| Yesterday I went to the annual wrestling awards | | | | has endured the same amount of pain or sacrifice. |
| banquet at my alma mater, Ridgewood High | | | | When you train, you picture him training- it drives |
| School. Every year my family has the distinction | | | | you to do one more rep, one more round and |
| of honoring a Ridgewood wrestler with the Philip A | | | | one more time. |
| Ross, Jr. award. The award is in honor of my | | | | Why would some one in their right mind endure |
| father was President of the Ridgewood Junior | | | | such a god-awful, Spartan lifestyle in a sport that |
| Wrestling Program for 25 years. The recipient of | | | | will only leave them broken-hearted? That's right, |
| this award doesn't have to be the best wrestler. | | | | broken hearted. Chances are your career will |
| He just has to meet two criteria: has come | | | | either end with a loss or an injury: either way, it's |
| through the junior wrestling program and | | | | not on your terms. At the end of the season |
| demonstrate the characters that make a good | | | | there is only one man standing at each weight |
| wrestler: positive attitude, good work ethic and | | | | class. All of the rest have been sent packing. |
| the ability to move forward in the face of | | | | So again it begs the question, why on earth do |
| adversity. It should be to no surprise that the | | | | you do this? First of all, there is no sweeter |
| same qualities that make good wrestlers make | | | | feeling than having your hand raised. I've scored |
| good people. | | | | touchdowns in big football games and I've won big |
| Wrestling is a thankless sport. As far as high | | | | wrestling matches, and I'll take the feeling you get |
| school sports go, it is by far the most difficult and | | | | after a big win in wrestling any time. |
| the most demanding. It invades all aspects of | | | | The answer is simple. The more sacrifice, the |
| your being, affects your family and your friends. | | | | greater the reward. The harder you work and |
| You are taught to sacrifice and endure training of | | | | prepare, the more meaning the outcome. There's |
| Spartan proportions. And for what? There is no | | | | s nothing more definitive and complete that |
| big contract or signing bonus for your success. If | | | | beating another man on the mat. |
| you are talented and lucky enough you may be | | | | Wrestling is life. Life is hard; to be successful |
| one of the less than 1% to receive a scholarship | | | | requires time, sacrifice, compassion and love. |
| to college. | | | | Wrestling prepares you for this. You love of |
| Training for wrestling is more like Special Forces | | | | wrestling and meeting the challenge drives you. |
| survival training than anything else. To prepare for | | | | Your compassion for your team mates inspires |
| the rigors of a mere 6 minute match takes | | | | you. It teaches you that things are sweeter when |
| thousands of hours of practice, running, lifting | | | | they are worked for (nothing is better than that |
| weights, climbing ropes, buddy runs (with your | | | | that first meal after a weigh-in). |
| partner on your back), sprint laps, calisthenics and | | | | It teaches you to be self reliant. Alone on the |
| anything else that will increase your performance. | | | | mat, there's no one to depend on but you. |
| On top of that, you have to make weight. To | | | | It teaches you accountability, there's no one |
| every wrestler, a scale is not just a scale. It's the | | | | responsible for your actions except you. |
| judge. It is the gateway to your success. If you | | | | It teaches you to work with others; you need to |
| don't make weight all of your hard work and | | | | practice with a partner and a team. |
| sacrifice are for nothing. During match day you will | | | | It shows you how to make the best of your |
| heck your weight 3 or 4 times. You'll eat standing | | | | abilities: your speed, your agility, your brains and |
| on the scale. You will chomp ice cubes, rinse and | | | | your guts. |
| spit at the water fountain and track every ounce | | | | It teaches you that even your own life will not |
| and calorie that goes into your mouth. | | | | end on your own terms. |
| Your family and friends are well aware of this | | | | This is why I meet someone who's spent some |
| because you are not in a good mood. You sit and | | | | time on the mat I know them, or at least a part |
| watch as food gets needlessly wasted and | | | | of them. Immediately, I give them the benefit of |
| thrown out. You are shocked at the amount of | | | | the doubt. Because any high school kid who is |
| food commercials you see on TV. You can't | | | | willing to sacrifice so much for what would be |
| believe that people actually can go out, go to | | | | perceived as so little will be there when they're up |
| McDonald's and order whatever they wish! You | | | | against it. This is the guy I want in my foxhole. |
| can't be talked to or reasoned with (at least until | | | | In a world where it's cut and run and shaft your |
| after weigh in). | | | | buddy, I'll put my money on the guy who takes |
| The training, the weight control, the intensity and | | | | the road less traveled. |
| for a chance to test yourself against another who | | | | |