Found this & thought appropriate to share this time of year as most, athletes as well as those of us that help them, encourage them & cheer them on are getting a little warn. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Wrestlers are the strongest, fastest, and smartest athletes in the world. But that's not what makes them unique. They are the MOST dedicated people in the world. They sacrifice their lives to a sport of fighting. Where practice is 3 hours of lifting, throwing and conditioning. 3 hours of a literal street brawl, they give up there social lives. They don't party and get drunk because making weight on Saturday won't allow it. They don't go smoke after school because they worked too hard to get into shape. They have no team out on the mat with them to help get past there opponent. They stand on a mat with all eyes on them, alone, no one to fall back on when they make a mistake, no safety to make the tackle, and no goalie to make a diving save. They are the leanest, meanest and strongest in the world. Ladies want them; men want to be just like them. So this is a tribute to all who sacrifice everything, their free time, their food, and most importantly their life. Why would someone work so hard, till they are puking in practice, sweating in their 3 layers or skipping that awesome party? Or why would they induce the blood sweat and tears? Or the early morning runs, or mid day workouts or the extra run after practice to lose that last pound to make weight. The road in wrestling always ends in tears. The man that takes 2nd cries because his dreams are over, and the man that wins it all, cries more than anybody because finally everything that they have worked for came true. Wrestlers will wrestle through anything because they are freaking wrestlers. And greatness is synonymous with the word wrestler. I salute all who commit there life to something greater, something bigger than themselves. Wrestlers don't wrestler because they like it, you would be crazy to like to beat yourself on a daily basis, and get beaten up by teammates and opponents just as much. Yet there are the few who love it, they do it because they were born to. Wrestling is not a sport, it's a lifestyle.

This was copied from Krista Revelles Facebook favorite quote.

Thank you Patrick! Very inspiring and I am going to print this off and give it to my 12 year old son to read and hope it inspires him as he ventures down that road to State this week...he has the ability to be on the top of that podium on March 28, I just need some great words of enthusiasm for him and these are quite suiting!! Thanks again!

Renee'

Gets me jacked reading it!!

This is great! I have wrestler who just hasn't found his stride yet...some good, some bad, and some just ok. Last year he made it to districts but no further...we are hoping for a shot this year...state for the first time. What a great inspiration!

Awesome...simply awesome!!

No matter what place they get, every wrestler that steps out on that mat and leaves it all out there, is a CHAMPION!!

That is awesome. Thanks for posting. Good luck to your wrestlers on their journey to state, but not too much luck to your 76 lb'er (should we make it to state, we will be in the same bracket!)

I have read that a hundred times over the years and STILL love reading it. Nice post!

This is an awesome writing. It's sometimes hard to explain to non-wrestling people the draw to wrestling. Some also don't understand the emotions that are involved - and why your 8,9 or 10 year old can't "take it like a man" when he loses. A dedicated wrestler, male or female, experiences such intense, independent feelings about their accomplishments on the mat. In the next few weeks, we will all see the wrestler described in that writing in our various sub-district, district and State competitions. Good Luck to all!