Elite for Life Trust College Scholarship Recipients

2026 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Kylie Gudewitz

Howell, East Stroudsburg

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I never planned on becoming a wrestler. The first time I walked into Elite Wrestling, I was not there for myself. I was there because my little brother Justin had practice. While I sat on the side of the room, I found myself paying more attention to the wrestlers than the toys my dad brought to keep me occupied. I watched the drills and fundamental technique they were working on during the youth practice, and I could see how much fun the kids were having and how deeply the coaches cared about every athlete in the room. One of those coaches, Danny Rodriguez, noticed me watching. He walked over and told me to jump in and play some of the games with them. At the time, it seemed like a small gesture, but looking back, that simple invitation changed the course of my life.
 

After that first practice, I wanted to keep coming back. I begged my dad to let me join wrestling while still playing soccer. At first he was hesitant, but after enough convincing, both he and my mom agreed. Looking back now, I am so grateful they gave me that chance because it became one of the best decisions of my life. Every time I walked through the doors of Elite, I

learned something new, not just about wrestling, but about myself. Unlike many clubs, Coach Steve never made me feel like just another membership. Instead of worrying about whether I signed up right away, he gave me the opportunity to discover whether wrestling was truly something I loved. For my first two years, he let me train without officially becoming a member

because he believed in giving me that chance. As a little kid, I never realized how unusual that was. I just knew I had to keep coming back and continuing to learn. In hindsight, I realized Coach Steve was not investing in a future state finalist or college wrestler because I was neither of those things at the time. He was investing in a young girl who had fallen in love with the

sport. That act of kindness gave me a place where I felt welcomed, supported, and encouraged to grow, and before long, Elite Wrestling became much more than a club. It became my second home.
 

As the years went on, Elite became much more than a place where I practiced. It became a place where I grew up. Some of my favorite childhood memories were made inside of those walls, whether it was staying after practice to talk with my teammates, doing the Get Better Everyday Camp, traveling to tournaments on the weekends, or celebrating each other’s successes. The people I met at Elite quickly became some of my closest friends, and many of those friendships have lasted to this day. We pushed each other through the hardest practices, picked each other up after difficult losses, and celebrated every victory, no matter how big or small. Knowing I was surrounded by people who genuinely cared about me made me look forward to walking into the wrestling room every day. Elite was never just a place to train, it was a community that constantly challenged me to become a better wrestler, friend, and person.

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As I became more dedicated to wrestling, Coach Steve became one of my biggest role models. He always believed I was capable of doing more. Whether it was calling me to come in for an extra workout or staying after practice to help me perfect a move. He would always check in on me before practice and constantly pushed me to be my best. He never expected perfection, but he always expected effort. Even before some of the biggest tournaments of my career, he would take the time to send me a text wishing me luck and reminding me to believe in my preparation. Before my state tournament this year he wrote “Go in there with no unnecessary pressure except to have fun and to perform.” Those messages may have only taken a few minutes to write, but they meant more than he probably realized. Knowing that someone who had invested so much time in my growth had confidence in me gave me confidence in myself. His

support taught me that being a great coach is not just about developing successful athletes. It is about believing in people, encouraging them through every challenge, and helping them become the best version of themselves.
 

As the years passed, I realized I wanted to give back to the same place that had given me so much. That opportunity came when I began helping coach the Future Champs class at Elite. Standing on the other side of the mat completely changed my perspective. I quickly learned that coaching is about much more than teaching takedowns or showing correct technique. Many of the young wrestlers walk in the room nervous, unsure of themselves, or just afraid because it's all so new to them. I see a little bit of my younger self in many of them. Just as Danny encouraged me to step onto the mat for the first time and Coach Steve believed in me before I accomplished anything, I now have the opportunity to encourage the next generation of wrestlers. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a kid leaving practice a little more confident than when they walked in knowing that they are learning and making friends. Coaching has shown me that the greatest impact a coach can have is not measured by wins or losses, but by the confidence they help build in others. Being able to pass along the same encouragement and support that I received has been one of the more meaningful parts of my wrestling journey.
 

