Matthew Goodlove still remembers how he felt when he first decided to join wrestling. To him, it wasn’t just another sport to try for fun. “I would say wrestling is kind of like a long-term investment,” Goodlove said. “The more you put in, the more you get out.” He didn’t expect it to be easy, but he knew that if he committed, it would be worth it in the end.

Wrestling definitely proved him right about one thing, that’s it’s hard. “Wrestling is a tough sport here and there,” Goodlove said. As a Varsity wrestler, there were plenty of days where practice felt endless and everything hurt. But for Goodlove it felt harder since he wrestles at 106 it’s more of a challenge for him to make weight and cut. “At that moment, you’re going to think that it sucks,” he admits. A lot of the time, he wanted practice to be over before it even started. But once he looked back on those moments and long practices, his mindset changed. “Once you look at it more in depth, it’s so enjoyable,” he said. The hard parts are what make the wins feel even better.

One thing Goodlove really likes about wrestling is the team. Even though it’s an individual sport, you don’t feel alone. “Just being with your teammates is huge,” he said. Going through the same tough workouts and practices builds a bond that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been there. You’re all tired, all struggling, but still pushing each other to get better.

At the same time, wrestling is different from other sports. “It’s the only sport out there that’s really just you,” Goodlove explains. “You’re the one that gets to make the decision on what’s going to happen.” When he steps onto the mat, everything depends on him. “You’re on the mat with all the eyes on you,” he said. “It’s not your team, it’s just you.” That pressure can be scary, but it also pushes him to be better.

Goodlove knows that some people don’t understand wrestling. “Some people may talk bad about this sport,” he said. But he thinks that’s because they don’t see how mental it really is. “It’s such a mental sport,” Goodlove explains. “You’ve just got to be prepared for what you’re getting into.” Wrestling isn’t just about strength it’s also about staying focused and not giving up when things get tough.

For freshmen coming into high school who are thinking about joining wrestling, Goodlove has simple advice. “If you’re a freshman and you just started wrestling or want to get into it, I’d definitely say yeah,” he said. “Wrestling is a fun sport.” He’s not putting down other sports either. “No hate on basketball,” Goodlove adds. “If you want to do it, do it.” But for Goodlove, wrestling stands out because of how personal it is. “It’s a big decision, and you’ve got to commit to it,” he said and for him, that commitment has been completely worth it.