Ask Cael: I wanted to wrestle in college extremely bad but the chances of reinjury and seriously damaging either one of my previously broken arms is staggering. I want to be dedicated to a sport, like I was to wrestling, but I don’t know what. What do wrestlers do when they can’t wrestle anymore?

Story Published Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

question: Dear Cael, Wrestling has done wonders for me for the past four years. I started as a freshman then, as a sophomore, made it to the state finals but lost. This was one of the greatest moments of my life. All I wanted to do was get a title, so I worked hard, ran many miles, attended intense camp and off-season tournaments, and weight lifted. Junior year rolls around and during the state tournament, I dislocated and broke my left elbow in two different places. It was heartbreaking to have my season ended short. For the next 12 weeks I had to undergo intense physical therapy to rehabilitate my arm. It was hard to get back on the mat after such a terrible injury. Senior year rolls around and everything is looking great for states. I was undefeated and ranked very high. Right about district time, I dislocated my right elbow during another match… End of season and career. I wanted to wrestle in college extremely bad but the chances of reinjury and seriously damaging either one of my previously broken arms is staggering. It has been really hard to deal with falling short of your goals. I believe that everything has a reason and that God has a plan, but it is very hard to see that now. I want to be dedicated to a sport, like I was to wrestling, but I don’t know what. What do wrestlers do when they can’t wrestle anymore?
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I don’t think you ever stop “wrestling.”
Wrestling is competing, working hard, pushing yourself, never being satisfied, and just simply refusing to be anything but the very best you can be. Attack your next goal and all the other aspects of your life with that same wrestler’s mentality and you will be fine.

You have faced some difficult adversity, no question. The test and real important thing is how you deal with it. Winning is fun and that’s the plan but it’s not the most important thing. Keeping your head up is more important. Never giving up is more important.

If you really want to go on and continue to wrestle, you can and you will. You might hurt your arm again that’s true. There is usually risk in everything we do. But, just think how much you gained from your four years of high school wrestling.

It is very clear that you know how valuable wrestling has been to you in your life. Looking back, and knowing what you know now, that you would have injuries and frustrations, would you have still wrestled? I bet you would. You are still very grateful for the experience you had as a wrestler, right? You know that you are a stronger person because of your wrestling experience.

As you look forward to the next phase of your career, you can’t avoid all adversity of injuries. I wouldn’t let the fear of an injury keep you from doing what you want to do. If you think high school wrestling was good for you, you won’t believe how great college wrestling will be for you. The commitment of college wrestling is very exciting. Nothing can teach you what college wrestling can teach you. If you are determined and smart in how you train, and disciplined to stay out of risky situations with your arm, you can do it.

You can wrestle in college if you really want to.

It is obviously up to you, I’m just looking at it from a different perspective. Maybe you can’t wrestle at the next level, or maybe you just decide it’s not worth it. That’s fine, it’s your decision. You know what is best for you. I just wouldn’t give up on something if you truly want to do it. Anything is possible.

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