My senior year brought one of the most memorable moments of my wrestling career. By the end of the season, I had reached milestones that I never imagined when I first stepped onto the mat. I earned my 150th career victory, a milestone that was almost unheard of in women’s wrestling at the time, recorded more than 100 career pins, and finished my high school career holding the record for the most wins in New Jersey girls wrestling history. While I am incredibly proud of these accomplishments, my biggest goal has always been to stand at the top of the podium at the state tournament. After years of training, sacrificing weekends, and pushing myself through every challenge, I reached the state finals for the third time. Like every wrestler, I dreamed of winning that last match, but my high school career ended with a second place finish.

I was devastated. All I could think about was getting back into the wrestling room and working harder. I wanted to be at practice the very next day because I felt like that was what I needed to do. When I told Coach Steve, he stopped me and said something that resonated with me. He explained to me that there was more to life than just wrestling and that it was okay to take one day off. He told me to be proud of all my accomplishments and everything I had done for the sport. At first, I did not fully grasp what he meant. In retrospect, I realize that he was teaching me one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned. Wrestling has shaped who I am, but it does not define who I am. No one will reject me because I was not a four time state champion. Coach Steve cared far more about the person I was becoming than the medal I brought home. In

that moment, he reminded me that my worth would never be measured by one match, one tournament, or one result. That lesson has stayed with me long after the season ended, and I know it is one I will carry with me the rest of my life.
 

It is incredible to think that everything began with one simple encouragement to step onto the mat. What started as tagging along to my brother’s practice became the place that shaped my character, introduced me to lifelong friends, and gave me mentors who believed in me every step of the way. Coach Steve, Danny, Vinny, BJ Young, Dougie, Hayden, Zeke, Bri, Blaine, and the entire Elite coaching staff taught me far more than the sport of wrestling. They taught me resilience, confidence, and the importance of believing in others before they believe in themselves. As I continue my wrestling career in college, I hope to carry those same values with me and have the same lasting impact on others that they have had on me. Elite did not simply prepare me to compete. It prepared me to become the person I am today, and for that I will always be grateful.

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2026 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Armani McCann

Jackson Twp, Long Island University​

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Elite 4 Life

 

The first time I attended Elite Wrestling Club I was going into middle school. Previously I attended Shore thing Wrestling Club but I wanted to try Elite because it was closer to home and my mom felt I wasn’t getting any opportunities for individual tournaments and team tournaments. I will never forget the first time I met Steve Rivera. He came over to me and asked me my name and said “You’re going to be good kid”. Steve would not have known how powerful that moment for me really was. I was this troubled angry kid who felt like most people didn’t care with a chip on my shoulder. My parents feared I was not coachable at times. Unlike most kids, I did not have a normal early childhood. I was taken from my home at age 4 and brought to a several different foster homes before being placed with my now adoptive parents. It was not easy for me to develop relationships with people. With me it was going to take time. After years of counseling the shell was breaking but I needed the right people in my life to continue the work. Elite Wrestling Club became my in season and off season outlet to train and build a wrestling family. I was offered many opportunities to be coached at team and individual tournaments.

  Elite Wrestling Club taught me discipline, physical and mental strength preparing me for success both inside and outside the room. While wrestling is an individual sport, being part of Elite showed me the importance of teamwork, commitment and perseverance. No matter where it was or who I was wrestling it seemed if I looked over my shoulder Steve or Vin were there. There were times I thought I wanted to give up or was sidelined with injury but I knew I had to get back to my Elite family because they believed in me. Even on those days when I was tired after school, overwhelmed with homework or just lacked motivation, I showed up because I understood consistency builds success.

