We have to do better as a wrestling community.

I want to speak today about something that is really bugging me. I saw several posts about VAC All-Americans and how a Gold Pool All-American is all that matters. First off, you can't control who you wrestle or when. Duals are a team sport. Secondly, at what point did the sport of wrestling become so toxic that parents aren't allowed to celebrate their kids? At the end of the day, the one of the one of the one will make the Olympic and World teams. There isn't any professional league like the NBA or the NFL. Very few kids will actually be rewarded monetarily for wrestling, yet parents spend a ton of money chasing this "Status" and if it isn't the right one, people look down on them for it. Something is wrong here. We have truly as a community lost sight on what is truly important in the sport of wrestling. Wrestling builds quality human beings. Builds a work ethic, sportsmanship, accountability to name a few. A lot of people who are now doctors, lawyers, musicians, actors, entrepreneurs, you name it wrestled in high school. It helped them become who they were ultimately supposed to be. So, to look down on an elementary or middle school aged kid because they made "All-American" in the wrong pool is just ridiculous. That may just be what keeps that kid in the sport and who knows what he or she will become from there. As a community, we have got to do better. In the past several years the sport (especially at the youth level) has become so toxic. Celebrate the big and small accomplishments alike. Do you remember being an eight-year-old kid? You felt awesome simply repping your school track ribbon. To kids these things (that mainly other parents look down on), are big deals to the kids themselves. Support one another. It really is that simple.  So, to wrap up this rant, here are words to the wise. "If you don't have anything positive to say, don't say anything at all." 

Jesse Drennen

$Bmoney Beastin' Athletics LLC. 

www.bmoneybeastin.com