Tournament tips and observations on conference and up coming championships for both college and hs

We had our conference tournament last Thursday. We have 4 NCAA Qualifiers. I am very happy for those guys. Last year we were 7^th with 88.5 points, 3 qualifiers and this year we moved up to 4^th with 112.5 points and 4 qualifiers. So those are improvement facts. And this was with only 9 weight classes occupied.

I have a few thoughts I want to expand on here.

It’s worth it:  The wrestling season is long and difficult and certainly not for everyone, in fact it’s not for most. I mean your inside during the winter for 4.5 months D3 and 6 months D1 and this is just the length of time recognized by the NCAA. We all know there is no season when success and satisfaction are what we are in pursuit of. The sport demands a physical and mental contribution that most are not willing to give. I mean just watch sometime how a wrestler gets brought down or cranked on. Most people have never or will never be brought down with such force. Or have their limbs forced against their will like they are in this sport.  

I don’t really lead into my next topic very well but want to comment again about the NCAA and their ridiculous demands as far as weight loss, hydration and body fat. First off forget about hydration most of us are not properly hydrated. If you are concerned about body fat than lets look at the real problem in America and that’s high body fat, not low. And weight loss, well the fact is in our sport certain bodies are made for certain weights. Just because someone has some excess does not mean he is not meant for X weight. This might make more sense. When Michelangelo was asked how he was able to carve “David” out of such a mammoth stone. He said “David was already in there all I had to do was chip away the excess’. Losing weight can be healthy; I mean most of America is consumed with it. The problem is how it’s done, not if it can or should be. Doing it over time and continuing to fuel your body is the most effective way, but there is a little road block called Discipline, this little baby cause lots of grief, dam that discipline. NO! Dam you for not having it. It is a choice much like the choice of the music you like, the TV programs you will watch. It’s really no different. It is a choice. You come into the sport knowing it’s a tough sport, if it’s not for you so be it, but sign up only after knowing the rules. Now if when it comes time to pony up and you choose not to exercise any discipline than watch how fast the excuses come forward and the blame shifts. It’s never the individuals fault. It’s always somebody else’s. And the solution or at least the beginning of the solution is located in the same place as the problem.

Blaming somebody else for your choices. This is a big problem in all areas of society. Where have all the tough people gone to? Maybe they have gone where all the funny people went. Because there are not many of those left either. This is what I have to say. The solution and the problem are both located in the same place. That place is in the mirror, yea YOU. So to all you tough guys out there who think there tough but never do anything or have done anything tough. All I can say is figure it out. And by the way this is the definition of tough: strong and durable, not easily broken, sturdy, capable of great endurance. Not brittle or tender.

“It’s worth it”

I will just use some of the faces from our own team. “It’s worth it” often times this season many of our guys were at their wits end, much like many athletes this time of year. I know many thought about walking away, many do this time of year. Some did walk away. There tired, injured, competing poorly, and had little to no motivation, much like many athletes do this time of year. With all of this weighing on them and most all wrestlers can relate because many feel the same way. This is very common. Most people don’t know all of the things that each athlete has gone or is going thru. My focus is that as I watched the face, energy, body language, and words that night after the championship. All I could think of was the satisfaction they must feel.  Right now they know and more importantly feel that “it’s all worth it” all of the pain, anguish, sacrifice and doubt was and is all worth it. They could have let up it, like many do, walked away, like many do, roll over, like many do. But they didn’t. And when I say they, I mean all of those people out there on any team that grinded it out, there are many. Each team and program has these people. This scenario is not unique. It’s very common in this sport. They got to feel what most never get to. It does not last long. But even the briefness of it is well worth it. I also got to see the faces of other emotions. I saw relief from some, pain from others because for many the season is over and for some the book closes. Guys I just want to say that next season will be here soon. Take some time, reflect, and recover, whatever. But understand what you do between now and next October 15^th will really make the difference. Remember how it feels to be denied your opportunity and vow that it will never happen again. Trust me you have lots to say in the matter. You may have done or did everything right and still was denied, that’s a hard fact. But the pursuit is fulfilling in itself. You become something much more. My suggestion: Know your strengths, know your lesser strengths, Get a plan, goals and get to work.

 The season is to the point where many fall off. But you endure. Because of whatever it is inside you that keeps you in it, you get that unique feeling of satisfaction, a job well done. I don’t really know how to describe it. But many know what I am talking about. Trust me “it’s worth it” the things in life that make many cower but you persist, are always worth it.

When there is such a steep price and you have to use that strength that comes from such a deep place. It’s worth it. I got news for you and this may give hope to those who don’t know what I am talking about or those that will be there again. “It’s a choice” God gives out different levels and areas of talent. You can even develop some talents. But the ability to choose is totally yours. Woops I better not mix religion with athletics or I may offend someone. Again GOD does not stand in your way of choice. You have that option. So once again the problem and solution are found in the same place. We always want to look elsewhere for solutions. And trust me I have done this many times, I have made this mistake again and again. And I pay the price. So do you. Once again I am getting off track. I will just say that as I watched our 4 qualifier’s Thursday night. I could see and feel their satisfaction. And all of the storms they went thru along the way were worth it.

