Red Raider Wrestling Weekly Update
November
1st, 2007
Bellingham H.S.
2007-2008 Wrestling
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Ocotber 1, 2007
A Winning Spirit
Despite a
lack of victories, wrestler in class of his own
Even
in a crowded gymnasium full of wrestlers and fans, Brian Hausburg stands out.
It's hard to miss
the Modesto High School senior as he laughs with friends and teammates in the
northwest corner of Panther Palace, the campus gym.
He's the
wrestler with the crutches.
Brian has
competed for the Panthers for four years. He's made great friends that he says
he'll stay in touch with for the rest of his life.
But ask him for
details from the last match he's won, and he pauses. After a few seconds, Brian
makes eye contact and simply says it:
"I've
never won. In four years, I've never won a match."
Brian has
cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that has left him with little strength
in his legs and hips. He was diagnosed at 9 months old. A doctor told his
parents he would never walk. But Brian was in a walker a year later and using
crutches when he was 5.
His coaches say
he's an example of courage and perseverance that extends beyond mere victory.
"Brian's
an inspiration," Panthers coach Duane Brooks said. "You don't measure
a career like his by wins. He's accomplished a lot by just going out there day
after day and being there."
Others noticed
Brian's drive as well.
Hours after his
career ended Saturday, he was called back to the mat once more, where an
official raised his arm in victory for the first time. The official gave Brian
the Northern California Officials Association sportsmanship award, an honor for
wrestlers that has been handed out only three times in nine years.
'His
attitude's contagious'
Brian isn't the
typical wrestler, but he thinks of himself as a typical kid. One look at the
forearm crutches, though, and you realize Brian has put himself through a lot
to wrestle.
He uses his
crutches to get around at school and hang out with friends. At home, the young
man with tousled brown hair and an easy smile puts away the crutches and gets
around with his unsteady gait.
"We see
him working hard in the (wrestling) room every day," said junior Tyler
Woodward, one of Brian's workout partners. "But he's just a great guy out
of the room, too. He's got a smile that puts you in a good mood no matter how
you're feeling. His attitude's contagious."
Brian carries a
3.4 grade point average in college prep courses and takes classes at Modesto
Junior College with the eventual goal of a business administration degree. He
drives a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup equipped with hand controls.
And he's
well-known on campus.
"A kid
came up to me last year and said, 'You went to state, right?'" Brian said,
referring to the state meet. "Another guy asked me if it was true that I
was undefeated."
Inspiring
research
Brian grew up a
sports nut — football is his favorite — but never thought he'd be able to play
competitively. That changed when his best friend, Joe Phillips, told him about
wrestling. They met when Brian's sister, Melissa — one of three older sisters —
married Phillips' brother, Nick, in 2002.
"Joe
wrestled for Hughson," Brian said. "He talked me into going out for
my team. I liked the competition from the beginning."
Brian and coach
Brooks did research and found several other wrestlers across the country who
have competed with disabilities. Brian uses their examples as inspiration.
"There's a
wrestler with CP in the Bay Area," Brooks said. "And there was a
wrestler with one leg who placed in the (California) state meet several years
back. One thing all these wrestlers with disabilities have in common with
Brian: They're very determined."
Brian cited
Georgia high schooler Kyle Maynard, who was born with stumps for arms and legs,
yet had a record of 35-16 in his senior season.
Elizabeth
Reitz, a spokeswoman for United Cerebral Palsy, said athletic participation by
kids with CP is rare.
"Every now
and then, stories come across my desk about kids with CP in sports," she
said. "They're all inspirations."
Brian had
another reason to continue wrestling, as a tribute to his best friend, Joe, who
was killed in a car accident in Texas in August2004.
"When
Brian told me he wanted to wrestle, he had my full support," said his
mother, Valerie Hausburg. "He's accomplished everything else he's set out
to do. I wasn't going to stand in his way."
'Finish the
job'
But the losses
piled up. Brian doesn't know how many times he lost, but his coaches put the
number at more than 60.
Because he has little
leg and hip strength, Brian wrestles from his hands and knees. While his arm
strength is superior to many 125-pounders, wrestling is more a sport of
leverage than strength, and that's a battle Brian loses every time.
Even so, he had
several chances at that elusive win this season.
"In
wrestling, one mistake is usually the difference," he said. "The
times I got really close, it was just one slip that cost me."
