Watching son wrestle quite an experience
This weekend will conclude one of the most ambitious experiments ever undertaken by my wife and me: my oldest son Jack’s first wrestling season. I’ll be honest, it’s one that I never thought I would have seen, let alone have it come to completion.
For those of you, and I know there are many, who have never met my oldest child, let me give you a little background. He possesses some of the traits that I believe can lead to success on the mat, as well as in life. He is intelligent, thinks quickly in a pinch and has a pretty big stubborn streak.
However, there are many aspects of his personality that would lead some, myself included, to think that perhaps the world’s oldest sport just wouldn’t be for him. He tends to be more kind and compassionate than a punisher, a true reflection of his upbringing. He also hasn’t developed much of a pain threshold.
Despite all this, he decided to give it a go and as we wrap up his first few months with the sport, I have to admit that I am much more pleasantly surprised than disappointed. Is he the best wrestler on his team? Absolutely not. However, much of that blame falls on me.
More so than any other sport, wrestling requires a lot of extra work away from practice. While the top kids on his squad, all of whom have already started their first-place medal collections, are working out in homemade wrestling rooms for an hour or so a day, my big guy is happier reading, playing dinosaurs with his brother and looking to conquer the next level on Mario.
Even if Jack never makes it into a varsity match, or even the varsity team, I have to say that his experience with the Waynesburg wrestling program has been a success. That success has nothing to do with wins, losses, pins or takedowns.
As I mentioned before, Jack doesn’t like pain. Truth be told … he still doesn’t. However, it brings a smile to my face on those few occasions that he has proudly displayed a few SMALL scratches and bruises as his medals of honor from an intense practice. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of being put in another headlock ranks about as high with him as a plate of steamed broccoli followed by homework and a bath. But, he is at least learning that the pain and uncomfortable nature of certain situations all eventually go away.
One of the biggest positive aspects that has been touted to me since I began covering and falling in love with the sport is how much confidence it can build, especially in younger competitors. At the beginning of the year, Jack would basically stand straight up with an opponent and basically try to swing him down by grabbing his arms and pulling off what he dubbed “the wrecking ball.” Try to imagine a two-kid version of ring around the rosie, and you should get a pretty vivid picture.
Now, he is able pull off a solid double-leg, a passible high crotch and is actually able to ride an opponent. Again, I don’t know if these skills will every reach the lofty levels of so many Greene County standouts in the past, but I think it’s showing him that a little practice and dedication can lead to noticeable results.
Last, but certainly not least, I have to say “thank you” the half-dozen or so dads who take time out of their busy schedules to coach these kids. There was no old school screaming, berating or physically punishing any of the young athletes. Instead, there was calm, but firm instruction and sympathetic patience as wrestlers sat against the padded walls crying over any of a number of “injuries” and frustrations.
I certainly hope this is not my last experience as a wrestling parent. I’ve covered the sport and followed it for over a decade now, not a long time compared to those whose families have been tied into it for generations. However, in this brief period of time, I’ve finally gotten to see, first-hand, just why it is held in such high regard.
Take my advice; expose your kids to wrestling, even if for just one season. In a world where discipline, patience, physical pain, exposure to losing and seeing others as your better are so often shied away from, this is one sport where you are not only forced to face these very real scenarios, but where you can also learn to overcome them.