Today is November 1st. For many out there, it is just another ordinary day...but not in our house, this is the first day of Wrestling Season ! This is a journey that will last for the next three months, from November 1st until the end of January our lives will be consumed with Wrestling.
This will be my sixth year in the land of wrestling....I have to think back to the afternoon when my son Kyle, came to me and said that he wanted to be on the Lugoff Elgin middle school wrestling team. I could have never imagined how those little words would alter my life in so many ways!
My husband has been fortunate to have coached Five State Championship Teams and one runner up, this is something that we are so proud of. Each year when the new class of 7th and 8th grade boys come to their first meeting, he pulls out each of his state championship rings. He carefully displays each one in its own little box....and he talks to the boys about each championship. At the end of his speech ...he ask each boy "What can you do today....to make yourself a better wrestler tomorrow."
At the beginning of every wrestling season he usually has about 40 young men to come to that first meeting. Many of these boys need wrestling in their lives for one reason or another, a bad home life, difficulty at school etc. My husband is often told how wonderful he is for working with these kids, and how their son's life has been impacted because he has been their coach. Every child that my husband has coached, my husband has truly loved, and in the end, it has been us that have been blessed by the boys and their love for us.
Wrestling is a difficult sport...long nights, practice every day and all day Saturday tournaments. We travel all over the state, at 4 & 5 AM on the mornings of tournaments....and we take our entourage of peanut butter, hot dogs, and chips and cookies with us wherever we go. I will have to admit that in January, I will be happy to have the season completed, but today I am excited.
Excited that it is another year, another group of young men that will grow and be blessed by being a part of this team, but most of all that Ted and I will be blessed for the next three months, for we will get to play a part in the lives of these wonderful young men !
Let the Season Begin!!!
