Make the last two weeks count!

It has been a while since I posted so I figured some words of wisdom (or non-sense, all depends on perspective I guess) are needed heading into the post-season.

We have come to the end of the season.  Many wrestlers will gauge their season, even careers, on what happens in the next 2 weeks.  First, we have the regional tournament, the top 4 qualifiers then will move on to the state tournament the following weekend.  For 75% of the regional qualifiers, it will be the last weekend they compete for the season. Those are hard numbers to really accept, 16 guys qualify for each bracket, but only 4 will advance.  The odds are definitely stacked against you on paper.  The hardest part of the state tournament is getting there!

Those who qualify for states, move on to one of the most exciting weekends of wrestling.  All bets are off and the past doesn’t matter once that first whistle blows in Greensboro.  The state tournament is won by the kid with the biggest heart, the most passion and the greatest determination.  For him, what has happened before this weekend was just a learning experience and practice to put together the greatest 4 matches of his season.  It doesn’t matter what regional place you took, all that matters is making it to Greensboro.

The state tournament is chocked full of grueling fights, mind-blowing upsets, tears and giant smiles.  As a coach there isn’t a better weekend, in my opinion, than the state tournament.   It is wrestled on a big stage in front of thousands of fans, parents and fellow teammates.  The finals are on one mat per classification.  Here we see two wrestlers step on the mat, but only one can come out on top, a state champion!

I leave you with this video which has one of the best motivational monologues I have ever heard.  I don’t know who wrote it or when it was said, but it was used on a commercial a few years back and it still gives me chills every time I listen to it.  The video talks about being the underdog and about how you may have the odds stacked against you on paper, but when the whistle blows, “passion has a funny way of trumping logic!”  Watch, be inspired and let us make these last couple of weeks count!