While Brian was
plugging away, he said it probably was tougher for those close to him, especially
his parents, Bill and Valerie, who are divorced. Brian lives in Modesto with
Valerie. Bill, who has attended most of Brian's tournaments, lives in
Livermore.
"They
would come to wrestling matches and watch their son get beat up every
time," Brian said.
After a stretch
of losses early this season, Brian was fed up. He kept most of his frustration
inside, telling only his mother.
"He'd come
home so frustrated and depressed," Valerie said. "He worked so hard
for so long."
Brian quit in
November.
"I
remember going in and telling coach (Scott) Layne," he said. "He just
looked at me; he was kind of stunned."
When his
friends and teammates found out, Brian was inundated with pleas to return.
"We
couldn't believe it when he quit," his teammate Tyler said. "The
entire team talked to him about it. We'd seen him come so far, we didn't want
it to end like that."
The clincher
came when Brian watched his team compete in a tournament at Beyer High. He was
sitting in the bleachers when he turned to friend Ryan Currell.
"I told
him, 'I think I made a big mistake,'" Brian said. "I didn't want to
be thought of as a quitter. I wanted to finish the job."
His hand is
raised
Brian returned
to the mat, his season culminating with the Modesto Metro Conference Tournament
last weekend at Modesto High, his final chance at victory.
"He'd come
home and there would be a lot of saying, 'Maybe next time, maybe next
time,'" Valerie said. "Then all of a sudden, there were no more 'next
times.'"
Daniel Pardo of
Johansen pinned Brian in the second round of their consolation semifinal,
ending his career.
Davis sophomore
Josh Delgado beat Brian three times during the past two years.
Josh said he
couldn't imagine four seasons without a win.
"Honestly,
I don't think I could have finished the season if I were in his shoes," he
said. "It shows how much heart and desire he's got."
There wasn't
much applause for Brian after his final match. He shook hands with Johansen's
coaches, then turned with a big smile toward his own corner. He grabbed coaches
Brooks and Layne in a tight hug.
"My last
match," Brian said, his voice quavering. "It's weird, kind of hard to
believe that after four years, it's over, just like that. I knew this was
probably going to be my last match, but there's really no way to prepare for
it."
Nor was Brian
prepared for what happened four hours later, when he was called to the mat
before the tournament finals and presented with the award in front of 28
finalists and a crowd of about 500 at Panther Palace.
Head official
Jerry Ford took the microphone.
"As an
official, we're supposed to be impartial," Ford said. "But we're also
human. I was an official in one of Brian's very first matches, and I was
rooting for him on the inside. And I kept rooting for him as he kept at
it."
Ford gave Brian
an engraved plaque, grabbed his wrist and lifted it into the air. The crowd
gave Brian a standing ovation. He could only wave.
"I looked
around and thought, 'So this is how it feels,'" he said. "It was
pretty incredible."
It was the
moment of his young life, his mother said.
"He kept
going out there and kept going out there, and there wasn't anything material
waiting on the other end," Valerie said. "That award was really his
first material gratification."
Brian would have
liked one more high school match, though.
"It was a
lot about perseverance for me, finishing the job," he said. "But
still, I would have loved to have just got one win."
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August 17, 2007
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Mindset
of a Champion |
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by
Coach Doug Reese, TTNL |
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How does a champion think? What makes him/her different from the rest? Listed below are the qualities and characteristics of a true champion.
Plug into these truths and make your way to the top! |
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July 10th, 2007
The “Ben” Brothers
If you have
never heard of the “Ben” brothers you are in for a story that hopefully you
will never forget. For the story tells of
three brothers that have changed many peoples lives for the good. They were not men of honor or courage but
rather men that thought luck and raw talent would lead them to success.
They were some
of the best athletes our school had ever seen, but all three only had average
to good athletic careers. They never
reached their potential and according to them, “it was always someone else’s
fault.” They had a long list of excuses
they used to explain all their losses, problems and lack of motivation. It wasn’t uncommon for the ref to be at
fault for a loss suffered by any of the brothers. Many times the excuses
followed the coaching of a particular technique, such as “this move will not
work for me.” They were especially
creative when it came to avoiding the hard practice. They would tell the coach almost anything to avoid it.
Now don’t get me
wrong, they came to practice and went through the motions with their teammates,
but did very little to get better while in the practice room. Many teammates were testing their limits,
using every minute like it was their last, and asking for pointers to beat the
best. They on the other hand were always watching the clock and were the first
ones out the door.
