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    Corey Ruff •

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    Rev Blog Entry 9: Corey Ruff, UW-La Crosse

    What does it take to win a national title? Most people would respond using cliche words like perseverance, determination, persistence, commitment, etc. Yeah, those are some very important characteristics a wrestler must possess if he is to accomplish anything at the collegiate level. But what if you have 30 individual athletes competing for one national title as a team? What does that take? Well, every coach has his own recipe, but all I can tell you is that it takes more than 30 athletes with characteristics like the one's that I mentioned above. Now, not everyone will agree with that. Some people may think that talent alone will get you to the top. Some may think that the coaching staff is most vital. But the truth is, it is so much more than that. Let's get to the recipe our team has.

    Aside from the wrestlers and coaches, we have tremendous support from the outside. Be it girlfriends, wives, parents, other family members, friends, club wrestlers, forum backers, professors, media, past coaches, managers, or our training staff -- these people understand what we put ourselves through hour after hour, day after day, year after year. They see the high points and help us celebrate them. More importantly, they ground us with reminders on the importance of being humble at these times. They are also present for the lows and guided us through them by giving a much needed hug, a slap in the face, or a kick in the cahones. Well, at least that was the metaphorical phrases our coaching staff used one evening.

    Our administration is also a key cog in our chain of success. They gave us an opportunity to chase our dream of winning a national title with the rehiring of Nate Skaar late last summer. Sure, this team may have handled yet another coaching change, but I am not as certain it would have performed up to its fullest potential. Administration realized the students involved with our organization were important. They listened to their requests, and in my opinion, turned a messy situation into a non-issue. Without their support, we might be talking about "what could have been" at the end of this season.

    Scott Dorn
    If I sound a touch arrogant about our chances of winning it all, please know that I am not. No doubt, we are the underdog when you are talking about beating the likes of the studded lineup that Wartburg is throwing on the mat this weekend. Augsburg has proven they will contend for a title every single season. And there are other teams that have hopes of dethroning the 'Burgs as well. But what we have is unique. It is special because we have so many intangibles that I have not seen on any team in my 25 years of wrestling.

    This team has been through so much that I feel like no mountain is too high to climb. When you see our fans and wrestlers wearing maroon and white t-shirts this weekend, take a close look at the names on the back. They are not limited to the 10 national qualifiers competing in the event. It has the name of every single wrestler on our roster. That is what a team effort is all about. It is not limited to these 10 individuals competing. If we were not so afraid of forgetting someone, we would have the names of every person responsible for making us into the men we are today.

    One thing is certain. Whether we are holding gold, silver, bronze, or nothing at all above our heads Saturday night … we will be regret free. We will have hundreds of stories to share at our social gathering following the event. The topics I look forward to hearing about are the "Hammer," the mushroom stamp, Skaar's lack of navigation skills, Billy feeling disrespected by a tournament director, Lulloff's inability to stay in a game of dodgeball after the first ball is thrown, Skaar's super-human ability to bench press people off the planet, my perfectly executed escape route on Day and Adams, all the countless antics that take place prior to practice, and all the other hours of laughter that I am temporarily blanking on.

    Scott Dorn
    What I am really looking forward to are the hugs. This sport that consumes us all has almost reached its ending point for the season. After that final whistle has been blown, it will then be time to grab the people responsible for our success, make a toast, and maybe even shed a few tears. I, for one, have been fighting the tears all year long. Hey, this is the most emotional sport there is … so I feel no shame. We are thought of as barbarians in the public's eye, but when you get to the essence of this team you will see that there is more moral fiber than anyone could imagine.

    Although this blog basically states it, I can not help but mention how deeply I care for you all. Barsness, Kuchnia, Allen -- you will be greatly missed in the coming seasons of UW-La Crosse wrestling. Your efforts are what really started this whole thing. You gave this team its image, and I strive to continue what you have started.

    I will end with what someone wrote on our board this week…

    "UWL National Champions … JUST SAY IT … IT SOUNDS PERFECT"

    BTW, where the hell is Dorn?

    Corey Ruff

    Past UW-La Crosse Entries:

    Entry 8 (2/17/06)
    Entry 7 (1/27/06)
    Entry 6 (12/19/05)
    Entry 5 (12/1/05)
    Entry 4 (11/16/05)
    Entry 3 (11/3/05)
    Entry 2 (10/19/05)
    Entry 1 (10/10/05)
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