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My junior year I broke my wrist early in the season. This was definitely a setback but I didn’t give up. I fought my way back right before districts to still be able to compete in the state tournament and place. One of the most valuable lessons I gained from Elite was resilience. Every athlete experience losses, injuries, difficult practices and moments of disappointment. In my high school career, I experienced some devastating losses. My coaches and my teammates helped me realize that failure is not something to fear but an opportunity to learn. Rather than allowing these experiences to discourage me, I learned to use them as motivation for improvement. The resilience became one of the most valuable skills I developed during high school because it prepared me to face adversity with determination rather than fear. The lessons I learned through wrestling extend far beyond the mat and positively influenced my academics, leadership abilities and my personal growth throughout high school. I will forever value the relationships I have made in wrestling with the coaches and with my wrestling partners and teammates.  My coaches had a tremendous impact on my development. They did much more than teach me wrestling techniques. They emphasized character, accountability, sportsmanship, and respect. Their guidance taught me the importance of setting goals and the life lessons continue to influence how I approach challenges and interact with others. Whenever I doubted myself, they believed in my abilities and encouraged me to keep working.

 

The competitive environment at Elite also helped me develops confidence. Wrestling constantly places athletes in uncomfortable situations. Every match requires courage because there is nowhere to hide. You step on the mat knowing that whether you win or lose depends on your preparation and determination. Over time, competing against talented kids taught me to trust myself and believe in myself. Even against the toughest kids I learned that confidence comes from preparation. Whether I am speaking in front of a group of people, interviewing for a job or facing difficult decisions, I approach these challenges with more confidence in myself because wrestling has taught me that preparation creates confidence.

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Unfortunately, during Covid I missed much needed class instruction and it caused me to develop bad study habits going into my freshman year. Balancing wrestling with academics was definitely my biggest challenge in the start of high school. The low grades I received in Freshman year constantly required me to play catch up to get that GPA higher. I learned how to organize my schedule and avoid procrastination and stay committed to both wrestling and academics.  A lot of maturing and hard work paid off with me placing in the state both my junior and senior year and getting that offer to wrestle Division 1 at Long Island University.

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Looking back on my high school career, I am grateful. Grateful for my family and that Elite Wrestling shaped my character, strengthened my work ethic, improved my confidence, and helped me develop skills that will benefit me throughout my college career and beyond. The values and experiences I have gained will remain with me for years to come and will continue to pave my way to future success. Wrestling is not a sport where improvement happens overnight. Progress comes with months of training and constant effort. There were times when I questioned whether all the hard work was worth it. Because of wrestling, I understand that temporary obstacles should never prevent someone from pursuing their dreams.

 These experiences I have had in wrestling have inspired me to coach other kids and start my own training center. Spending weekends training beginner wrestlers has made me an even more technical wrestler. I will continue to pass on these lessons I have learned to the new wrestlers I mentor.

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As I leave high school behind, I do with much gratitude for everyone at Elite Wrestling Club that played a role in my journey. My coaches believed in me, my teammates challenged me, and the program helped shape me into the person I have become.

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2026 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Jaelyn Villalobos

Howell, Arcadia

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How Elite Wrestling Changed My Life

Jaelyn Villalobos

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When I started high school, I knew I wanted to try something new. My sophomore year, my sister played basketball during the winter season, so she told me to join wrestling so we could see each other during practices, as a joke. I decided, “why not?” and signed up the same day. Going into the sport, I had no idea how to score points, what the rules were, or even what the

goal of a match was. I genuinely sucked at wrestling. My school season was very rocky and I had very little mat time. That spring, I decided that I wanted to better myself and my skills as a wrestler. I tried as many as five different clubs, trying to find the right fit.

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Then, Kylie introduced me to Elite. When I went for my trial class, I was terrified. I didn’t realize that the class wasn’t only girls and I worried that everyone was going to make fun of me since I was so new. I walked in the room and sat in the corner, since I didn’t know anyone except Kylie. We started to warm up and I started to feel more comfortable. By the end of the

class, I got back in my car with a feeling of relief and accomplishment. I felt proud of myself for getting through, what I thought, was such a brutal practice. I realized that everyone was there to work and no one was paying attention to you, whether you sucked or not. Everyone was so willing to help, coaches and other wrestlers included. I had to go live with one of the guys and he didn’t complain or wrestle me less competitive than anyone else because I was a girl, which I found to be true for other clubs. The club fostered an opportunity for growth without the feeling of being out of place.