Time and effort
was not something they wanted to give up.
“We have always been the best on the team so why should we change what
we do,” they explained. Well, time
passed and the team continued to grow and improve. The teammates had out worked the brothers and had left the
brothers’ talent behind. The talent was no match for the time, work and
toughness that had been born from the desire to be better. The rest of the team wasn’t willing to let
the excuses get in the way of their success.
Even though they tried, no excuse could be given to explain away the fact
that the team was now better and more successful than the brothers Should A. Ben,
Could A. Ben, and Would A. Ben.
There is no
secret to success. You simply must out
work all of your opponents. It is what
we do and what we do best. Make yourself
better and don’t be a “Ben” brother!
June 18, 2007
Camp is rapidly approaching.
The camp will be taking place in Leavenworth, Washington. This will be a fun camp in which team
activities, wrestling technique, and white water rafting will be the
focus.
I am confident
that dollar for dollar, this camp provides the best environment for our team at
this time in our preparation for our next season.
Camp Cost $229
Please be prepared to pay the remainder
of your balance upon arrival at the camp.
The camp will provide all the meals
for our wrestlers. You will need to bring money and snacks for
in between meals. Personal spending
money is up to the individual.
You
will be staying in tents. – So start
checking with family and friends. The
more people we can fit into a tent the better. Please contact me if you plan on
bringing a tent. Please bring a
toothbrush, sleeping bag, and clothes for working out and having fun in the
outdoors, and finally mosquito repellent.
Important
Phone Numbers
Brian
Smith
(h)
360 647 -1878
(c)
360 393 - 0954
(w)
360 676 - 6575 ext. 7167
Camp
Directors
Kevin
McNulty
(c) 253-439-9585
We
will depart from BHS Saturday, June 30th at 7:00 am and will return
Tuesday, July 3rd in the evening.
“In our sport every point counts and so does every minute”
Coach Smith
June 1, 2007
The Comfort Zone.
By: Unknown
I used to have a comfort zone
where I knew I wouldn't fail.
The same four walls and busy work were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.
I said it didn't matter that I
wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.
I couldn't let my life go by just
watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.
If you're in a
comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile;
Success is there for you!
May 2007
What is Sacrifice? (Commitment)
Decisions confront you every day, and you have to choose to put one part of your life ahead of another. Sometimes the choice is now: is watching TV at home after school more fun than time in the gym with the team preparing for next season? Often it’s between immediate gratification and some payoff in the future: is a night out with friends more gratifying than performing at your best at tomorrows meet? Is the amazing taste of that cream-filled pie worth the hindrance to your performance at tonight’s match?
If what’s most important to you is being the best at this sport- in other words, If you want to be a champion – you won’t have difficulty making these decisions. Champions are committed and are willing to sacrifice. Even though they may miss some fun times, they don’t ever think about the sacrifices.
Champions pass on the party nights, knowing that nothing could beat the feeling of wrestling his best the next day at a tournament, or even practice. When he is spending extra hours in the weight room, on the road, or drilling, he never thinks about all the other activities he is missing out on. He is happy to be there, because nothing is more important!
When you truly want to be a champion, you never
regret the choices you make to reach your goals. You embrace those choices, because you know they’re making you
better. A decision that helps you
obtain your goals is never a “sacrifice,” because there’s nothing you’d rather
be doing. Be confident in your
decisions, and proud to be a champion.
April 2007
How Mentally Tough Are You?
by: hirinireedy
Success in many
areas of life is about 80% mindset, 20% mechanics. Your mindset determines how
much you ultimately achieve in life. The mind has so much power yet we do not
get taught how to use it properly as part of our school learning. It creates
our reality of the world. Yet it is only a map. It is not the territory. That
is why two people can have the same chances, the same talents yet one keeps
succeeding whereas the other keeps giving up. It comes back to which mind map
is being used.
So, how mentally tough are you?
If you have experienced and overcome hardships in your early years than these
will have helped you to build your mental toughness. Helped to shape your
character. Helped you to manage life's stresses and strains. Yet you must still
learn to block out the negatives. Get rid of the squeaky mouse voice. Instead
be the mouse who roared like a lion. He frightened the cat out of the house.
You must learn to back yourself. We have so much more physical and mental
strength than we consciously use. Especially if our lives or the life of a
loved one is at stake. A mother will summon every nerve, bone and sinew to
protect her young baby. Perhaps you have done something similar. Have you
worked all night to get a job done? Or perhaps slept under the desk and started
again at first light. Have you been heart-broken and yet still lived on?
