Just interested in opinions of all, what makes wrestling the greatest sport the world has ever known. what seperates it from other sports, and finally, where would you be without wrestling?

Wrestling is a Sport apart from all others. It is a contest of strength, skill and sheer will between two men. There are no roped rings, balls, or goal zones. Just the mat, your opponent and YOU!! A wrestler is not often given the recognition or fanfare of more popular sports. Yet... the demands of will, discipline, and commitment are extraordinary. While technically a team sport, the action is One-on-One, making self-reliance

an inseparable component. Each match becomes a test, a test of ability

and a test of true character.

Very well put. I will also add this response is to kdsmith27 post. he is a coach if I am not mistaken and this is what is being taught to our young wrestlers. fantastic.

Wrestling is a Sport apart from all others. It is a contest of strength' date=' skill and sheer will between two men. There are no roped rings, balls, or goal zones. Just the mat, your opponent and YOU!! A wrestler is not often given the recognition or fanfare of more popular sports. Yet... the demands of will, discipline, and commitment are extraordinary. While technically a team sport, the action is One-on-One, making self-reliance

an inseparable component. Each match becomes a test, a test of ability

and a test of true character.[/quote']

Well said :wink:

Some other sports are good, but wrestling saved my life i know for a fact if i wouldnt have started wrestling i would be in trouble. It gives you so much discipline and strength inside and out it makes you a tougher and wiser person. People dont realize how much work we do to get where we are or want to be. Wrestling is THE best sport because it is our sport and and i have respect for all who step out onto the mat ready to win. Wrestling is truly an artform.

This is an article I got from my home town newspaper a few year ago. I think it explains perfectally why wrestling is the greatest sport.

Wrestling is not a glamour sport

Its history dates back to ancient times and there isn’t another high school sport like it. Wrestling is certainly a breed apart when it comes to athletic competition. There isn’t a ball to catch, throw or hit and there isn’t a lot of equipment to protect your body. Jumping and running aren’t requirements and being big or small doesn’t give you any type of advantage. You can’t call a timeout when the mood strikes you and your teammates can only watch and encourage. Wrestling is most definitely a bare essentials sport.

What wrestling isn’t, is a glamour sport. You hardly ever see any competitions on television and sports information books, that are released every year, barely contain any reference to it. For the most part, wrestlers toil in an overshadowed sport that deserves more recognition than it gets.

Participants are divided into weight classes that categorize the Wrestlers and also give them an identity. You hear wrestling fans say things like, “I don’t know another 215 that can beat him.” or “He’s only a freshman, next year he’ll be at 125.” And most importantly, the wrestlers weight class becomes the common ground he shares with his weekly opponents.

The 103-pound wrestlers walk onto the mat looking too small and wiry to effectively battle one another but their quickness and ferocity soon become apparent as the match gets underway and the level of their talent is every as good as the larger weight classes.

At the other end of the spectrum are the heavyweights. The 275-pounders may not be as quick as their lighter teammates but they make up for it with brute strength. A competitive match between two wrestlers of this size sometimes takes on the qualities of a heavyweight boxing match. The last man standing wins.

The coaches sit at a corner of the mat and they yell for their team members to perform various moves and techniques. The younger and less experienced wrestlers need the coaching and the more experienced participants sometimes need the reminders.

When the match is completed, the wrestlers shake hands with each other and then shake hands with the opposing coaches. Sportsmanship is a must. Points can be awarded to your opponent if the referee finds your conduct to be improper and team points may be taken away if your behavior is inappropriate.

Wrestling has an unwritten code that stresses respect. Respect for your opponent, his coaches, the officials, and respect for the spoil itself. In most cases, the respect between opponents is easy to discern. Being a part of a wrestling team seems to automatically bond you with other school’s wrestlers. You want to beat them when you can but you also understand that they’ve been through the same tough realities that you’ve been through,

The fans of this sport are especially passionate and rabid. They exhort their team from the bleachers with feverish enthusiasm. The level of noise at a wrestling meet is directly proportional to the action that is occurring on the mats and when a wrestler gets close to pinning a worthy adversary the sound in the gym can be deafening.

For a wrestler to be successful he must train with a purpose that requires sacrifice and discipline. Lots of stretching and exercises and plenty of endurance work. And stepping on the scales before every match also means a carefully controlled intake of foods. Too many pounds on the day of your match may result in some creative ways to quickly shed those calories that could prevent you from wrestling.

The discipline that wrestling requires teaches the participants a lot about themselves, not only as an athlete but also as an individual. Only you can decide how hard you want to work; how much you want to sacrifice; and how willing you are to do the best that you can. When the match starts, it’s only you and your opponent out there on the mat. There’s no place to hide and no teammate to help hide a weakness.

Wrestlers deal with different forms of pride. They dutifully represent their school and wear the colors that many other proud wrestlers have worn before them. They’ll ceaselessly attempt to score points for their team. And most of all, they’ll endlessly strive to do the best that they can, not just for their school or their team, but for themselves.

Carl Pepin is sport editor for the York County Coast Star

That was a great article

Something i always tell my parents that sets wrestling apart from other sports (IMHO) is that its a sport that kids of all shapes and sizes can participate in and excel....it all comes down to heart & determination. 103 lbers that would have little to no chance of being a stand out varsity bball or football player can excel in this sport. a 103 lbs state champion can be proud of their accomplishments as much as any 6'10'' center on the varsity bball team. also because our sport has wrestle offs, there's little to no politics in this sport.