The 2022 Senior Perspectives is the 18th in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of teams at Harvard have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Harvard.
--
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Sport: Wrestling
Concentration: Psychology
House: Lowell
Reflecting on my time as a Harvard wrestler, I am overcome by a sense of gratitude, growth and appreciation. Being a member of Harvard's wrestling team has been the most impactful part of my undergraduate experience and, as I step off the crimson mat, I know the lessons I have learned will serve me well in life. While I may not have accomplished all my goals on the wrestling mat, I know my time on the team has helped me achieve something much greater.
Harvard wrestling has taught me the importance of investing in relationships. My first day on campus, Coach Weiss told my recruiting class that the friendships we form over the next four years will last for the next 40 years. Although my time wrestling alongside my teammates has come to an end, the bonds I have forged with these men has left an indelible mark. Because of the time invested in these relationships, I have become a better teammate, a better friend, and a better person.
Wrestling is a grueling sport. From the physicality of a seven-minute struggle, to weight cuts, to injuries and to early morning lifts, wrestling at Harvard has taught me to embrace grit and perseverance. The legendary Olympic gold medalist wrestler Dan Gable is quoted saying, "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy." I disagree with this statement. Yes, wrestling is hard, but so is life off the mat. The challenges we face never go away; they just evolve. While I will no longer struggle to ascend the concrete steps of a Harvard Stadium run or battle through the infamous "45-minute grind matches," I will now face even more meaningful obstacles and challenges in my personal and professional life. However, I am confident that my time in a Harvard singlet has prepared me to step on the line and shake hands with any opponent.
The ultimate reward of Harvard wrestling is the acquisition of perspective. As I leave my wrestling shoes on the mat and my time as a wrestler concludes, I have come to understand that this incredible journey was never really about wrestling. The crucible of athletics serves as a vehicle to teach important life lessons that will endure long after our final competitions. For the past 4 years I have been told that we train for "3 days in March." As I leave Harvard Yard with the fondest of memories, every day will now be "3 days in March." I embrace the challenges that will come my way as Harvard wrestling imbued me with a sense of humility, grit, and confidence.
Thank you, coaches. Thank you, Harvard. Thank you, wrestling.
