From the Chattanoogan newspaper in (you guessed it) http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_60048.asp
Ferris Robinson: Watching My Sons Wrestle
by Ferris Robinson
posted December 17, 2004
When my three sons were young, and just starting out in tee-ball and the very first level of sports, my husband said, “I am all for them doing any sport, but I just hope none of them choose wrestling. It is so hard it’s incredible.” This was spoken from mouth of a man who played football and suffered the usual gashes and bruises and breaks associated with it. Apparently this contact sport is not in the same league as wrestling, in his opinion.
And even though my husband did everything he could to discourage this sport, all three of my sons wrestle. My youngest, the one I paid good money to send to basketball camp, recently chose wrestling over basketball. He is in his first season, and lost his challenge match in record time. He was pinned in about eight seconds, and took it very, very hard.
I hissed to my husband, “I told you he should have stayed with basketball!”
He said simply, “He’ll be alright. Look at Robby.”
And I look at my middle son, who has a spot on the varsity team right now. He has wrestled for years and years, and as he told his brother after his loss, “You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve been pinned. You stay with it, and you’ll start winning.”
And I think back on the times Robby went out on the mat, and I could see his little shoulder blades straining with all his might to stay off that mat. And time after time I felt deflated when the ref smacked the mat hard, signifying my sons defeat. And I could see on his face that this defeat was not the same as losing a tennis match or a soccer game. This was on the level of having his manhood challenged, then losing in front of a crowd of people roaring with triumph at his loss.
But this middle son kept at it. Never, no matter how many matches he lost, did he ever mention quitting.
And I can see things that he will always have because of this sport. He has little medals from tournaments he placed in, and we have most of his matches on film. It is hard to feel too down and out after watching yourself succeed in a hard-fought battle on the wrestling mat.
And I see things that he will always be because of wrestling. He has a firsthand understanding perseverance, and how it pays off. I could hear it in his voice when he encouraged his little brother to stick it out.
He has learned sportsmanship. I see him give the opponent who just humiliated him a nod of his head and a firm handshake, when I, the grownup, feel like throwing headgear and bursting into tears.
He has learned a work ethic that I never could have taught him at home. He has sacrificed his “late day” to work out in the weight room with the team; he went to wrestling camp instead of going to the beach last summer; he missed the big school dance so he could wrestle in a tournament.
He may not see it as perseverance and hard work. He sees it as an honor to have a spot on the varsity team. And if my youngest son can gain these qualities through this sport, I can stand to watch him lose a few matches.
(Ferris Robinson can be reached at [email protected])
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