Wrestling

The wrestling season this year was very successful for Ballard.  We came very close to competing at state in the dual tournament and had five wrestlers qualify for state, 2 of them placing, with one of those a state champ.  I don't know all the statistics of the season, but I think the team only lost a couple duals.  This was Nick's first state champ as a head coach and we were all pretty excited!  Most of the following pictures were not taken by me, but I stole them from the Ballard Facebook page for people to see.  One of the wrestlers' moms does wonderful photography and it's so nice to have some of these moments captured!  

Nick and Alex coming to see us following his win

Alex with his coaches

Nick and Alex holding his bracket

All of the coaches with the state qualifiers

Alex and his coaches right after he won

Nick putting the medal on Alex

Is Nick actually smiling here?

Owen at a wrestling meet

Right after state finals.  I think Nick was pretty excited!

Nick with Nathan during the consolation finals

Enjoying our strawberry smoothies at the state tournament

Owen wanted to try on Dad's robe from college

All ready to go!

These pictures kind of sum up what the month of February boils down to.  It's amazing the amount of dedication Nick has to this sport and all the athletes he coaches.  I don't know many other people who are as passionate about anything as Nick is for coaching.  Wrestling season is an emotional roller coaster with many ups and downs, celebrations and heartbreaks. Each win a step closer to fulfilling goals and loss is sometimes devastating to these young wrestlers.  I know that their coach feels all of these things right along with them and wants to make things better, helping them to become stronger, better athletes, as well as young adults so they can be successful in life past all this craziness we call wrestling.  I love getting to know these awesome kids and seeing them compete with so much heart.  Each year is, as Nick calls it "bittersweet" toward the end, recognizing all the successes, but knowing that for some of these kids, it's their last "go."  As exhausting as it is, trying to keep up with everything, I'm so glad that we're part of it.

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