It’s a 7 minute match.

Wow! This one gets my mind moving so fast and bouncing around so much that it’s difficult to start or isolate my thoughts. You may be saying yes! I know it’s a 7 minute match or in HS a 6 minute match. Well once again. The “I know” rears its head and I have to ask DO YOU? Why bring this up? Because so many matches are won or lost in closing seconds.  There are many scenarios but often because one lets up and the others persevere. One moves forward while the other retreats. One improves while the other holds or protects. One hunts while the other is hunted. One endures while the other withdrawals. You get my point. I have talked about “lead management” earlier in the year. The key is to focus, breathe and be aware. Or in more relative terms, keep your hands on the wheel. Give me a second to explain. Let me paint a few pictures first. I know wrestling people know what I am talking about. How matches are won or lost as that opportunity filled 7 minutes elapses. All I can say is if words like focus or awareness does not trigger behavior for you. Than how about “Keep your hands on the wheel” if it’s an icy road you better keep your hands on the wheel. Your awareness is heightened, your reflexes and reactions are intact, and yes it’s safe to say you are present. Or if you are going around a sharp curve in the road you would certainly and surely do “keep your hands on the wheel” You would never take your hands or eyes off the road in these potential disaster situations. Well in wrestling terms to lose a match in closing seconds is a disaster. What happened? Well I think you took your hands off the wheel. My suggestion? Keep your mental hands on your mental wheel. To take them off in such crucial situations is a punishable crime. It’s not paid with money. It’s paid with something much more important. It’s paid with a denial to advance. And to have this after working so hard and being so close is a tough pill to swallow. I am including something I ripped off somewhere, not sure of its origination but it makes lots of sense.

-To realize the value of ONE YEAR

Ask the student who has failed his final exam.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH

Ask the mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK.

Ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE DAY

Ask anyone who lost a loved one.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE

Ask the person who missed the train

To realize the value of ONE SECOND

Ask the person who survived a near fatal accident

To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND

Ask the person who just got the silver medal in the Olympics.

The importance of coming back after disappointment.

This one I can relate to. My senior year I lost 4-3 to Zeke Jones from Arizona State in the semis of the NCAA tournament by a score of 4-3, riding time was the difference and he had 1:01 of time, ouch! So seconds really do matter. I will admit that he scored legit points and deserved to win. But 2 things here. 1) it’s crucial to understand that seconds wasted early on can be the difference later. “It all counts” 2) I had to come back after disappointment. The next day I had the year before NCAA finalist Doug Wyland to go for either 3^rd or 5^th. I lead the entire match. But got taking down with less than 20 seconds left. I took my hands off the wheel. Than for 5^th I was just plain beaten by what would be 2x NCAA Champion Jeff Prescott. So this is how I ended my college career. Losing my last 3 matches. That stung badly, still stings on occasions. I by no means threw in the towel or rolled over because I didn’t. I gave what I had in effort. There is a big difference between losing focus and plain quitting. My point is I know what its like to have to come back after defeat, battle hard and still come up short. You may come back with all the heart and will that you have and still lose, that’s very possible, but to not even try is a punishable crime. I see it happen much too frequently in athletics and life.

 Here is another example only with a better ending. But one filled with anguish as well. My brother Doug was a NCAA Champion as a sophomore for the U of IOWA. His junior year he didn’t have as many points when the time was out in the quarter final match against Carl Perry from Illinois, who went on the win the title. Doug had to come back in the deepest weight class of the tourney. He was going to have to win 4 straight matches with a broken heart. He did just that and came back with vengeance. He new this would say a lot about him, He knew his team needed him, would he be able to come back under these conditions? Did he have courage?, would he get the respect of others? Yes to all of those points. He had to come back for himself and the team. His team needed him.

Many individuals are at the pinnacle of the season, state tournaments, qualifiers; NCAA tournaments are around the corner. I am going to say this. YOUR TEAM NEEDS YOU. Many times in life you will have to do things you don’t want to do, this is a hard fact that every human being knows what I am talking about. You will have to do it anyway. That’s not the key. The key is how you respond. I am not talking about winning. I am talking about effort, in other words I am talking once again about choice. Let’s do a little reversal here.

