Postivity Challenge

Is anyone else on this forum who is dismayed that right now- what should be the most exciting week of the season, this forum is dominated by negativity? I pose 2 challenges-

1. Lets keep this thread only about POSITIVE WRESTLING RELATED ITEMS. If you have something negative to say, please say it on any other thread.

2. Lets try to keep this tread at the top of the forum.

In this way, maybe we can start focusing on the many great things that are going on right now in our sport- as opposed to being mired in the same old silly fighting.

If you are bothered by this- please simply choose not to read or post on this particular thread. If the wrestling community doesn’t agree this is worthwhile, it will become buried soon enough anyway.

As a wise road sign in Canada once said- “Choose your rut wisely, you will be in it for awhile.” I choose positivity!

I’ll start out with my list of positives:

1. Mill Valley High School (where I coach) earned 2nd place at regionals. This was our school’s 1st time placing at a regional as a team.

2. Mill Valley qualified 12 individual wrestlers for state- a school record.

3. My alma mater- Norton High School- finished a very strong 4th at the Lakin regional. Coach Johnson and his staff did a marvelous job working with a young group of kids and getting them to compete hard and peak at the right time. Good luck next week!

4. I had the good fortune of working with the one of the nicest group of young men this season (including middle school and high school) that I have had the pleasure of coaching in the past 14 years.

5. After not being able to coach last year for family reasons- I was able to coach again this season, and believe me I savored most minutes of it!

6. The NCAA’s are right around the corner and are close. Although I doubt I will be able to attend (young families stretch both time and financial resources) many Kansas wrestlers will be attending.

7. The state of Kansas continues to add collegiate wrestling opportunities for our wrestlers.

8. My wife is a trooper and shouldered a great deal more than her “fair share” during this wrestling season with 2 youngsters at home.

9. My 3 year old son- who last year could not go into a gym without being completely overwhelmed and melting down- was able to attend regionals yesterday and had a fantastic time watching the “Jaguar Wrestler Players” and playing with older kids and parents.

Keep it in perspective.

Congratulations to all the high school wrestlers who competed this season. If it was easy- everyone would have done it.

Congratulations also to those of you who are fortunate enough to still be competing this weekend. It is an honor and a privilege- go compete well.

Good luck to all competitors (unless you are on the mat facing a Mill Valley Jaguar or Norton Blue Jay)!

I'd like to thank Kim Lohman and the Lakin community for the great support and a very well ran regional tournament.

1. I was able to keep the Anderson County wrestling team alive by taking over the Head Coaching job

2. Despite having 11 out and no one qualify for state we learned a ton

3. I have nine underclassman that will be coming back for next year (if they all come out)

4. I heard a rumor yesterday that we will have nine freshman coming out next year

5. It was also rumored that we have two more that will be out next year that did not wrestle this year (giving me a total of 20!)

6. I got a new outlook on the coaching side after officiating for the last ten years so now I have walked in all three sides of the sport at the high school level

7. Anderson County's new kids club (Kansas Thunderstruck) has 50+ kids out

Just remembered a couple others to add to my list:

10. We will lose only 3 seniors off this season's team. They will be sorely missed- but have a good group coming back too!

11. Will be able to see a lot of friends in the profession this weekend that I do not see as often as I would like.

Yeah but you are still from Norton. You will never be able to get out from under that. I tell Ulmer that all the time.

I'm just kidding. Hope you and your family are well and you are having a great time.

Randy Westfahl

Randy,

I can't believe Ulmer still hangs out with you after all these years!


All is well here- hope the same is there.

I forgot to add you guys to my list as well so here you go:

12. The dedicated group of VOLUNTEERS who put on the great show- the Metro Classic. Great wrestling and great promotion for our sport!

This is my kind of post.

This weekend at the Lawrence regional I saw the following:

I saw a wrestler's season come to an end, and a good coach comforted him in the bathroom and helped the young man regain his composure. Everyone was respectful as they saw this going on, because they knew that this is part of the game. Training for life that will help this young man down the road.

I saw sophmore in his first high school season win two matches he shouldn't have won and his now going to his first ever state tournament. The team and families screamed as loud as they could during his victory. I believe it all started because a football coach told him if he wanted to see the field, he probably needed to wrestle to learn some skills that will help him in the fall. I saw the coach in the stands.

