1. Composure/Emotional control- It is 14 inches from the heart and head. Those two things must be working together to allow the wrestler to perform at his/her peak emotionally and physically.
2. Trust- Trust is the foundation of success. Trusting in your teammates, coaches and the plan in place.
3. Family- Wrestling is family, we lift each other up. We carry our teammates on our back. We are one team, one goal, one machine.
4. Aggression/Initiator- We attack. We score first and often. We push the pace in a match. We hammer the opponent. We win!
5. Competitive Greatness- The desire, determination and dedication to be great at what you do. It cannot be talked about, it has to be done and accomplished by the individual and the team.
6. Intelligence- The aptitude to understand your body, mind and soul. The ability to read, write, talk, speak and react in real life situations. Grades are important. Learning is important.
7. Mental Toughness- Finding a way to give what’s needed in the midst of great discomfort. Pain is temporary. Are you bigger than the aches and pains? How tough can you be when things are on the line?
8. Leadership Characteristics- Leadership is a learned skill. It can be loud or quiet. It can be behind the scenes or in your face. It is an example of doing what is expected at all times, even when someone is not watching you. Leadership is required of teams and organizations. Leadership sets the tone for success, accountability and results.
9. Physical Toughness– A great wrestler is physically tough. They do not let small things like achy joints, shoulders, knees or at times major injuries get in the way of success. They push through the pain and discomfort to attain goals and help the team.
10. Spiritual Toughness– Great wrestlers are spiritually aware of a higher grace and power than them. They pray for their teammates, coaches and community. They are faithful and stand strong in times of despair offering hope by being a light to the others and the world around them.
11. Hygiene- Great wrestlers have excellent personal hygiene. They take pride in the way they look, dress and stay clean. They protect themselves from infection, disease by staying clean, wearing clean clothes and making good decisions.
12. Academics– Great wrestlers are good students. They learn in class and lead in class. Academics have to be as important as the mat. It is the foundation that will carry you beyond your wrestling career and into life.
13. Willingness to Learn– Great wrestlers listen to people around them that have knowledge to share. They listen and learn from others. They watch videos, research opponents, listen to coaches and those that have their backs.
14. Execution– Great wrestlers execute moves. They are like a machine and teach their body to complete moves without thought. They react and take what they are given during a match. They “FINISH” the move and win!
15. Get Results– Great wrestlers get results on the mat and in life. They do not make excuses. They do not panic when things are hard. They never quit on themselves or their teams.
Great wrestlers typically end up great dads, husbands, wives, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, family people and business leaders. Wrestling is bigger than life and is life. It prepares you for the future and gives you the skill set to take down life, execute your moves and pin it for the win!
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