Growing up in Rock Falls, Illinois, Mike Mena was just like any other boy “¦or was he different?
“I was told I was a bad kid,” said Mike, remembering his earlier years. “I remember teachers and parents referring to me as a bad kid. What is a third or fourth grader supposed to think when he is hearing this? Did that give me an excuse to be disruptive in class and to be aggressive with others? I didn’t know?”
“There is a medical/psychological diagnosis for every problem or situation,” said Mike. “And, unfortunately, there are quick fix alternatives that are not necessarily the first method that should be explored. I am not a medical doctor so I can only give you the experiences I have dealt with in my personal life and the lives of others I have been involved with.”
“With my competitiveness and aggressiveness escalating my father found a solution that would work best with my condition. “Manual Medicine,” as Mike refers to it, “WRESTLING!” What was his condition? A kid with a lot of energy and no place to channel it.
“When I first started wrestling it was great. I had a place to go and exhaust myself. A place where sometimes I was handing out a beating, sometimes getting my butt handed to me”¦ I loved it.” Mike was able to channel his aggression and competitive energy in a place where those traits are not only required but necessary. On a wrestling mat, wrestling other kids.
“When I would leave practice I felt great,” said Mike, “I was able to go home and focus on things better. I found it was easier to do my homework and sit still in class. I didn’t have that aggression that was causing problems; I was saving that for practice. I couldn’t wait till the end of the day so I could go wrestle,” Laughs Mike.
“Because I was so young I had no idea what the long term positive effects wrestling was going to have in my life,” said Mike. “Wrestling has been a model for me to learn a positive way to alter my lifestyle and be able to use my God-given talents. I learned composure, discipline, goal setting and sacrifice. All these values transfer from a wrestling mat to real life and I use them everyday.”
“We are all works in progress,” said Mike. “Everyday I strive to be a better father, husband, Christian, friend and a coach.”
Something else Mike mentioned to me was that when he was younger people didn’t think he would amount to much.
Let me give you a partial list of what this “Bad Kid who won’t amount to much” has done:
Mike Mena is a member of the Iowa Stalkers. Mena helped The Stalkers win the Team Championship in Season 1, Real Pro Wrestling’s inaugural season. Individually, Mena finished in the top four of the 121-pound division.
Currently, Mike Mena is in his sixth season as an assistant coach for the Indiana wrestling program. Mena moved to Indiana after spending three years training with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club after graduation, coached by the legendary Dan Gable. He operated his own youth wrestling school full-time, where he coached several state and national champions.
He has now helped coach six IU wrestlers to All-American status, more than 15 NCAA Qualifiers and helped bring IU its first NCAA Champion since 1990. Mena has helped lead the Hoosiers to a top-10 and top-five finish at the NCAA and Big Ten Championships, respectively, in 2005. Mena has also seen 18 athletes go through the program that have been named to the Academic All-Big Ten team and four named NWCA Academic All-Americans.
Mena first made the U.S. National team in 1999, claiming the bronze medal at the U.S. World Team Trials in Seattle, Wash. In the 2000 Olympic Qualification International Tournament in Mexico, Mena won gold, ensuring the U.S. would qualify the 119-pound weight class to the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Mena is a three-time U.S. freestyle national team member, earning that status by finishing in the top three at the U.S. World Team Trials in 1999, 2001 and 2003. At the 2004 USA Olympic trials in Indianapolis, Ind., Mena finished seventh. Additionally, he has placed six times at the U.S. senior level freestyle National Championships.
Mena graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in art. At Iowa, he was a four-time All-American with a career record of 118-24. He was a national finalist in 1997 and captured a Big Ten title in 1995. Mena also was a three-time Big Ten Finalist and won Midland titles in 1994 and 1995.
Mena was an important part of three national championship teams and served as a co-captain at Iowa in 1997. That season, Mena helped lead the Hawkeyes to a Division I NCAA Champion record for most team points scored (172).
Mena, 30, is a native of Rock Falls, Ill., where he is a graduate of Newman Central Catholic H.S. Mena is the only four-time undefeated state champion in the history of Illinois wrestling. He finished his career with a 157-0-1 record. While in high school, Mena earned first-team All-America status as an underclassman. He also was a member of the Cadet and Junior World Teams. In addition, Mena played football on the 1991 State Championship team.
Mena and his wife Kayle reside in Bloomington with their three daughters, Elisia, Makaley and Gracie.
So much for being labeled a “bad kid.” My hat is off to you Mike.
Mike’s advice for youth
Step outside your comfort level and make yourself do things you don’t want to do”¦this develops mental toughness. This could be used in wrestling, school, church etc”¦ Strive for excellence! Don’t compromise success!
Advice for parents
Hold your child to high academic standards. Become involved in their life and work together with them.
Advice for coaches
Venture out and attend camps and clinics. This will allow you to learn and improve your coaching styles and philosophies.
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