“Wrestling is more of a mindset than anything. The idea of pushing through is very unique to wrestling because it’s a one-on-one sport, and you’re directly against your opponent. Having to take down someone when they’re prepared for it requires a lot of drive and willpower.

Starting anything new is difficult and takes time, and wrestling has a really large learning curve. One of Coach Pettigrew’s favorite quotes is ‘you’re either the hammer or the nail.’ I’ve never found another sport so scary. Your mind is telling you not to do it, and wrestling is teaching you to power through. [Wrestling is]a very good thing for your psyche overall because it teaches you that you can calculate before [doing something], but you’ve always gotta follow through at 100%.

I remember having to wake up at 6 a.m. for wrestling practice. Wrestling builds that ability to push through staying up late with work or waking up early. If you can stick through something difficult, it brings so much confidence.

I’m much better now than when I started [wrestling]. I’ve been disciplined, showing up to practice and taking feedback. In order to build those skills, you have to be willing to learn from wherever you can. You can’t change how much talent you have, but you can change how much work you put in.

Sometimes there’s no time to think, and you’ve gotta take the risk. In life, risk-takers are remembered. Being safe and not taking risks is fine, but that means you’re going to be the nail. You have to be willing to shoot but also be fine with missing. Wrestling teaches you to be the hammer and seize the opportunity.”