Struggle is good. It makes you tough. Nothing will ever be perfect. Do the best
that you can with what you have got now! Don't say I'll wait until things get
better. Or I'll wait until I am better. Learn to be better right now. Yes, you
will have moments where the world will completely knock you over. But you must
pick yourself back up, dust yourself off and continue on.
I remember a client who lost everything in a bad deal. Lost the business, the
house, the car and other assets. So he took on a job as a toilet cleaner. He
said his life had literally turned to excrement. Yet he turned cleaning toilets
into a learning experience. He saw it like martial arts for life. Cleaning each
cubicle was like a training round where he practiced his techniques. Except
there was no opponent. Just himself. He faced and smelt some bad stuff. Yet he
just knocked it all out with some strong scrubbing action and powerful
detergent. He slowly turned his life around for the better and is now no longer
cleaning toilets.
So find ways in which to build up your mental toughness. Here are some short
steps you can use.
1. How To Turn It On Or Off.
You need to know how to turn your mental toughness on and off like a switch.
Some people can confuse mental toughness with physical strength. Or being rude,
pushy and aggressive. Nah, some of the toughest soldiers or survivors I know
are really nice, unassuming people. They are not physically impressive to look
at yet in a crisis they flick on a mental switch. They become like men and
women of steel. So imagine you have a switch that you can flick on or off when
you need to.
2. Use Your Fear As A Tough Teacher.
Fear is a tough teacher. It will grab your mind and body and twist both out of
shape very quickly. So you must learn to to manage all the knots and twists.
This is called courage. Fear teaches you courage. Without fear, you cannot test
your courage. So use your fears to practice being courageous. This is part of
being mentally tough.
3. Practice Between Performances
Another key point is to practice your key skills under pressure. Just like any
great musician, actor or athlete practices between performances. Not wait for
the actual performance to test your skills. You might want to test your
decision-making under pressure. So that you can keep a cool head and make wise
choices when it is needed.
4. Use Common Sense.
Being mentally tough also requires a bit of common sense. No point in showing
great willpower and determination if you are driving on the wrong side of the
road. That is just plain stupidity.
So find ways to improve your mental toughness. The simplest way is to use the
big challenges in your life right now as tough teachers.
March 2007
Getting Mentally Tough For the Off-Season
Paul Reddick, Pittsburgh Pirates scout
If you are planning to train this off-season this will be one of the most important articles you read.
I am sure when you think of mental toughness you picture a hitter standing in the box with the game on the line and somehow, despite great pressure, he delivers a game winning hit…or a pitcher (a la curt Schilling) coming up with a clutch performance in a big game.
Here is what I picture:
I had the privilege of working with Corey Smith, a first round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2000 and now with the Padres. Corey defined mental toughness for me.
See, when he asked me to help him I was a little hesitant. I didn’t know how hard he wanted to work. A lot of players SAY they want to work hard…but few follow through on what it takes to be successful.
So I told Corey I would meet him every day at 7:00 am at the gym by my house. The gym was a 45-minute drive for him. I have to say, I did not think he would follow through…but he did. Everyday… 7:00 am he was there….Never late…Never missed a day..Snowing…raining…sick...girlfriend problems….he was there.
That is mental toughness! Doing what you have to do no matter what.
Most people will point to Corey and say how lucky he is…but I know that he created his own luck by working hard day in and day out.
I asked Corey what drove him. He told me, “It starts in my mind. I set my goals and I don’t let anything stop me getting there. I make a list of the things I need to do to achieve my goals and I do those things. I make an appointment with myself everyday”
As you start to think about your off-season training let me share with you the 4 Tips Corey used to propel his off-season training.
1. Show up – that is half the battle. There were times I thought Corey should have stayed home…but it went against his goals and to him, that was more important
2. If you're going to come – come to work. We used to invite players to work out with us all the time. But, they were never as consistent with the quality of the workout as Corey was. It takes the same amount of time to put forth a poor effort as it does a good effort
3. Get up and get it done. If you can do your workouts in the morning..do it. It will give you a sense of accomplishment throughout the day. But the most important thing is to get it done
4. Mental pictures. No player had a clearer picture of himself as a pro than Corey. He saw it, smelt it, and tasted it. He knew what he wanted and he went for it. Every time Corey would want to quit he would trigger his mind by picturing himself in the big leagues.
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