Grit, sweat, and heart are what compose a wrestler to a different standard than the rest. To be a wrestler is to be a different breed. From inner strength and passion is where success happens. The deliberate hours in the weight room, and on the mat to become stronger is what comes to mind when considering the performance of a wrestler, but no one takes into recognition the mental strength that sets a winner apart from a champion.  

Outsiders and those unfamiliar with the sport only show interest when it comes to the match and the outcome. But to be a wrestler is not only physically challenging but it’s mentally exhausting from the fight against your own weight, the physical strain your body endures constantly, then the burnout. The mind must be trained to allow a wrestler to keep going, and the passion provides support to continue.  

The pain from the competition doesn’t compare to the battle against yourself. Constantly you are fighting your weight and your mind. Wrestlers must rework their whole routine, diet, and mindset to succeed. Wrestlers become their own toughest opponent.