To all,
I also love this time of year, not only is the end near but this is when the electricity really flies. Regionals-the baine of a wrestling coaches existence, I hate the Regional tournament-too stressful.
State is like a vacation, you get to leave on Thursday, the atmosphere at the State sites the night before. In 321-A we work out with everyone the night before and I do not remember what happens in 4A an above, but I really enjoy that workout. It is bitter sweet and what coaching is all about. The build-up...before anyone has wrestled anything is possible. To dare to dream of standing on the top of that podium, to see the "unbeatable" being beaten, to see those with great stories get told over an over as they chase their goals-this is what wrestling is to me-as a coach and a former wrestler.
I was reminded today about how special this sport is as I coached my 6 year old in Nebraska, finally had a weekend off an chose to go to a wrestling tourney! While he fell short of his goal of winning a trophy, not first but a trophy, he won third. First of all the medals these days...my goodness, but he has improved tremendously. The glorious thing was to see him fight off his back twice, and never give up...this made me more proud than when he Tech'ed his second kid. This sport is about families who get to know each other and only see each other during wrestling season, of mothers' who tell war stories or swap ideas about weight control, it's about dads' who either yell too loudly or hide behind the video camera, and its about finding out if you can get off your back. But those people have a bond that is special, it gets in your blood an you crave it...its wrestling!
To say I love this time of year would be correct, but I have a bit of cupidity about it. It is great to be at the end but it makes me sad it is over, best of luck to all. Stay healthy, wrestle smart, have sportsmanship, and represent this sport as only you can on the mat!
Sincerely,
Coach Jason C. Brown