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Elite quickly became a safe place for me. It became my outlet. If I got a bad grade on a test or if I had a fight with one of my friends, none of that mattered when I stepped into the room. Everyone has issues in their lives but it was comforting to see that none of that mattered when we were in that wrestling room. Everyone was just focused on getting better. Elite gave me

confidence in my wrestling. Like I said before, I was awful when I first started this sport. With time and a lot of practice, I was able to find what works for me with the help of my coaches. They would constantly remind me that I am doing good and would always help with anything if I asked. They taught me to speak up for myself and be my own advocate when I needed

something. Additionally, another thing that Elite has taught me is the importance of hard work and doing things right the first time. When drilling, we are always taught to do it correctly the first time so we don’t get into bad habits. I will carry that with me through everything I do, that I can’t cut corners to get where I want to be. Everything that I want will come to me with hard work.

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Elite gave me a lot of things, but most importantly, it gave me a family. At a lot of points in my life, I have felt like I never truly fit in anywhere. Even when I first started Elite, I felt like an outcast, that I wasn’t good enough to be there. I was quickly proven wrong. Since starting, I have met my best friends. The first couple of months, I stuck with Kylie, Ava and Marlowe. Then Erin and Eliza joined only a few months after me. I have never clicked with a group of people quicker than I have with them. We weren’t just friends on the mat, but off the mat also. We supported each other in and out of school and wrestling. They came to my band's shows, we showed up to each other's senior nights, and were there for each other when times got hard. Elite

gave me comfort for after high school, with me and Ava going to the same school. Thanks to Elite, I have a group of girls that I could call my family for the rest of my life.

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While noting the girls I have met here, I would not be where I am today without my coaches and the staff at Elite. The staff made it easy to look up to them and they helped set examples for how I wanted to be as I got older. Vinnie was someone who helped me feel more comfortable when I first joined. He was always there joking around and I saw how he interacted

with everyone else, which eased my anxiety about being new to the sport. I was able to connect with him about things easily, such as bullying Kylie about her music taste or complaining to him about his deck of cards. Additionally, Steve has impacted my life in more than one way. He tells you the things you need to hear, not what you want to hear. He is honest with what he is thinking and I believe it is very important to have someone in your life who can tell you the hard truth. It

shows that he cares about you, not that he’s trying to be mean or break you down. One day at practice, it was only me and Kylie who showed up. We spent half of that practice talking about random things, but I will always carry with me what Steve said to me that day. He could tell that I was getting frustrated with myself, as I usually do, and he stopped us and sat us down. He told me to take a deep breath and remember where I was. I had only been doing this for two years and Kylie had been doing this for most of her life. He told me that, although I wasn’t as good or well-developed in my technique as Kylie, that wasn’t an excuse to stop trying. I needed to stop getting in my own head and just wrestle. After that day, I have tried not to think about if I get beat in a certain move, but instead, focus on perfecting what I can perfect. I try to not get as upset over the little things anymore. I focus on trying new things instead of waiting for someone else to make the first move. Lastly, Zeke has made such a big impact in my life. When I started to do privates with him, I was quickly expanding my wrestling skillset. With this, came more uncertainty because I was worried that I would mess things up. Zeke took the time to go through everything step by step with me to make sure I got everything perfect. Additionally, he provided an outlet for me. Throughout my senior season, I really struggled mentally with my wrestling and feeling like I wasn’t good enough to make it anywhere. Zeke would recognize this and sit me down, listening to everything I was feeling. There was a day towards the beginning of the season where I was having a really rough day and that translated over to practice. Zeke pulled me over

at the end of practice and we sat there for about a half hour, just talking. He reminded me that I am worthy of being in the room and being where I am with wrestling. He reminded me that I have a great support system in and out of the room. He reminded me that there were people who were proud of me no matter what I accomplished. We sat there for a while and I just took in what he was saying. I can honestly say that without Zeke, I would not be where I am today and that he saved my life, even if he didn’t realize.

