coaching Had some wonderful news today. My oldest son, Caleb, is in his freshman year at King College. He was given the opportunity to attend this college because of his wrestling accomplishments and was offered a scholarship.
Upon entering his freshman year, he was faced with a number of difficult situations. The academic load proved to be a heavy one and the standards for King College are higher than most other colleges. The academic load coupled with the wrestling regimen was almost more than he could bear. He did manage A's in his first semester but the cutting weight, work outs in the middle of the night, drives across country with the team and practices every day, tested Caleb's very core.
Anyone who knows Caleb, is impressed and enamoured with his character. (I realize that I am the mom... but it's true!) A Christian in heart, mind and spirit, no one doubted where Caleb stood on his beliefs. He lived his life to honor God and through high school and his first year at college he never faltered.
Somewhere in the middle of the season, Caleb decided that he didn't want to wrestle anymore. He struggled through the season, knowing that soon he would have to tell everyone that had been counting on him, the decision he had made. He wanted to know what it was like to just be a student. He wanted to focus on his academics without the added worry of wrestling. But he wondered what it was going to be like to be on the other side of the mat. He worried that if he didn't wrestle all four years in college that he would never get the coaching position he hoped for once he graduated. And he wanted to go out big.
All these doubts and worries and every day he plugged on, cutting weight, training just as he was coached to do. determined to follow through to the end and give his best even though deep down he wanted to be finished, he wanted this nightmare to end.
Caleb DID follow through, he made it to Nationals, among the elite. Once at Nationals, Caleb lost two matches and was out of the tournament. He beat himself up for not winning like he thought he should have... he was tired and beaten and for the first time since fifth grade, he found himself on the other side of the mat. He USED to be a good wrestler, instead of BEING a good wrestler.
While still at the National Tournament, the coaches were voting on the one wrestler to win the Champion of Character award... at the end of the tournament, Caleb's name was called as the Champion of Character. An outstanding award, to say the least, but among the doubts and fears swarming Caleb's mind, he barely had time to notice what others had known all along. That Caleb WAS a winner, he excelled where others could not.
Caleb came back to King College to finish out the semester... he got a part time job in Johnson City and was well on his way to moving forward... Today, we are in the middle of the last semester of Caleb's freshman year and he is working hard at his goal to be a teacher and a coach. Hoping that his decision was the right one... hoping that it won't be too hard to stand at his brother's wrestling matches and know that he is no longer part of the competition.
But today there was an answer to prayer, evidence that God knew all along what the plan for Caleb was...and evidence that His hand is in our lives every day.
Coach Brimer, Head Coach at Greeneville High School, is retiring this year. His youngest son graduates in May and Coach Brimer will be leaving with him. Coach Brimer had Caleb as a wrestler for six years and had ample time to witness the type of young man he has become. With Coach Brimer leaving, Coach Shelton, the current Assistant Coach, will be moving up to the Head Coaching position.
This morning Caleb got a call from Coach Shelton. Caleb was offered the position of Assistant Coach at Greeneville High School. A paid position, doing what Caleb loves to do. Coach Shelton said that he and Coach Brimer had been discussing the Assistant Coach position and that he knew that there was no on else in this world that he would want MORE as an Assistant Coach than Caleb Myers......... And the icing on the cake is that Justin, Caleb's brother, will be a senior next year and Cody, Caleb's other brother will be a freshman... and Caleb will be coaching them.
The only thing I could say to Caleb that showed him where my pride lay was this: "It was your character that got you here, not your ability in wrestling. And all of the work and the follow through, WAS realized, seen and honored... Congratulations, son. I am so proud of you"
I love you - Mom