Good sport this wrestling!

haha well Kyle, Ulmer also questions why he hangs out with me too, in fact he does that to my face. Oh well, sometimes we all have to make exceptions. Come up to the meet his year, it ought to be a pretty well balanced and competitive show with a ton of good wrestlers like always.

I'll stop by practice next week and say hi- I assume you will be at MV's room again.

yep

I appreciate all of our coaches who work with our kids at ALL levels.

Wrestling is a difficult sport to teach and requires physical strength and stamina to do it right. It is a sport in which the coach has to prove his knowledge daily.

At a time when, as a society, our boys need positive male role models more than ever our wrestling coaches have NEVER been more important.

I salute each and every one of you.

Great story out of GE

Heavy Weight Eric Phay had never wrestled before this year. Weighed in at 354 the first day of practice.

Big E as his teamates called him certified at 285 the first meet in January. He came through BIG winning his first match of the year and the crowd went crazy! He won the final match to give GE the win over Emporia and the crowd went crazy!

He came up short in the consolation semis, but the crowd still cheered for Big E.

Wrestling has changed his life.

Saw a wrestler at the Lawrence Regional pin another young man in the consolation semi finals. He picked the kid up and hugged him in the center of the mat knowing that he just ended the kids season.

My son had a long time opponent in the Kids' Federation. These two young men seemed to find each other every year, often on multiple occasions.

In the beginning, my son was the better wrestler. Then, his opponent got very good very fast and next thing you know he is winning big over my son. The last two years before starting their high school careers, my son started to close the gap again. Their last match against each other was at the Salina TOC three seasons ago and had to be determined in OT (my son lost).

Here is the so what. The so what is that these two sophomores are both Regional Champions this year. Congratulations to Jake Elbrader for this accomplishment. He probably would have won it last year too but I think that he was injured and couldn't compete. Jake is a fine wrestler and an all around nice young man. All the years of battling with my son seems to have paid off for both.

Another fantastic high school wrestler and terrific young man who placed three times in his high school career can now be seen giving back to wrestling as an assistant high school coach this year. It is great to see a wrestler like Ross Whitmore now working in a high school team's corner during wrestling events. I am sure that he is a great teacher of the sport and a fine mentor for the wrestlers in that room.

First and foremost I'd like to say that the idea behind this link really brings warmth to my heart. I think as coaches and parents and officials we all get too caught up in the idea of medals and prizes and championships and don't stop to realize why we still do this sport. That we love it. This is truly the most tried and tested sport throughout history, and the reason it remains is because it is the true test of everything of you Versus everything of them. Which leads to inferiority complexes, and compensating arguments that may, or may not, be the most positive

I'd like to explain my situation before I say all the positive things in my life; I'm a senior this year, the day before regionals I was suspended from school. Therefore, I couldn't wrestle for my team at regionals. I've wrestled all four years, always with the focus of winning state this year. And the stage was set for me to do so, not without some major struggle and incredible opponents along the way, but still it was possible for me to do so. Now the positive in my life

1) I wake up every morning, healthy, sober, and breathing, because the Good Lord allows me to.

2) I have the most supportive set of parents I could ever ask for. And my team,and coaches, and any others affiliated supported me through this, truly teaching me that TEAM goes beyond two hours everyday after school, and past the 12- hour Saturdays.

3) This weekend my team qualified all 13 guys we brought to regionals, a school record, a team goal, and overall the most proud accomplishment so far that I've seen in our high school career.

4) The guy that went in my place was a JV kid with minor varsity experience, drew the 6 seed, pinned the 3 seed just to make it to state. When I heard he got in and that he cried. I cried. Getting to share joy within my team is a positive aspect of my life I may never get again.

5) Next weekend I get to travel to state to watch and cheer on a group of 13 guys, 2 coaches, and 4 managers that I can say I truly love. And if that's not a blessing then I don't know what is.

6) Next year I'm going to wrestle in college, hopefully in Kansas, so I can watch this sport that we all love passionatley, come back into this state.

