These Asics all-American teams have always been dominated with politics and always will be. It is definately motivation to the best wrestlers not mentioned.

When I was nominated for the Asics Team in hs there were 4 wrestlers named to the first team from 105lbs to 126lbs. I teched or pinned 3 of them and beat the other one 11-1. All of these wins came at either national duals, Jr Nationals, or Jr world team trials. A couple of these guys I pinned or teched twice or more!

That summer, after qualifying for the Jr World Championships, I had to get a passport made. I took the extra mug shot photos, that I didn't have to send to the passport agency, and I pasted them over the faces of all four wrestlers on the poster.

I hung that poster in my room as a reminder. That summer I dominated all of them again at Jr Nationals to take the title and the OW. Only to be named "honorable mention" the following season on Asics' mighty poster. It was then that I learned I was at my best when people count me out.

I think I still have the poster in my wrestling scrap. It gives me a good laugh everytime I see it.