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Overall, Elite has changed my life for the better. It instilled confidence and belief in me. It curated a mindset of hard work and perseverance. It gave me a safe space when I didn’t have one. It gave me a family of people to lean on when I needed it. Elite Wrestling saved my life.

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2026 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Erin Welch

Point Boro, University of Rhode Island​

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Erin Welch - Elite For Life Scholarship

 

When I came to Elite for the first time, I was brought by my teammates Eliza Toth and Charlize Schlam. I had never really truly wrestled before, Char had shown me some moves and I went through a couple school practices so my wrestling knowledge was very little and brief. I was already super nervous and on the drive there Charlize began to tell me that I should not be nervous and that there was going to be a lot of people and that it was going to be super hot and that I should not be scared of any of the coaches even if they yell they do not mean it but that they do not take any excuses. All of this being told to me was super scary and walking into that room and with the heat hitting me I was getting more nervous by the second. I didn’t know any of the girls and as we warmed up I was trying to find someone to practice with and after warm ups we were told to get into groups of three and so I grabbed the closest girls to me, Bri Dugo and Dominique Lopez not knowing who they were or how good they were. The practice went on as a group of 3 for the entire rest of practice and I made an absolute fool of myself and didn’t know how to wrestle at all and they were really good and super aggressive wrestlers and I knew walking out of practice that I wanted to work hard so that I would be able to wrestle at the skill set they did, or at least be able to practice with them without looking like an idiot.

 

I went back to practice on Thursday and it was a typical practice with live at the start and technique after and after we broke off to practice the technique, I was super lost and Steve walked over and was trying to help me out but I was far too lost at the time and nothing was making sense. I remember him asking if I knew what I was doing or if I was just confused and I got super flustered and upset and I remember thinking “oh my god what the heck obviously I am confused” and in the moment I was upset but I knew Steve was just trying to help, so I swallowed my pride and listened to whatever advice I could take in. I continued to be lost and confused at practice after practice but the more I went the less frustrated I would be and the more I would learn. So I continued to go to practice and I got the six-month membership so that I would have to force myself to continue going to practice.

 

I started to wrestle at a time when I wasn’t really sure where life would take me. I was lost in school and struggling with many mental battles. My dad was also diagnosed with cancer and was at either the hospital in the ICU or in a rehabilitation center so that he could relearn how to live. My dad was struggling with cancer for a ten month period, he was in the hospital for four months in total and at a rehab center for six months total. I was only allowed to see him once every other week because he could only have one visitor in addition to his wife once a week so my sister and I had to split the little time we got with him. My home was empty and desolate and it felt as if there was no life there so whenever I had the opportunity to go Elite and get out of my house and be surrounded by good people and good vibes I took the opening. Elite was the one place that was able to flip my mood and made me truly happy during the times of hardship. My dad has been cancer free for roughly ten months now.

 

Every coach at Elite has taught me a lesson and given me a new perspective and has made my life better in some way. Steve has always had a tough love demeanor to him and through his coaching and being around him and learning from him at all times. Steve often talks about how he wants to help everyone but he is not willing to help anyone if they do not want it enough to help themselves. Listening to his speeches about how you have to want it and how you have to be determined to reach your goals in life has inspired me and made me think about my goals and how I am going to achieve them. Steve also talks about how you have to find the right fit for you and hearing about his stories throughout his college changes and how that worked out to be best for him has shown me that there is always another way and that everyone has different paths in life and that you have to find your own. You can often hear Vinnie yelling at some kids to stay in the room or to close the door and most importantly that if you do not want to be in the room then you should get out to make room for the people who do want to be in the room. One time after a water break Vinnie talked to us and told everyone to “stop being a b*tch” and basically that everyone in the room needs to grow up and stop being a baby. I think about that very often, when I’m taking a hard test in school, when I am tired at work, when I want to quit a work out or stop a run I think to myself “don’t be a b*tch” and I think about how I need to work as hard as I possibly can not to make anyone else proud but to make myself proud. After every hard test or bad day at work or a difficult workout I am grateful that I pushed through and that I was disciplined enough to finish what I had started. Hayden definitely scared me at first, he is super tall and he absolutely towers over me and I was shocked that someone could even be that tall, and then to hear him yell at us in practice made me even more scared. Whenever I walked into a practice on a Tuesday or Thursday and saw him there I knew it would be a rough practice. When I think of Hayden's practices I mostly think of when he would tell us not to sit on the wall and how we could only sit on the wall if we were a state or national champion, and so I never sat on the wall. By not letting us lean on the wall I have grown to understand that not everything is given and that you have to earn it, even if it is something as little as leaning on a wall. Dylan and Mike were always fun to have as coaches at practice because they would normally let you play a game or something like that. The most standout moment of them is right before the high school practice they were scolding the elementary kids because they would not stop goofing around and so the kids had to do a bunch of sprints to make up for their actions and after that I knew that no matter how chill and fun they were as coaches everyone has a breaking point and that anyone who is taking the time to coach you and help you out deserves immense amounts of respect. Every coach at Elite has taught me more than just wrestling technique, they have taught me how to live with discipline, respect, accountability and that no matter what you should always put your best foot forward.

