Personal Narrative: Losing

Let me be the first to admit that I am not a great wrestler.
When I first started, I didn’t expect to be a state champion right off the bat--but that didn’t mean I didn’t have grandeur dreams of having that heavy gold medal dangle from my neck. My realistic views definitely didn’t mean I wouldn’t feel this sick, aching hollowness in my stomach every time I lost yet another match. In my mind, there was no excuse to lose to anyone. Not if they’re last year’s state champion or thirty pounds heavier than me--there was always a way to win. My coach used to tell us, “Winning is easy. Losing is hard.” And he was so, so right. Losing hurt. Losing hurt, and I can remember the exact match where I vowed I was never going to lose again. Obviously I wasn’t …show more content…
Losing meant two miles after practice. Losing meant drilling the same takedown over and over and over again until my knees ached and Coach Dean nodded at me, and practicing it again until I had satisfied myself. Losing meant learning everything I possibly could about wrestling--how many fingers can I grab and bend back, when to drive forward, when to pull back, how hard to head-tap, how to sprawl. Losing meant learning that I needed to ask questions sometimes, and that it was okay to need help. It taught me to pay attention to every detail, to relax in a stressful situation so I could better control myself. It taught me that if I wanted something, I was going to have to work my hardest for everything I wanted and to never give up, no matter how tired I was, how sore I was, how hurt I was, no matter how much easier it would have been to just sit down and quit. Losing meant realizing I will have to risk perhaps a thousand losses before a single win. But it also taught me that when I get that win, it will be the sweetest treat I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. It taught me that if I wanted something, I was going to have to be willing to go the extra mile and fight my way to the top, if need