I believe that I am continually learning new things in wrestling. Be it new technique, training methods, or strategies, I am always learning. I think even the best wrestlers in the world would agree with me that they are still striving to learn new things as well, only to become even better at the sport they love.
I bring this up because I recently competed in my first tournament of the year -- the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our team headed out there the Wednesday before the tournament because we were to dual Embry-Riddle and Montana-State Northern on Thursday, before the tournament gets started on Friday morning. The week was somewhat of a struggle, as it seemed the flu bug (or something close to it) was sweeping across our team. From one guy to the next, it seemed as if we were all affected somehow, but we all pushed through it, struggling at times, but pushing on nonetheless.
We wrestled Embry-Riddle and got off to a very rocky start. We dropped the first three matches and were down a quick 12-0. Luckily, we picked it up in the end, winning six of the 10 total matches and winning the dual meet, 25-17. When were not very happy with our performance as a team, but I was feeling fairly well, getting a major decision over my guy and watching our 184-pound wrestler Willie Parks demolish the top-ranked guy, 14-7.
After wrestling Embry-Riddle, we put it behind us and prepared for Montana State-Northern. This was a very big dual for us as a team, since Dana College has never beaten Montana State-Northern in a dual. We wanted to beat them bad and it showed. We won eight of the 10 matches, winning the dual meet by a score of 35-9. It was a big win for us, especially since we struggled a little against Embry Riddle, but we had to start thinking about the tournament ahead.
Marshall MarquardtWhen I am wrestling, I don't ever really pay attention to other matches going on throughout the tournament, but I had the chance to after being eliminated. I watched many matches over the next day, and I was glad I got the opportunity. I picked up so many things, one which was just plain intensity. Some may say, "How can you not be intense on the mat?" But it's not like that. I think we are all intense when we step on the line and get ready to wrestle, but some of the guys I watched had another level of intensity I had just never seen before. It was awesome to watch, but even better to think that I could wrestle like that. I don't know why it took me five years to really "see" this, but I'm glad I did.
I know now that I have to go into everything I do and train at this newfound intensity. It isn't something that you can just walk onto the mat and wrestle like that, because I am sure you would get pretty tired. You have to train your body for that intensity and be mentally ready for what lies ahead in every match. You have to go into that match knowing you won't get scored upon and that you will be the victor in the end. You really so have to "Train like a madman". I used to think this was just some crazy saying on a Brands brothers poster, but it's true. To be the best, you have to train with the utmost intensity, and have partners that will reciprocate that intensity.
Until next time, keep getting better.
Marshall Marquardt
Past Entries:
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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