From the Manteca (CA) Bulletin
No pain, no gain
Life on the mat is extremely tough
Wrestling is a very versatile word.
It can mean pain, anguish, defeat, victory and honor all in the same breath.
It just depends on how good you are.
If you are Jake Varner, the nation’s No. 1 ranked 189-pounder from Bakersfield High — wrestling means triumph and greatness above all others.
If you are an 88-pound junior varsity wrestler who’s been bumped up to wrestle 112 pounds at the varsity level because of a void in the roster (I have seen it happen) — wrestling means suffering and trauma.
But then again, if you just watched your team with no seniors and a first-year varsity squad finish second in a 10-team tournament (Weston Ranch head coach Pat King) — wrestling means pride and a sense of accomplishment.
But of course if you coach at Denair or Hilmar — wrestling means habitual losses in front of your home crowd.
Wrestling can be defined in many ways, but the most popular definition by area coaches is ‘the toughest sport.’
Collecting comparisons
These coaches have a good point.
Wrestling is the only high school sport where coaches can be quoted for saying “it’s good for you, “when wrestlers complain of pains or aches.
It’s the only sport without a finish-line or ball, as everything that happens depends solely on what the individuals accomplish against each other.
Wrestling is the only sport that requires use of every muscle in the body, including the brain.
Wrestlers train harder and work harder in practice than any other sports.
It’s because wrestling in practice — whether drills, matches or situation wrestling — must be done in full speed to truly train an athlete.
“I would definitely say that it is the toughest sport and not only because of the physical aspect, “Manteca coach Ryan Vargus said. “It is a lot more mentally demanding because you always have to be on your toes.
“It is the hardest six minutes of your life.”
It’s the concept of training for this sport that separates wrestling from any other activity.
Only wrestling is a perfect training method for accomplishments later in life, as wrestlers that want to be good must watch what they eat and work out.
Cutting weight
Wrestlers live two lives.
There’s the offseason wrestler: Carefree, unrestricted and always up for that second helping of frito pie.
But the mid-season wrestler is another person.
Grumpy and angry, the wrestler scowls at his friends as they consume huge burritos in the cafeteria during lunchtime, as he eats a banana and drinks a small glass or orange juice.
Making weight is an intricate part of wrestling, and can make or break the careers of some.
Firebaugh’s Paul Ruiz, ranked No. 1 in the state in 2004 (103 pounds) was prepped for his first state championship last year before he failed to make weight at his league tournament.
A little bit closer to home, last year, it was 2003 Valley Oak League champion Bryan Williams (ranked in state), who failed to make to 112-pound division at the second day of the sub section meet, ending his hopes at his first state berth.
These situations happen every year, and represent a constant struggle between a wrestler and his or her appetite.
“I always say wrestling builds character, “coach King said. “It teaches self discipline that you need to conduct if you want to be successful.”
Science class 101
In order to find actual evidence that wrestling is the most grueling and difficult of all high school sports, I asked Ripon assistant volunteer coach Tom Owens about muscle use in wrestling.
Owens, a wrestling coach of 11 years and somewhat of an expert on wrestling, fitness and cutting weight, had some good things to say.
According to Owens, most physical activities are cyclic, which means that they require using the same muscles over and over. These activities (like swimming, running) enable the muscles to develop an equilibrium, get into a rhythm.
Wrestling is an acyclic activity, which requires muscle use at varying intervals. Muscles will perform quick burst of strength, not allowing any sort of equilibrium and tiring the muscles much faster.
“Football and boxing are close to the kind of acyclic activity that wrestling is, “Owens said. “But wrestling requires the use of every single muscle in an explosive way.”
By IKE DODSON
Staff reporter of the Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Wrestling Gear
