From the stands, some people may view wrestling as just two guys on a mat in tight clothing trying to see who is stronger. However, what they don’t see are the weeks I spent perfecting my technique on that move or how many times I had to sprint because I kept messing up the drill. They don’t see the struggle I went through trying to cut weight to be where I am right now. People in the stands don’t see everything that happens behind the scenes. Wrestling is one of the most mentally demanding sports there is because it pushes you in ways that nothing else can.

A lot of people may see wrestling as an “individual sport,” but I have never seen it that way. Yes, when I step onto that mat to wrestle, it’s just me and my opponent. However, it is never really “just me” out there. My teammates and coaches are on the sidelines supporting me and fighting with me. We practice together, we drill together, we sprint together and we learn together. We individually compete together. Even though we don’t compete side by side, we compete because we work together outside of the competition.

One of the things I value most about wrestling is how inclusive it is for everyone. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like or even what kind of challenges you face — on the mat, we are all equals. You could be 106 pounds and skinny or 285 pounds and clumsy; if you work hard, you can go far. Examples of this are Anthony Robles (born with one leg), Anthony Ferraro (blind) and Kyle Maynard (congenital amputation), all with physical disabilities who proved that if you worked hard, you could go far in this sport. Everyone is going through the same grind, practices and challenges. Because of that, there is a level of respect that you don’t often find in other competitive sports. Wrestling brings together all kinds of people and gives them something in common — dedication.

One of the biggest things wrestling has taught me is discipline. There are no shortcuts in this sport. You can’t rely on teammates to carry you. When you step onto the mat, it is just you. That forces you to take responsibility for yourself, your effort and your mindset. When I had to cut 12 pounds in four days for a last-minute out-of-state tournament, I did it because my team needed me to step up or rather step down to a lower weight class. Whether you win, lose or miss or make weight, there’s no one else to blame but yourself. That’s something that carries over into my daily life. When I hear the crowd cheering my name, it makes all the struggle worth it.

Wrestling has also taught me how to deal with failure. You’re not going to win every match. In fact, you’re going to lose … a lot. Sometimes it’s going to hurt. But wrestling doesn’t let you stay down. You must get back up, shake it off, learn from it and go again. That builds a kind of toughness that goes way beyond sports.

For me, wrestling is also personal. It’s where I go to prove something, not just to others, but to myself. It’s how I work hard to make my mom proud of me and for all the hard work she put in to afford and give me the privilege of wrestling. It’s where I learn what I’m capable of. It’s an escape from the negatives of the real world and to channel my anger into passion. When I step on that mat five days a week, I forget every issue for those next two hours. Every practice and every match is a chance to get better, mentally and physically.

At the end of the day, wrestling isn’t just about winning matches. It’s about becoming a stronger, more disciplined and more resilient version of yourself. It’s about growth. That’s why wrestling means so much to me, and why it always will. No matter what I do in life … I’ll do it as a wrestler. It taught me about being part of something bigger than yourself, even when you’re standing on the mat alone.

That’s what wrestling means to me.