1 May 2008
Kristie Marano: The Ups and Downs of Wrestling
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When I started wrestling 12 years ago I never would have imagined how much I was going to learn nor realize the person I would become. I have learned so much and it wasn’t just wrestling, it involved life and the world we live in. I have been able to experience the ups and downs to this sport, but I always seem to come out with a better outlook on life.
At 17 when I made my first World Team I was in my own little world, being the youngest on the team I was very quiet and shy. Not knowing what to expect I just went with the flow. Even though I was the young one on the team I got along with all the girls. From then on I learned to be more of an outgoing person because that is how I was going to make friends and find ways to get things done for myself. Ever since then I have made tons of friends all over the U.S. and the world.
Traveling all over the world has made me open my eyes to many different things as well. I think that the first time traveling overseas was a bit scary for me, but the best time ever. You get to explore a different cultures, which is much more then just learning about it in school. It forced me to try new foods which can be scary but at least I can say I tried something new, and don’t worry, in most countries you can somehow find a McDonald’s.
The biggest thing I have learned from my travels is to appreciated all that I have! Going to these other countries I realize that not everybody has what we have. It’s the little things we get to do everyday that some will never get to do in a lifetime! I have learned to not take for granted what I have, and what I love and am able to do everyday which is wrestle.
As an athlete, with sports come injuries. Some big and some small. I have stumbled across some injuries over the years (it’s going to happen, it’s a contact sport). I have had four surgeries, both knees (one was done twice) and my shoulder. The hardest thing for me is not being able to wrestle. Sitting on the sidelines watching everybody else enjoy the sport when you are not able to kind of hurts you. During this time I have learned to focus on things that I can do off the mat to make me a better wrestler such as, lifting weights to make me stronger, watching video on myself and my competitors so I can see what is going on in matches, and conditioning which is easier said then done. Being off he mat for me during surgery has made me work on mental toughness. I have had to work on being strong off the mat so I could be strong when I got back to the mats.
The biggest thing I have had to learn when being off the mat is patience. Your body takes time to heal and sometimes you have no control over it. You should make good judgements as far as not forcing your body to come back faster then it should. You might end up getting hurt more or re-injury the same thing. Just let your body heal!
The most important thing I want to mention is for the young girls out there to not get discouraged! I know there are girls out there that have to overcome many obstacles. I like some of you had to wrestle on a guys team in High School. Trust me, it was not the easiest thing to do, and I could have quit real easy, but I would have missed out and all the good times I have had! I know it can be hard and there will be days you want to be done with everything, the one thing I would stress is STAY STRONG! Being able to deal with adversity is what is going to make you different then everyone else. IT’S OK TO BE DIFFERENT. If it was easy, everyone would do it.
Women’s wrestling has come a long way just in the 12 years that I have been in it. I hope to see a continuing success in years to come. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope you can find just as much fun if not more, through your experiences with wrestling. Remember, don’t give up and strive for what you believe in!
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