Embracing the Battle of Wrestling

Every wrestler, parent and coach knows that Dan Gable quote: "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”

Any wrestler, current or former, can attest to that. Many pour their blood, sweat, and tears into a sport that offers both joy and heartbreak. But when is all said and done, one thing holds true: They all realize they enjoyed the training, the daily struggle, the challenges and adversity they faced on and off the mat, striving to become better, the mental games the sport plays. And how it builds character that stays with them the rest of their life.

"To be a champion it takes long hours, going beyond what other people are willing to put in," says Nate Engel, Assistant Wrestling Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy and a former USA Greco-Roman National Team Member. "No one has ever said winning is easy. You have to embrace it daily and outwork everyone."

Griffin Parriott, a three-time Minnesota state champion from New Prague High School, agrees. Parriott, who will wrestle at Purdue next year, says he embraces the challenges of wrestling—both on and off the mat. To him, the sport’s appeal is all about "loving all aspects of training and doing things others aren't willing to do" in the pursuit of success, he says. 

Kyle Snyder, only 20 years old, has already won a World Championship and NCAA individual title for Ohio State. In early April, he defeated 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner in the 97 kg/213-pound freestyle final in Iowa City, Iowa to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Snyder says it's important to get excited about the things in wrestling that are hard. For him, it starts with mental preparation.

"One thing I always tell myself before I compete is ‘It's going to be hard, but I've trained for this and I am excited to see what this guy can do,’” Snyder says. "I believe when I wrestle my best, nobody in the world can beat me, but that doesn't mean my competition won't try to when the ref blows the whistle. That's why it's so important to embrace all challengers and have that ‘let's see what I can do’ attitude."

In the spring of 2016, Mark Schwab, a member of four Iowa wrestling Halls of Fame in Iowa, stepped away from collegiate coaching after 23 seasons to start Opportunities to Succeed, where he works with individuals, athletes, teams and business professionals/organizations who want to get the most out of life. Schwab focuses on developing mental strength, taking responsibility, and inner drive—all attributes of a successful wrestler/athlete.

"Wrestling becomes part of you and you become part of it," Schwab says. "The grind is physical, labor and toil. You become used to this strain. You don’t feel right without it. The grind is where you meet and learn about yourself. You can’t get this out of a book."

Another famous wrestling quote: "Champions are made when no one is watching.”

That’s what separates the best from the rest, says Daton Fix of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, a 2015 UWW Junior Freestyle National champion (55 kg/121 lbs) and a three-time Oklahoma state high school champion.

"If you want to be the best, then you have to become obsessed with getting better every day," Fix explains. “You can't take days off or not give it your all every practice. You have to start preparing like a champion. You have to push yourself physically and mentally every day."

A sport like wrestling forces its athletes to deal with their fears, their doubts, and, ideally, learning how to manage their mind, says Schwab. It's an investment that pays off at a high rate of return— no matter how painful and difficult the journey. "Don’t cheat yourself the experience," he says. “The way you manage your grind is through your mind. Improving your game means taking responsibility for improving your mind. If you haven’t done so, embrace the grind. The grind is spiritual. It’s a journey that will take you to your core."

"If you can succeed at wrestling,” Schwab adds, “you will dictate where you want to go in life.”