"The Perfect Wrestler"
(Part One)
Today, I am going to give you my perceptions of the qualities that the perfect high school wrestler should possess.
At Practice . . .
The perfect wrestler is constantly moving, be it drills, the workout session, running in place, etc. He is non-stop throughout the entire practice - an example by "doing" for other team members to follow.
During instructional time, he is listening intently to the coach's every word, and is not afraid to ask questions when confused by a point made. If there is a maneuver he would like to perfect, he will jot down the major points of the move, and drill on it every chance he gets at practice. The perfect wrestler knows that proper drill work (repeated over and over again) produces perfection.
He concludes the workout by practicing all the hygiene procedures necessary to avoid the many infections that now exist.
At Home . . .
The perfect wrestler stays on a strict weight management plan, which allows him to eat wholesome foods that will give him the endurance power he needs during the rigors of a tough match (6:00 pm to 6:30 pm).
After supper, he will devote approximately two hours (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) to his studies. The perfect wrestler is also the ideal student-athlete.
He then devotes the next hour (8:30 pm to 9:30 pm) to conditioning. When possible, running outside with jog and sprint intervals. During inclement weather, he runs in place, utilizing the same intervals in doors.
Three of those nights (M-W-F), he cuts the running in half and devotes 30 minutes to lifting weights for endurance strength (10 to 20 reps per station), an important prerequisite for muscle power that lasts the duration of a grueling six-minute (or more) match.
After that, he takes ashower to cool down, and says a short prayer thanking God for giving you the physical attributes to participate in sports, and then hits the sack.
At School . . .
Remember, the main purpose of school is to acquire a well-rounded education, which includes your fullest attention in class. The perfect wrestler knows this, has properly prepared for every day, and knows how to take notes on the main points stressed by the teacher, and does not hesitate to ask questions.
Basically, it's the same dedicated procedure you developed for honing your wrestling skills at practice. But in school, the perfect wrestler concentrates entirely on cerebral development.
At Competition . . .
Win or lose, the perfect wrestler listens to his coach's words of wisdom. He also self-critiques his performance in the match - what he did right and what he needs to improve upon. He is intuitive enough to realize that "thinking before reacting" is cause for more "drill" time, so such moves become "instinctive" during dual meet and tournament competition.
He also shows strong character, not only by demonstrating positive sportsmanship traits after his match - win or lose, but also by supporting his teammates as they compete on the mats.
Next week, I will give a brief outline in reference to the perfect wrestler's activities and training routine during the off-season months.
I hope you're taking notes!