Parents in the Stands 

The recipe for the making of a champ

3 Parts hard work

3 Parts dedication

A dash of one good coach

A cupful of Motivation

And 2 supportive parents in the stands!

          Amongst the many ingredients in the making of a champion wrestler is the key element of “parents in the stands”.  Supportive parents and family often are the common thread that runs through the backgrounds of champions.  That is not to say that I haven’t known a few greats who rose above the fact that when it came to family support it was all but non-existent.  In those  cases, however, the wrestler usually had a close “father/son” bond with his coach (or some significant other adult figure) who knew the hard work involved and all the dedication that wrestling demanded.  That person became the “parent” in the stands, so to speak.

           Since I started writing articles for several wrestling sites, I received many replies that bore out my belief in the power of parents.  One wrestler wrote to tell me that, “even though we may not say so, it means a lot to know your parents, sisters and brothers, are in those bleachers cheering for you.”  He wanted to also make it clear to me that, just as he appreciated his family’s support he was sure my brothers had appreciated mine as well.  Indeed, when my brother Frank filled out his “wrestling memoirs” for the Island Trees High School Alumni wrestling handout he wrote, “ the people who made a difference were:  Mom, Dad, and family.. for being there.”  My brother Carl wrote, “the person who influenced me most was; my older brother Frank.  Damian Garcia, head coach at Island Trees High School said:

My parents, for giving me the discipline and determination.”

           One evening, as I nestled in to read Ken Chertow's book: A Commitment to Excellence, I spotted it again!  He wrote, “my parents are very important to me, and it’s a good feeling when I have done something to make them proud of me.  I believe I perform better when they are watching,” he also wrote, “although, early in my career, my parents did not understand wrestling very well, they still supported my efforts.  Parental support can be an important stabilizing factor in your motivation to wrestle.”

          From my vantage point as a “bleacher bunny” I noticed the same parents would be at every match.  These same parent and siblings had “their” piece of bleacher all staked out, year after year.  God forbid some stray should happen upon “our’ family section.  Tournaments are the same, parents, brothers and sisters, scramble to assemble into their usual spots and

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proceed to settle in.  There are: snacks drinks, meals, pillows, chip n’ dip, whatever necessary to sustain the crew through the many hours ahead.  This is all done as a ritual of love and support for the family wrestler.

           Surely it is not a coincidence that the same hands raised again and again in victory are the very same children of the “parents in the stands!” (you know the ones who carry tripods for their cameras for taping their child’s match, and those of his/her teammates)