 

The practice that I remember most out of all of them throughout the years has to be last year during spring break and it was right before a bunch of the boys were going to Vegas for the US Open and so the heat was up all the way and it was already super hot and humid out and I though going into the practice that it would just straight up be miserable. As we warmed up I was already dripping in sweat and I did not want to be there and I was miserable and so were the other girls. So we decided to laugh about it and smile and make the practice itself fun for us. We turned a miserably hot and difficult practice into something we could smile and laugh about. Changing our attitudes toward the situation changed the outcome. Simply smiling through the pain of a hard practice made everything so much more enjoyable.

 

Some of my favorite memories and times throughout high school have happened at Elite, from when the mouse ran into practice and Steve caught it in a trash can, to when we went on the slip-n-slide after practice in the rain, to the miserable and hot practices that pushed me to my limit. And the best memories come from all of the friends that I get to call my chosen family now. I get to practice 30 minutes early to talk to Kylie, Marlowe and Ava and I stay 20 minutes after to talk to Eliza and Jaelyn in the parking lot. Elite has become a second home to me and the people there are my second family. I wish I had started to wrestle early and go to Elite earlier so that I could have more time at my favorite place with my favorite people. I will miss all the gossip sessions during warm-ups and all the joking around during live, I will miss hanging out before and after practice, I will miss the complicated drive through Lakewood to the barn but mostly I will miss the people. I never thought I would be able to love a place like Elite Wrestling. I love going to Elite and all the memories and the people and the lessons that I have learned. 2,000 words is nowhere even close enough to describe my love of this place, no words could ever express how deeply I love Elite and how grateful I am for all of it. Elite Wrestling will always hold a special place in my heart.

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2026 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Emma Acampora

Bordentown, Bethany College​​

 

What Elite Means to Me

 

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” — Jackie Robinson

 

I truly believe that every coach at Elite has embodied this quote. My name is Emma Acampora, and I am a senior in the Class of 2026 at Bordentown Regional High School. This fall, I will continue my wrestling journey at Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, where I plan to major in Pre-Law. As I prepare for this next chapter of my life, I have spent a great deal

of time reflecting on the people who helped me get here. While my family has always been my biggest support system, the coaches and community at Elite Wrestling have played an equally important role in shaping me into the athlete—and more importantly, the person—I am today.

 

I have been attending practices at Elite since I first started wrestling four and a half years ago. When I walked into the wrestling room for the first time, I had very little experience and even less confidence. Wrestling is one of the toughest sports someone can choose. It is physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and constantly pushes you outside your comfort zone. Starting later than many of my peers made me feel like I had a mountain to climb. I knew I had a lot of catching up to do, but I also knew I wanted to give everything I had to become the best wrestler I could be.

 

From the very beginning, Steve and the other coaches made me feel like I belonged. They never made me feel behind because I was new. Instead, they encouraged me to keep showing up, work hard, and trust the process. Every practice became another opportunity to improve. Every mistake became another lesson instead of a failure.

