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I've written many types of articles to date: city councils, school boards, committee meetings you name it! Heck I've gotten my first jury trial under my belt. Each story I've written has always had something that stood out to me.
However, one favorite part of writing for the Dodgeville Chronicle, is being able to cover a sport I truly love. Wrestling.
Wrestling is one of those sports that not only are you wrestling to score team points, but you are also wrestling on an individual standpoint. You are testing yourself constantly, and pushing yourself to get better each week. It's also a sport where anything can happen. You could be down five points in the first period, and you have to find ways to score points: okay an escape can get me one point, a reversal can get me two. Any mistake you make can cost you a match.
I could talk about the ways to score points in wrestling for hours, but that's not what this editorial is about. I grew up with wrestling in my family. I had cousins that were state champions (Hi Todd and Tony!), my brother wrestled, and I have a nephew in elementary school that is learning what it's like to step on the mat.
I was a wrestling cheerleader in high school, and I had the great privilege to see many wrestlers advance their way to the Kohl Center. The excitement and intensity in each match are experiences that I can't simply describe.
It dawned on me while at the Kohl Center, that it was ten years ago when I cheered on my team for the last time. Wrestling is one of those sports that constantly challenges you, helps you learn how to face adversity and teaches you how to be a better person on and off the mat. I was happy to be down in the arena once again and cover a sport I love so much.
To our area wrestlers that competed at state this past weekend: I extend many congratulations. You've achieved something that many wrestlers haven't been able to. To the wrestlers that hadn't made it: don't hold your head down. I can argue that you won so much more than the chance to stand on the podium. You won the qualities of teamwork, dedication and perserverance. Those are qualities that make you a champion.