7) This stepping stone in my life is merely a lesson I needed to learn, for this lesson I am blessed, and regardless I will support my team, and I will praise the Lord every step of the way.

That is what is positive in my life right now. And honestly, I couldn't ask for more.


Ben Randolph
bd_ran2012@yahoo.com

In Olathe, three middle schools started or continued club wrestling teams. We held the first ever middle school double dual in Olathe last fall with every kid getting a match. The administrators were amazed how passionate the fans were and are pushing other middle schools in Olathe to start a club program. Our principal even remarked that the attendance was much larger than a basketball game! Keep it up Santa Fe Trail, Pioneer Trail and Prairie Trail.

Wow. An incredible post from Ben Randolph.

The Lord has mighty plans for you Ben! It's been an honor to coach and cheer you on.

- Chief

BDRan -
WOW, one of the most impressive posts I've read! I don't know all the details, however, your response inspiring! Good luck in college; it appears your faith will guide your walk in life!

Truly inspiring Ben Randolph! Thank you for sharing.

Wow and OMG, I can't believe it.
Thank you Ben for sharing.

Those of you who follow the forum regularly already know how I feel about Ben Randolph. Not only is he one of the most entertaining and most exciting wrestlers there is to watch, he is one of the coolest, friendliest, most personable, most respectful, most genuine kids I have ever met.

I cannot think of any scenario that prevents a kid like Ben from wrestling at state his senior year. Quite simply put, Ben Randolph is a great kid. His parents are great as well. It makes me sick to think about that being my son. Surely there were some extenuating circumstances that could have made the consequence, for whatever action that precipitated this, just a little bit more forgiving. I know that I don't have the facts and I cannot just pass judgement but I am saddened non the less.

My thoughts and prayers have always been and will continue to be with Ben and his family. I wish you the best and I am confident that whetever Ben decides to do he will be successful. He will be a positive and productive member of society that we can all be proud of.

Ben,

It took alot of courage to share. It sounds like you are on the right path. Just know that the road is long, narrow, and sometimes lonely- but the experiences you have had wrestling will help you walk it.

When times get tough- just get back on that line!

Good luck!

Kale Mann

#13. We have a group of individuals here in the state of Kansas working to increase the collegiate wrestling opportunities in Kansas. For info read below!

As a mushy,wrestling mom, this post brought me to tears. You must be an amazing young man. Your parents, I am sure, are very proud of you. To handle the situation as you did, is very mature and heartwarming. I don't know you, but it makes me proud, too.
The love wrestlers show for their fellow teammates, coaches and managers is unlike any other sport.
I see great success in your future.
Good luck to you in college.

Let me start by saying that I believe many of us get caught up in the moment. Whether it is a post on the talk form, at a dual or tournament, or just gossip we have heard , and may or may not be engaged in. We all need to remember this is about all the young men and women who make the choice and sacrifice to participate in the sport of wrestling. Some for many years and others just a short time. It is about ALL of them, the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY. And their love for the sport.

We need to acknowledge them all, because without them, what would we have to talk about, agree and disagree about. From the 1-win varsity wrestler, that steps on the mat every week in hopes for one more win, to the State Champ.

These are young adults, with way to many influences in they lives at their age, both good and bad. It does not take much of a slip-up by one of these young people to have their hopes and dreams crushed. But this is life and this is how we all learn and grow. Their TRUE greatness is how they come back from adversity, both on and off the mat. Win or loose, they have won at life by just being apart of the sport.

Being parents and coaches, we go into every match just as the wrestler does, knowing we have a chance today to win the match and possibly the tournament. But we also know in the back of our minds we could loose just as easy. Yet we continue to go to every match, tournament, and season in the hunt, just as excited. Isn’t it GREAT! The passion displayed by all involved. If anyone can ever attend an event and not get fired-up, then you really are not part of wrestling. The wrestlers are as much a part of our lives as we are theirs.

We as the parents, coaches, family and friends, need to let all the wrestlers know how much we appreciate their contribution to the wrestling community.

Good luck to all, today, tomorrow and in the future!

