Mark Manning
“Why wrestle?” What a tremendous question this poses to the young children who participate in youth sports! But more importantly, it’s for parents who decide for their kids which sports they allow their young boys to experiment with.The uniqueness of wrestling and the numerous benefits are endless to realize at a young age. But as parents and educators, we realize the benefits wrestling provided to us and the doors it opened to allow our “best” to be demonstrated with our professions today. That is why wrestling is important, right?!? For us to give our all, make some mistakes, learn, develop, fall short, and climb to heights we never imagined. Besides, our country lacks strong leadership, along with the character this country was founded and built on! ...
Wrestling has produced thousands of leaders and exemplifies the toughness, grit, and perseverance it takes to be the best in any field; besides being “your best” in wrestling.
This is the beauty of wrestling! What is “your best”? Not all wrestlers are junior high or high school state champions. And, in college, not all participants are National Champions or even All-Americans. We wrestle because we love to give our best and for us as competitors to be the ultimate decision maker–whether we win or lose. It tests the preparedness and discipline we put into the event/contest and most of all; it challenges the mental and physical demands few sports ever push one too. Wow, what a great sport!
That is why I coach and feel as though I can connect to young men in a way that they can relate to. I want them to understand that this sport may not reward them immediately; but will have tremendous impact on their careers and how they parent and model for other generations. It is easy to quit wrestling because of the intense training and demands it calls but, I try to teach my own athletes; many whom are walk-ons that “the more you give of yourself—the more you will receive in the end!”
This lesson has been lost in our society and in the culture of our nation. Nowadays, young boys and men expect instant success; and if doesn’t happen in the first year or season of their sport, “I quit, it’s not fun!” It’s all about them!? Well, that was not the attitude I was taught when I was young or as I experienced setbacks in my college years. You buckle down, grit your teeth, and try to find solutions and utilize the resources around you so you can overcome and climb to another level. Our country and our culture needs the competitive attitude wrestling teaches; let alone the work ethic and intestinal fortitude which drives people beyond barriers they would never think they would conquer.
Why wrestle; or have your young boy enter this sport?! This paper may never end. I have been blessed by so many people who have touched my life in positive ways through this sport that it’s tough to comprehend! But, there is one young man that greatly impacted me. His name is Tony Davis. Tony grew up in inner city Chicago (Cabrini Green, considered one of the worst ghettos in America). Tony faced gang violence, killings, rape, and heavy drug trafficking every day. Imagine a young, talented black boy who is a really great wrestler; but is constantly harassed by the gangs, shot at, and surrounded daily by prostitution and drug use; trying to fight his way out so he and his family can have a better life. Tony grew up the youngest in his family, never really knew his dad, had two older brothers in prison for selling drugs and car hijackings, and his mother was on welfare. That’s a picture most of us did not have to face as we grew up and made our way. Tony once shared with me that once he entered high school, it was the first time he was ever around white people. Now, picture the challenges this young man had in front of him on a daily basis. Tony, was not a good student, so after a successful high school wrestling career; he left Chicago with his girlfriend and young son to attend a Junior College in Iowa. He graduated with his A.A. degree and won two Junior College National Wrestling titles. Three years later, Tony graduated from the University of Northern Iowa won a 2000 NCAA Championship (the first one in 37 years at UNI), was a two-time All-American and has gone on to be named North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year at a Raleigh elementary school. Wrestling provided Tony an avenue to gain a college education (the first in his family), and to go on to reach a childhood goal of being an NCAA Champion. But most of all, he learned it wasn’t the environment in which he came from that would hold him back, but his own doubts and fears of not succeeding that drove him toward a life he wanted for his wife and children today! Several times he wanted to give up and throw in the towel, but he knew that wrestling was a sport that would allow him to have future successes in his career and with his family. It was tough, but he was tougher!
Now, most people do not get to hear those stories enough, but wrestling does not have cultural barriers and can positively affect those that grow to embrace the lessons in which it teaches us.
Why wrestle? Because there are more Tony Davis’s and young boys who need this sport for years to come! The lesson is to press on is when things get difficult, and to break down internal barriers that can block our own journey. Therefore, wrestling is the greatest sport because, as I was taught “it’s what life’s about!”
Mark Manning
Former UNC Assistant Coach
Head Wrestling Coach, University of Nebraska
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