My Boyfriend's High School Wrestling Memories

High school wrestling required me to be stronger, faster and smarter. I was a buck-forty my freshman year, and I had 20 percent body fat. I had to hit the weights hard. I worked my ass off all that year, learning as much as I possibly could refining my technique everyday as much as possible. I got my first wake up call to how intense high school would be on the day of our first tournament. When It came to nerves, I was the worst, but I was feeling ok that day, and I was confident that I would win. When it came match time I found I had picked up the habit of freezing up during critical moments, and losing the close matches, that I should have won.

I learned a lot that year. Firstly that I couldn't win on sheer talent. After that tournament I worked on my technique, to the point where I began to master some moves. I went on to be undefeated every JV match I had for the next two years. I occasionally wrestled varsity. And I saw my first breakthrough to next level during a dual meet with one of the top teams in Suffolk County. It was my sophomore year, and I had been moved up to varsity to wrestle the sixth-ranked guy in the county at the time, because we didn't expect a win at my weight from our normal varsity guy and bumped him up a weight to face a less accomplished wrestler. I earned my first nickname of my high school career that match. As soon as the match started, he ran to me and tried to toss me over him, but ended up slipping and falling on his back. With-in thirty seconds I had became "Scott Who?" pinning him and causing a huge stir in the gym.

My junior year I finally earned my spot on varsity, and gained huge improvements. I went to a wrestling camp that year, and worked out every day possible. I went on that year to earn all-league status. My record was 30 and 6. I was ecstatic, but bummed out that I didn't earn all-county status, which made me work that much harder the following year.

I was on top of my game, my senior year. I never won any tournaments because of my freezing habits. But I never got below 2nd place. Nerves are such a big part of my wrestling problem, and I will do everything to eliminate them during my college-wrestling career. I ended that year all-league as well, earning a spot in the county tournament. I was excited, as I was one win away in that tournament from earning all-county status. I also knew I was better then my opponent. I lost. I froze up again at critical moments, losing by a point. I took him down with a second left on the clock, my coach told me, and he would argue with the official, but what happened, happened. My high school wrestling career was over like that. I didn't cry, I didn't complain, I didn't make excuses. It was a could have, would have, should have moment, and I couldn't do anything about it. I was upset, but I was more numb then anything.

Thinking I would never wrestle again, I was shocked. But at the same time I had it in the back of my mind, "maybe I can wrestle in college". At the end of that day, I made a decision that I would wrestle in college definitely. I had unfinished business to take care of.

That left me where I am now, looking for a college to wrestle for.