Wrestling: A Sport of Champions

   Jesse Ventura, the professional wrestler, once said, “Wrestling is ballet with violence.”  Like ballet, wrestling requires great skill and strength, but wrestling is a lot more than strength of body. Wrestling is a great all around sport for three reasons. Wrestling is sport that gets you into shape, it is a sport that develops a strong mind, and it is a sport that builds teamwork and values.

            Wrestling is great sport because it gets one into shape. To wrestle, one must be able to have strength and stamina. Socrates once said, “I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler.” Some wrestlers must be able to lift a 250 pound man off of his body. Another might have to be in the constant motion of getting thrown down and getting back up. Having to train for wrestling is very demanding on the body, making wrestlers have some of the toughest bodies around. Not only must a wrestler have a sound body, but he must have a tough mind.

            Wrestling is a great sport because it toughens one’s mind. While wrestling, you may be getting pinned by someone who is stronger, more experienced, and bigger than you.  When you are in this position, tired and in pain, you must be able to have the strength of mind to not give up and fight to the very last second. A wrestlers mind must be focused and ready to fight against the fear before a match. Many say that 90 percent of the time, the mentally tougher person will win the wrestling match. Any wrestler with a strong, disciplined mind will be ready to go out into the world. Wrestling develops people with strong minds that also have learned about teamwork and values.

            Wrestling is a great sport because it teaches one about teamwork and values that are used not only on the wrestling mat, but in life to come. When you are watching someone else wrestle on your team, you cheer them on to victory. Before a wrestling match, the whole team gets together to give a cheer to the person who is wrestling next. Besides teamwork, values like sportsmanship and perseverance are taught on a wrestling team. After wrestling matches, high fives and sometimes hugs are exchanged to tell the other wrestler he did a great job.

            These are the reasons wrestling is a great sport. Wrestling develops strong bodies and even stronger minds, and builds values and teamwork. Some might ridicule the sport and call it a game of violence and cruelty, but wrestling is a sport that builds people into greatness. Dan Gable summed it up when he said, “Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”