Evan Mudgett
🌟 The Final Countdown
The night before the Big Dance! One final night before we hit the pinnacle of the Oklahoma wrestling season, that is the 2024 Oklahoma state tournament. This weekend is sure to be a roller-coaster of emotions, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. I wanted to take a moment to put some thoughts down and maybe share a bit of advice for the wrestlers, the parents and everyone that will be involved this weekend.
🤼♂️🤼♀️ To the Wrestlers:
While you are likely getting those last couple of pounds off and might be feeling a little drained physically, take a second to soak in the moment. The last set of weigh-ins of the year and I promise once you step on that scale for the final time, it will all be worth it in the end. All the morning runs, all the extra sprints, the extra jump-ropes, the extra drilling sessions, all somehow fade into the background and the tunnel-vision of wrestling your best matches ahead takes center stage. As cliché as it sounds, I cant help but love the saying: ‘the hay is in the barn’. All of the hard work is done. The long hours have been put in over the last 4+ months. Now it is time to shine and show everyone why you deserve to stand on that podium Saturday night.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to really take it all in. For some of you this will be the last time you wrestle in the Jim Norick arena. Take a moment to really absorb it all. The good moments, the not so great moments, have all led you to this specific moment and you are meant to be here for a reason. On that same note, no moment is too big or too small. At the end of the day, it is just a wrestling match. You as a person are not defined by the wins or losses. More importantly how you take those wins or losses and move forward will have greater impact on your life than any win or loss can give you.
As someone who struggled with nerves and self-doubt, I urge you put all that in the back of your head and focus on just wrestling to the best of your ability. Leave every ounce of energy on the mat. I promise when you think back on this tournament 10-15 years from now, if you do that, you will have no regrets. No matter how things finish, walk out of that arena on Saturday with your head held high. You are a wrestler, and it takes a special kind of person to carry that title.
👨👩👧👦 To the Parents and Coaches:
You are not immune from the roller-coaster of emotions that will come this weekend. 100% their will be tears that are shed this weekend, both tears of joy and tears of anguish. Parents and coaches, you have put in thousands of hours into these wrestlers and they could never repay you for everything you have given them. But seeing the emotion of your wrestler after they win a big match, somehow makes it all worth it. Actually more than that, the men and women that these wrestlers have become as a direct result of wrestling, that is what makes it all worth it.
If I could ask one small thing from the parents and coaches out there if would be one simple ask: give your wrestler a hug and tell them that you love them. I think we all know that wrestling is an emotional sport and having someone in your corner to help you through those emotions is critical. When I was in high school, my mom wrote me a little card the night before my final tournament. Nothing too deep, just saying that they loved me and how proud they were of me. That was 10 years ago and honestly I still think about that to this day. I know high school kids are too cool for their parents and are weird about emotions, but just that small gesture of a hug and telling them you love ‘em could have a real impact on them. Enjoy all of the moments. Lean on your wrestling family and celebrate with them. No other sport creates a family atmosphere like wrestling.
🌙 The Night Before:
The night before the big dance! You can’t compete to your highest ability if you don’t have enough rest, so rest easy tonight. The journey for the top of that state podium starts tomorrow.
🔔 Final Thoughts:
Embrace every moment, lean on your wrestling family, and regardless of the outcome, walk away with pride. You’ve earned it.
