John J Harris

We just got back from the the John J Harris Tournament held in Corning Iowa.  This was the first time we have been to this tournament.  Last year we went to the Herb Ingres tournament instead.
Here are a few of my thoughts about the tournament.  I thought the seating was better than the Herb Ingres, it was tight but better.  The format was something we were not used to.  First off if you were in a pigtail you had to win to make the tournament.  If you lost you were done.  Next if you lost the first round you may also be done you have to wait to see if the guy that beat you won.  If he did then you move on if he did not you were going home.  This took out four of our guys the first night.  So we came back on Saturday with 7 guys.  Out of our 7 guys we lost 4 the first round.  So three guys placed.  One champ, a 3rd place and 5th place finisher  for the weekend.  As a team we placed 11 out 22 teams.  Which is not to bad considering only 4 guys scored us any team points.
It is crucial for the time of year that we do what we can to move on, not just as an individual but as a team.  I think a few guys have decided to through in the towel on the season.  Which is sad and disturbing.  I hope we can get them back and ready to go and I hope it is not to far gone.  Right now the guys that are wrestling well are doing the right things with their training.  Some guys have some tough bumps to get through.  Conference Tournament is this weekend as well.  Some guys get to see if they have improved or stayed the same.  I think we have a good chance of placing in the top half of the conference but it is not going to be easy.  We got to get some upsets as well as get some guys in the lineup to win.  

4 Weeks left.

Well, we are 4 weeks away from the deciding factor, the State Districts.  With this being our first year in 3A this will be new for us.  Otherwise we would only have 3 weeks left.  I am happy with the way the season is going.  I was very disappointed at first with the numbers and the turn out of kids.  I thought that we would have bigger numbers as well as some returners.  But as it goes things and kids change their minds.  This is a good thing in some aspects.  As coaches we are always trying to teach our kids some life skills to make them better men when they leave us.  And there are some important decisions that effect them later on.  Now let's be real here, them deciding that they are not going to wrestle anymore is not a life altering decision, but it does hold some references to their future.  It is priorities.  As humans our priorities change.  This is true with athletes as well.  Some of these guys this was their life and identity for so many years that they thought they would die without wrestling in their life, well good news they are still alive.  Now I am betting that you are wondering what the heck this is wrestling we are talking about everything revolves around wrestling.  True, it does.  The point I am making here is that we are all on journey to reach a certain path.  In 4 weeks some paths will lead to the state tournament and others will be blocked or destroyed.  A lot of great kids will never see that goal come about.  That is why it is important that we do everything we can to get there.  Now will it feel like the end of the world? Yes.  Will the sun come up in the morning? Yes.  Will we always wonder what it?  Yes.  So the key for the next month will be making sure we are doing everything we can to make it to Vets.  Putting ourselves in the best possible scenario to reach that goal. 

Happy New Year.

What does this mean to you?  To me it means the reflection to a lot of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, success and failures.  I really enjoy this time of the year.  It is a nice way to look back on all the things you have accomplished and all the things that may have fallen short of your grasp.  The good thing about reflection is the opportunity to correct what may have gone wrong or may have slipped out of the grasp.  We did not end 2010 very well at all.  Placing 6th in the Tiger/Knight compared to champions a year ago.  The good news is that it is over and officially the start of a new wrestling year.  As competitors we have to look at this as fresh start.  If we are on track of reaching the goals we have set then great time to step up the pace.  IF we are not then perfect what better than a fresh start again time to step up the pace.  A lot of things can happen from now until the second week in February.  Now is the time to step up and reach for your goals.  YOU are the ones in control of this, YOU are the ones that have to test yourselves, YOU are the ones that have to measure yourself day in and out,  ask YOURSELF AM I JUST SAYING IT OR AM I GOING TO DO IT!  Gotta love Nike.  JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!