Day 34 – I loved wrestling…part 3
I going to say one more thing about wrestling and then I’m going to move on. Besides the tremendous personal dedication and discipline, it takes to wrestle, the thing I love the most is that anyone can do it.
What do I mean by that?
First of all, there are weight classes now from 106 lbs. to 285 lbs. Seems like it used to be 95 lbs. to unlimited when I was in high school, but I guess they have changed. When a 300+ pounder used to get slammed to the mat, the entire gym would shake.
Anyway, when I went to my first State tournament, I not only saw kids of all sizes…meaning you can be a state championship at 106 lbs. But I also saw blind kids, kids who had suffered polio, kids with only one arm, kids with no legs.
There was a three-time State Champion in North Carolina in the 106 lbs. class that had no legs.
I had to wrestle a blind kid once and the rule was that you always had to be in contact with him. I beat him, but he was good, and I respected him greatly.
So, basically, there is no such thing as a handicap in wrestling. Can you imagine how encouraging that is, to show a kid that no matter what has happened to him, he can be a champion.
We have a great wrestling program at Pine Creek where I coach football today and some of our football players have won State Championships in wrestling and we encourage them to do and be all that they can be.
I love coaching kids and helping them excel, it’s one of the greatest thrills in life to me and I am so thankful for the years that I have been able to do it.
Today’s message is short, but I hope it can inspire and encourage you as much as the longer ones may have.
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