I don’t like to make up threads for the sake of making threads but I thought it would be worthwhile to acknowledge what the wrestlers/coaches/trainers/game day ops, etc. had to go through this year for the NCAA Championship to happen. This was certainly not the season anybody envisioned when they signed their letter of intent.
All college athletes had their challenges but wrestling was deemed a high-risk sport that was also a winter sport so these guys really couldn’t slip from the time they stepped on campus. From daily testing, training room protocols, match protocols, social interactions, etc., this is not how anybody envisions their college experience.
Some schools missed matches but everybody was dialed in for the NCAA Tournament. I was actually talking with an athletic administrator today. They were obviously aware of wrestling but they were admittedly not a “lifer” or “close follower” of the sport. They were just so impressed with the interviews of the kids after the finals and how much commitment it takes to be great. The other thing they mentioned was how impressive it was that not a single positive test among any of the tier I personnel at the tournament happened. I think even I am guilty of taking for granted just how committed these guys are to their sports but the fact that every single member of every team lived this lifestyle during the past few months was certainly appreciated by that person. It is also not lost on administrators that the NCAA basketball tournament already had an entire team (plus individuals on other teams) out of the tournament for COVID and there was none of that in wrestling. It’s just a great reminder of how much this means to all these kids that they completely altered their life for this sport and didn’t think twice about it.
So to every wrestler who put it on the line this year, I want to thank you for giving the fans that greatest entertainment we could have hoped for. If you are graduating this year, the lessons you learned in the greatest sport will stay with you the rest of your life. If you are coming back, I look forward to watching you continue pursuit of your dreams!
All college athletes had their challenges but wrestling was deemed a high-risk sport that was also a winter sport so these guys really couldn’t slip from the time they stepped on campus. From daily testing, training room protocols, match protocols, social interactions, etc., this is not how anybody envisions their college experience.
Some schools missed matches but everybody was dialed in for the NCAA Tournament. I was actually talking with an athletic administrator today. They were obviously aware of wrestling but they were admittedly not a “lifer” or “close follower” of the sport. They were just so impressed with the interviews of the kids after the finals and how much commitment it takes to be great. The other thing they mentioned was how impressive it was that not a single positive test among any of the tier I personnel at the tournament happened. I think even I am guilty of taking for granted just how committed these guys are to their sports but the fact that every single member of every team lived this lifestyle during the past few months was certainly appreciated by that person. It is also not lost on administrators that the NCAA basketball tournament already had an entire team (plus individuals on other teams) out of the tournament for COVID and there was none of that in wrestling. It’s just a great reminder of how much this means to all these kids that they completely altered their life for this sport and didn’t think twice about it.
So to every wrestler who put it on the line this year, I want to thank you for giving the fans that greatest entertainment we could have hoped for. If you are graduating this year, the lessons you learned in the greatest sport will stay with you the rest of your life. If you are coming back, I look forward to watching you continue pursuit of your dreams!
