What motivates a high school athlete? High school, especially now, is a daunting time for teenagers. Especially for those who engage in extracurriculars. It is a slew of daunting commitments, months long. It adds around an hour to their school day, takes weekends, takes summers. It all around is an all encompassing commitment. So, what keeps them motivated? Last week I spoke to a few wrestlers who were gracious enough to grant me their time not only during the school day, but after practice as well.
Before I dive into individual statements, I would first like to touch base on the unanimous mindset of the team and coaches. Hard work and positive reinforcement are core values of the team, mirroring that of the school in general. When asked about advice from their coaches, and just the general environment, they laughed and looked at each other before one quote in particular was brought up. Coach Rich says, “Once you wrestle, everything in life is easy.”And I believe this rings true for a lot of these boys. The reason they perform so well, remain so committed, is not only because of good leadership. But because of what wrestling means to them.
Tucker Daniels, 15, told me that wrestling means so much to him because of his father. “My Dad is what pushes me to be my best,” because he wants to make him proud. Javon Freeman, 17, stated that seeing his name on the wall, at Bristow if you win state your photograph is hung on the wall, is what he wants. To leave something behind, proof of how good he was. Cain Clay, 17, cited, “not qualifying when he should have,”as his motivation. He holds himself to a higher standard, and is seemingly acutely aware of what he can achieve.
All these boys have different reasons, but reasons nonetheless. That is what makes a good athlete. The ability to push yourself, to keep yourself motivated. Being good does nothing if you lack the motivation to get out there and do it. Bristow knows this too. According to the boys, Coach Roebuck is a huge motivation as well, pouring on tough love and words of encouragement at exactly the right moments. “Don’t get too high on a win, don’t get too low on a loss,” says Coach Roebuck. A constant reminder to keep yourself grounded.
The wrestlers have plenty of advice to share as well, each of them telling me what guidance they would give other wrestlers. Which only highlighted what wrestling as a sport boils down to. Never take a day off, do the extra work, and the effervescent demand that you never give up.This is what sets these boys, and high school level athletes in general aside. They take the already demanding workload that is high school, and add an entirely, more complicated, set of requirements for themselves. And they stay motivated. Almost all of these boys will go on to wrestle through their Senior year. Not because they have to, but because they want to.