I will pose this as a challenge to all individuals with up coming championships. Most of these tourneys are only a couple days, now they may be nerve racking days but in comparison to the rest of your life, for most its will only be a blink of an eye. Now my question for you is “Can you find strength and courage for a blink of an eye? Can you make a choice to take the higher road for a blink of an eye? I think when phrased like this it’s easy to answer YES. Now with emotion and difficulty at its height certainly makes things tougher but again it’s a choice. The reversal is that if you tank it or half heart it, you have only taking the easy way out that only required 6 or 7 minutes of your time. But will haunt you for the remaining years. You may not think about it daily, you may quip “I don’t care” lol you are but a silly child when you respond this way, YES YOU DO CARE. You will have regret. And even if it’s not a conscious regret it will certainly manifest its way in your life some how. The other side of it is, win or lose, if you fight out there for only 6 or 7 minutes of your time, than you can go back and spend the next 30, 40, 50, 60 years feeling sorry for your self if you want. So you will get 60 years for an exchange of a few 6 or 7 minute battles. The thing is if you fight you will not want to feel sorry for yourself. Those next 1,5,10, 50 whatever years will be experienced differently and can be lived with a head held high vs.  head held down by the gravity of regret. And all it requires is for you to make a choice. To separate your self pity and disappointment for a few 6 or 7 minute battles. This says everything about you. How people come back from hardship and adversity says it all. Its not the getting knocked down that’s the tale, it’s whether you get up or not. We all get knocked down and will be knocked down again, some may be downright now. But like all good and bad in life, it passes. What do you do in the storm? I have to say I have not always made the right decisions in the storm. It does not matter what I did, it does not matter what your teammate do, it does not matter what those you read about did. The only thing that matters is what you do. Focus where you have the control.

I hear so many people deflect their, consequences and results on others. “Well so and so did this” Well what about so and so” “well so and so did that” Let me ask you something. If you’re so concerned with so and so, why don’t you give ½ of what you own to so and so? You seem to worry about them a lot, refer to them a lot. My guess is so and so will never be mentioned when you reap benefits only referred to as excuses because you didn’t pony up.

What are you going to do when you have to face something you would not have chosen? Or maybe you created this situation. Deal with it. I don’t say this from an uncaring stance, I say it as when it all boils down this is the solution only in raw from. These crucial areas can actually be turning points in our lives. I will say with all confidence. You do have the capacity to separate emotions and attitude for a few minutes. You have strength and courage in your mental libraries that have yet to be awakened.

I often use extremes in this area because for most of us in life we will face or have faced extremes. The UN pleasantries of life that cause us ill health, take loved ones, tragic situations that will require us, even demand us, to be strong or else we just would make it. My question to you is how do you expect to handle those situations that are guaranteed in our lives when we don’t handle what I will call ‘training sessions”, or “preparation periods” for the really big stuff. It’s like a fire or tornado drill at work or in school. The sirens or bells go off, we bitch, say it’s stupid, waste of time, until that day comes that we never expected to come. Than and at that moment we are either glad we did it and paid attention or now we are scrambling and regretting our poor attitude that day. When all it required was a few minutes of our time that was to our benefit in the first place.

“Tournament mind”

As the tournaments approach there are always many athletes who because it’s the “NCAA tournament” or “State Tournament” tighten up, hold back, shut down, have doubts, whatever. They refrain from doing what got them there in the first place. Call the tournament whatever you want, call it the “Punky Brewster Open” if it makes you compete better. I want to give you a message; it’s an important one so watch close. YOU ARE STILL IN AND HAVE CONTROL. I mean what really has changed? You are still competing on a cushioned mat, referee is still there, coach is in your corner, weigh in policy the same as all year, opponent is same weight, the match length is the same time,  still gave your same arms, legs, head, and on and on. My point is nothing has changed expect your thinking. And since your thinking is in your control, your once again hold the solution or the problem. Which are you going to allow to speak loudest? PROBLEM OR SOLUTION? Offensive or defensive, confidence or doubt? Victory or defeat? You may say “it’s not that simple”. YES IT IS. In the final analysis when you boil it down, it’s that simple. It’s either YES or NO. You can’t tell me because you have to drive a few hours to get to the tournament location that changes you, or from venue to venue you change. Nothing changes except what you allow. I tell you what so many athletes out there have done this (wrestling matches) 500-1500 times. You’re a veteran. Nerves are ok, fear must be abolished. How can you be afraid of something that you have done so many times and are obviously good at? Do you get nervous when you mow your lawn? Doubtful and I know you have not mowed lawn 500-1500 times. So relax breath in confidence, breath out doubt and understand you are still in control. You still hold the key. Your school colors or song have not even changed. The only thing that has potential to change is you. This can be positive in some cases and detrimental in others. I will let you decide.

Win each period

One last thing is that with all the championships coming up one thing we talked about with our guys was just to WIN EACH PERIOD. For many I am sure this is not a new concept but an effective one. You can condense it down to win every go between each whistle, win each minute, what ever you want. But I like the win each period because it’s a definitive time frame. Sometime 0-0 is a win. Sometimes 0-1 is a period win. It depends on the athlete, strategy, situation, that certainly differs for person to person. It gives the athlete a period by period focus and is very simple. The athletes need simplicity not being over loaded. I know this because I use to make that very mistake.