To me, January is when the real wrestling season starts. You get all the guys back in your line-up, your conference dual schedule goes into full swing, and the end is just around the corner, which can be good or bad depending on how you look at it … and how you finish.
This last week has been a challenge for much of our team. Our coaching staff implemented some changes, and it has been interesting to say the least. One of the better policies they came up with is wearing only our wrestling gear to practices. Now, I am sure there are many teams across the nation that have this in place, but is was very interesting to see all stuff guys were wearing before this policy was implemented into our program, as I am sure you can imagine.
Old high school shirts, soccer and softball tees, and basketball shorts (which I don't know how people wrestle in basketball shorts anyway, but they do) were just a few items we were seeing on a daily basis. I think that being in uniform as a team provides a strong sense of togetherness. We actually look like a team now, instead of a bunch of guys who came to Dana for a year-long camp or something.
It was pretty hilarious though to see what some of the guys came up with who were first or second year members on the team and did not have a lot of gear. They were writing "DANA WRESTLING" on plain white and gray shirts, and even drawing our mascot on the back of them, or putting inspirational quotes on the back.
Willie ParksWe are getting geared up for National Duals, which will be a new experience for many of us. Dana has never been there before, and we hope to make an impact our first trip there. It is a good chance for us to wrestle many teams that we don't dual or even see all year long until nationals, and also a way to see where we are really at on the national scene.
We have been having mandatory two-a-days this last week, which although I have been quite sore from their intensity, I think it is a good thing. Deepening your conditioning is never a bad thing, and it gives the younger guys a chance to see what it takes to really make an impact. I mean, many of the guys on our team are wondering why we have to have two workouts a day, and they don't understand the best guys never settle for less than two workouts a day, be it running, drilling, wrestling, lifting, or whatever.
All I can say is that I am getting amped up about the next two months. Two months and many guys, including me, will be wrestling in their last collegiate tournament. I look forward to making the best out of the next two months, doing anything I can to make myself and my team better.
Coach Costanzo told us the other day, "You have to know that you have gotten better today and done everything you can to get better before you go to bed. If you haven't, you better get your butt out of bed and go get it done." I am not looking forward to realizing I didn't do everything I could have that day and getting out of bed to go do it, but I know that is what it takes, and I will do it when the time comes. Remember, the only one you really have to blame is yourself. No one else. So get out of bed and go get it done.
Until next time, keep getting better.
Marshall Marquardt
Past Entries:
Entry 7 (12/28/05)
Entry 6 (12/7/05)
Entry 5 (11/23/05)
Entry 4 (11/9/05)
Entry 3 (10/26/05)
Entry 2 (10/13/05)
Entry 1 (10/1/05)
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