Most people just see Boys Wrestling as two people diving at and attacking one another on a sweaty, smelly mat. However, the layers of the sport go much deeper than that. Whether it’s throwing up right before a match, being driven in the opponents stands, or even being being bitten, wrestling involves intense and shocking moments that your typical viewer wouldn’t expect. We asked some of our wrestlers about the most shocking things they have experienced during their wrestling careers here at Hamilton Southeastern High School. Here are a few of our wrestlers describing some of their experiences.

Will Lakes, Senior, Weight Class 113

During a match Lakes was competing in, his opponent broke his arm, and he was worried it was his fault. “My opponent broke his arm while wrestling me,” Lakes said. “At first I thought it was my fault and I was freaking, but then after I calmed down and I just felt bad.” The experience made a mark on Lakes because it showed him just how quickly wrestling can turn into something dangerous and serious.

AW Vankirk, Sophmore, Weight Class 285

Going against an opponent who is almost twice your skill level and multiple years older than you can be intimidating— that’s at least how Vankirk saw it. But what he learned during and after the match was quite different. “I wrestled a senior who was ranked way higher than me and he could’ve just tried to bully his way through the match,” Vankirk said. “But instead, he wrestled super clean and kept it technically.” Facing a much older opponent made Vankirk realize that wrestling isn’t just about strength and skill but respecting your opponent.

Parker Culp, Senior, Weight Class 138

Wrestling isn’t  just about all the crazy moves— it’s also about the lessons it teaches you. Throughout Culp’s carrer, he has learned how much of wrestling can be applied to life. “One thing wrestling has taught me, and that applies to life, is you can do as much as you can to win and still lose,” Culp said. “It relates to life because no one cares how hard you work.” Culps words highlight one of wrestlings biggest lessons, effort alone won’t always guarantee success, but discipline though out it does.

The stories from these wrestlers show that wrestling is much more than just a physical competition. It challenges athletes mentally, teaches respect, and teaches lessons that extend far beyond the mat. “Wrestling has taught me so many lessons, and my favorite so far is discipline,” Lakes said. “This has taught me that in other aspects of my life, like prioritizing class work, will always pay off in the end.”