 

There were times when finding a practice partner was difficult. Steve never allowed that to become an excuse for me to miss an opportunity to get better. He always found someone willing to work with me and made sure I was included. Looking back, those moments meant far more than I realized at the time. They taught me resilience, confidence, and the importance of creating an environment where everyone feels welcome.

 

As the months turned into years, Elite became much more than a place where I practiced wrestling. It became a second home—a place where I knew I would be challenged, encouraged, and supported every time I walked through the door. The coaches did not just care about how many matches I won or lost. They cared about the kind of person I was becoming. They celebrated my successes, but they also stood beside me through disappointments, reminding me that one difficult match or one tough season never defined who I was.

 

Wrestling has a way of testing every part of you. There are victories that make every sacrifice worthwhile, but there are also heartbreaking losses that leave you questioning yourself. There were moments when I doubted my abilities and wondered if all the hard work was worth it. Those moments can feel incredibly lonely because wrestling is such an individual sport. Once

you step onto the mat, it is just you and your opponent.

 

My senior year was one of the hardest years I have experienced—not just as a wrestler, but as a person. There came a point when I seriously considered walking away from something I had spent years building. I questioned whether I still had the motivation to continue and whether all the sacrifices were worth it.

 

Fortunately, I was not alone. The coaches at Elite recognized that I was struggling before I even knew how to explain what I was feeling. They never judged me or made me feel weak for having doubts. Instead, they listened. They reminded me of how far I had come and helped me rediscover the passion that first brought me into the wrestling room. Sometimes athletes do not need someone to tell them to work harder; they need someone to remind them why they started. That is exactly what the coaches at Elite did for me.

 

Steve, Zeek, Blaine, Vinny, and the rest of the coaching staff always believed in me, even during the moments when I struggled to believe in myself. They saw potential that I could not always see. They challenged me because they knew I was capable of more than I realized. They celebrated my growth while also holding me accountable, teaching me that success is built on consistency, discipline, and character—not talent alone.

 

The lessons I learned at Elite extend far beyond wrestling. I learned that resilience means getting back up after every setback. I learned that confidence comes from preparation, not perfection. I learned that leadership is about setting an example through your actions. Most importantly, I learned that the greatest coaches do not simply create better athletes—they create better people.

 

Those lessons have influenced every aspect of my life, including my education. Throughout my four years of high school, I have maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher while balancing the demands of wrestling, training, and competition. Learning how to manage my time, stay disciplined, and remain committed both on the mat and in the classroom has prepared me for the next step in my academic and athletic career.

 

As I continue my education at Bethany College and pursue a degree in Pre-Law, I know there will be new obstacles, new challenges, and new moments of uncertainty. I also know that wrestling has prepared me for them. The discipline, work ethic, perseverance, and mental toughness I developed at Elite will continue to guide me in every classroom, every competition,

and eventually in my professional career.

 

One of the greatest gifts Elite gave me was a sense of belonging. Walking into that wrestling room never felt like walking into just another practice. It felt like coming home. Every coach invested their time because they genuinely cared about each athlete's growth. Every teammate pushed one another to improve. The culture Steve built created an environment where

hard work, respect, and kindness existed together. That kind of environment is rare, and I will always be grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of it. When I think about Jackie Robinson's quote, I realize it perfectly describes what the coaches at Elite have accomplished. Their impact cannot be measured by championship banners or medals alone. Their true impact is found in the lives they have changed, the confidence they have built, and the futures they have helped shape. I know I am only one of many athletes whose life has been positively influenced because someone chose to believe in them.

 

As I begin this next chapter, I carry with me not only the skills I developed on the mat but also the values Elite instilled in me. Thank you to Steve, Zeek, Blaine, Vinny, and every coach who invested in me over the past four and a half years. Thank you for believing in me before I believed in myself, for challenging me, encouraging me, and never giving up on me.

 

Elite Wrestling will always be more than the place where I learned how to wrestle. It will always be the place that taught me how to persevere, believe in myself, and face life's challenges with courage.

 

No matter where wrestling or life takes me next, Elite will always feel like home.

 

“ Elite 4 Life!”