There are many sports in the world that are easily recognized. Maybe it’s because more people enjoy it or maybe because people don’t appreciate the other unique qualities of other sports. I’m a wrestler and my sport is not recognized as much as others would like. I, however, don’t mind the fact that it’s not a big fancy sport that everybody knows and talks about in school. Why? Well, because us wrestlers make up our own little hardworking world. We truly appreciate the toughness that comes along with the competition and we embrace pain unlike any other..

I’ve heard around my school, that carries almost two-thousand students, that wrestling is too intense for a high school sport or that they won’t join the wrestling team because of our uniforms. For competition we wear singlets. Now, for anyone who doesn’t know what singlets are, they are a tight one-piece that have a tank top look on the upper body and go as low as being on the top of your knees. These uniforms go way back. Tradition can be a bad thing, but in this situation it really isn’t. It’s actually the opposite. They used to actually show most of your upper body, and I don’t blame teenagers for being uncomfortable with that. They’re teenagers. However, this builds confidence with your body and it’s awesome because there’s so much history with what you’re wearing. It’s an amazing skill to become comfortable being uncomfortable that everyone should learn.

Not just confidence plays into the sport of wrestling, but it brings a great mindset of discipline that is just admirable. A lot of people will question how intense it is for “kids.” Truth is, I love it. Building character and discipline at a young age is one of the most important things a “kid” should develop. This will play into not just their academic career but into their life. They won’t back down from problems that come their way and they’ll have that mentality that says “bring it on!” Wrestling is a tough sport. You get bruised. You get hurt. Learning to cope with pain is important for teenagers because life is painful and hard. I enjoy the toughness and I appreciate it even though some people might not. It’s like Bruce Lee said, “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”

At the end of the day, handling a tough situation well, with character and toughness, will make you proud. Wrestling brings pride and confidence. When a wrestler steps on the mat to compete, it’s you or your opponent. Going out of the mat with your hand raised at the end brings pride to yourself because the fault of winning is on you. There was no teammate to pass the ball to and score for you. There wasn’t a person who you could slack off for and trust they’ll do the hard work. No. It’s on you. It brings great responsibility that you have to learn how to handle and that’s a beautiful trait to carry. Knowing that there are no excuses except getting better is important and a quality that this world needs to have more of.

Now. You get it, we’re tough, we’re proud and we’re comfortable with being uncomfortable. We cut weight, we sweat like animals, work out numerous times a day, etc. This all doesn’t get that recognized or sponsored like the Superbowl or the NBA Championship. Most wrestlers and fans hate that. I don’t care if it does because our special little world is special. It’s special for me, and it’s special to the wrestling world. We truly care about what the athletes do to do what they do. We understand the pain and discipline that needs to be done to be recognized and then when you do get recognized like Jordan Borroughs or Kyle Snyder, it’s special because it’s not easy. There are many players in the NBA. There’s even more in the NFL. It’s because it’s easier. Wrestlers know they work hard. That’s why they’re proud and confident. In wrestling, being uncomfortable is normal and being in tough situations is typical. We don’t need the world to tell us we’re amazing and hardworking because the wrestling community knows that. I think that’s why I enjoy not getting as much recognition as other sports do. The little world of wrestling is the most hardworking world I’ve known and that’s why it’s not the biggest world out there.