My beginning...

I entered my freshman year of high school as a football player and nothing more. My soccer and basketball skills were old and rusty. Every individual sport I knew of seemed so unappealing to me due to the lack of violence. During my middle school years I realized that I relished the feeling of physically dominating an opponent rather than simply running faster or scoring more points. Pain was how I defined my victories.

At 5'6", 137lbs, I did not possess a very menacing presence at the linebacker position, but I hit hard and was intelligent enough to do my job and to find my way to the ball carrier as often as possible. My step-father was the head football coach at my high school and there was a great deal expected from of me. A lot to live up to.

The season was near its end and my freshman football team had suffered a sub-par season.  Before our last practice we were gathered around and introduced to a man with a mustache and closely cropped hair. He was obviously retired military. His name was Greg Wagaman and he was the head wrestling coach at the school, He was looking for new recruits. He spoke of "building a dynasty" and was looking for tough young athletes who weren't already playing a winter sport. There was a drama about the man and the way he romantically described the sport. Most of my teammates had no interest in his words and made it clear by dropping their eyes and murmuring to each other.

For whatever reason, I was committed right then and there. I felt an opportunity. A chance to pave my own path. As far as I knew, no one on either side of my family had ever been a wrestler. There were college and pro-football players, national record holders, dancers, nuclear scientists... but no wrestlers. I didn't know what I was getting into but I saw my opportunity to own something. A chance to build were no one I knew had built before. I would become a wrestler. At the time, it was still not as important to me as football but once I started, my priorities would change....