going to most likely come down to

me. Well long story short it came down to the fact where the kid before me

had to pin to bring us within 3 points and then I would have to pin, tech,

or major to win the match. Well the kid got pinned which sealed the match

for them. Frustrated I went out and blew the kid away pinning him in 1:30.

I was so ticked off; I threw the kid around like a rag doll. We ended up

off the mat a few times before I put him to his back. Anyway, my favorite

part about the night was going to Chili’s after the match because I had

calmed down over the Buffalo wings.

1-27-05

Recovery from the night before, coach had decided to take it easy on us. We

were able to put the loss behind us though and started focusing for our next

match. The day went over pretty well; we had finals in school so a half-day

is always good. After practice I went over my friends house and we jammed.

I play bass and we just messed around. I did one thing however that I

should not have done. I ate about 6 slices of pizza.

1-28-05

Today was Friday; tomorrow is going to be one of my biggest matches of the

season. I was overweight and wanted to work off a few pounds, so

the 112 pounder and I ran for two hours before practice. After the run I weighed in and had lost five pounds, like I said before wear cloths when u run it works. Then during practice I had a very technical day to get me ready for tomorrow, I feel highly confident

that I will win.

1-29-05

Well turns out today that I wont be getting my chance against the kid. This

got me pretty angry considering it was a district match. I’m still in

wonder as to why I had that match taken away for me. I had been preparing

for weeks just for this one match. Well at least I got to see his wrestling

style as he tore up the other kid they put out there instead of me. And by

watching him I realized that I could beat him. In my match, I pinned

the kid in the second, once again I took out my anger out on my opponent

but that’s ok, ill get my match in the Districts. After the match we

all got together and went to Big Ed’s BBQ fo r their all-you-can-eat ribs.

Nothing is better then treating yourself after a win. And

the best part was our next match isn’t until next Saturday and the two-pound

allowance goes into effect in three days. Then after Big Ed’s… more eating,

I ate an entire pizza pie. Then my girlfriend and I went and watched my

neighbor’s band play at a bar in Rumson. Nothing comforts me better when I’

m agitated then music. Especially live music.

1-30-05

More eating, living up that two-pound allowance, today was my brother’s

birthday. Everyone knows what that means…today was the first day I ate cake

in months, thanks to the allowance.

1-31-05

Monday is always the worst day of the week, but this Monday was bad

especially. I hate my new classes with a passion. I’m not happy at all with them and

this definitely showed today at wrestling. This however scared me during

school cause I had a wrestle off today. I ended up winning anyway though