@BenRandolph I wish you the best of Luck Next year! Your A good wrestler I have seen your two Matches against Lynch from Lawrence even though you didn't win you never gave up, I also saw you at JV League Coaching a Kid on your Team. Even though he wasn't doing to well you just kept coaching him and after he lost it look like you gave him some good tips and put a little spark in his eye.

Luke is one of the most even keel wrestlers that I have ever been around. His emotions don't swing too far to the left or too far to the right. Great wrestler, even better young man (I would bet he is pretty solid in the classroom as well).

Some positive things I could comment on would be:

I remember Luke Henes showing up to freestyle practice where there was no one there his size and just staying and practicing his throws on the dummy. His dedication has paid off.

Two other good stories would be come-backs from injuries to make state - Aberle from Sabetha and Landoll from Marysville.

Watching my son get to hang-out again with Dalton Rodd and Nick Meck, old teammates from different Kansas dual teams. And, watching another one, Trey Francka consoul my son after a loss at regionals.

The 2 seniors on our team, out for their 1st year of wrestling, staying thru the season while getting pounded.

The graduates who came back to support their ex-teammates.

Then, the way the kids at Sabetha wrestled for their coach at regionals at what could be his 2nd to last tourney at the school.

The thing that really struck me were the kids at regionals, the kids that knew they would probably lose their first match the next day, jumping rope to make weight. It was just for pride, nothing more. Maybe that is what wrestling is really about.

Finally, in a week we can start talking about Freestyle/Greco!!! My son might get a week off, Na....

Lee, you and your family are a bright spot in this sport. Glad we got to know you, your awesome wife and family during those years at STA Kids Club.

We'll be cheering on Garrett this weekend!

Sharon,

You don't have to make up stuff just because I did:-] I will be cheering on Luke this weekend as well. I remember the first time I watched him wrestle in Manhattan (Garrett's first open tournament) when I thought the cream of the crop from STA in Garrett's weight class was Menzel. That is when Coach Bob G. pointed out that there was a better STA wrestler. Luke got 2nd I believe, Garrett went two and out.

Coach Bob said that we were welcome to come to an STA practice and there were a lot of scrappy wrestlers around his age and weight. The rest is history.

I read this article every year at the start and the end of the season. Helps keep everything in perspective for me. If you google it you can find it. Good luck to everyone this weekend.

Bronson Star

From "My Own Veritas"

A father’s letter to his son
i
I wrote this after a disappointing tournament when my son was 9 years old. I wrote it as a way to ease my emotions and to also give myself some perspective of my own disappointment in my son’s performance. I’ve yet to give it to him, and I don’t know when or if I ever will, but I thought someone should read it.

To my son,

You had a tough time on the mat today and the ride home was pretty quiet. I admit I was very disappointed but I later came to realize that I shouldn’t be and that it is all part of the journey you are taking.

When I watch you on the mat I worry that you are doing battle while unprepared and that I have failed in your preparation. As a father that is my greatest fear, that you are unprepared to face the challenges that will come before you. I want you to be prepared for your match, but I’ve come to realize that it is the matches themselves that, are in the long run, win or lose, the things that ARE preparing you.

I think that the greatest benefit from wrestling is learning to face challenges and to demand the most from yourself. You learn to fight when you think there is no more fight left within you. You learn to get up after you’ve fallen, time and time again. You learn about sacrifice and about pain. You learn to endure and to overcome. This is what I want for you, not because I wrestled, but because these lessons are the true gifts of this sport. So, those losses today were actually part of this gift, and an important part of the journey.

My dream for you is to not just win championships and fill your room with medals. My dream for you is much greater and I hope you get much more from wrestling. I hope you learn to strive for greatness even if you fail in the attempt. I hope you learn to get up one more time when you think you can’t get up any longer. I hope you learn to not only face your fears, but to stare them down.

Wrestling isn’t about winning. It is about the desire to win. It isn’t about success, but rather the determination to succeed. I want you to succeed as a wrestler, not to win state championships, but I want you to be a successful wrestler so you learn to be all that you can. This sport can help teach you that, if you let it. I look forward to the seasons of our future as you go through these lessons and I’ll be in your corner for each and every one of them. I love you.

Dad

Bronson,
That was an awesome letter. Thanks for posting it. Good luck to your son this weekend.

Thank you and good luck to you too!