I couldn't be more proud of Mason for what he has done for our program and for himself. Mason became a first for me as a coach this weekend as he made and competed on the Oklahoma National Dual Team. As a member of the team Mason went 3-3 in Greco and Freestyle this weekend against the best high school wrestlers in the country. But this is a blip on the map of Mason's whole story.
Mason's dad Matt moved his family back to his alma mater a few years back when Mason was a junior high student. Mason at that time had a mixed martial arts background, but a short history in the sport of wrestling when he became a Zebra. During his first week I could tell that not only was Mason different, his family was different as well. After a conversation standing outside my office after a Christmas Break practice I knew what I needed to know about Mason and his family. They were the type of people that knew there are no such things as short cuts. Mason wanted to be great and his parents were willing to do whatever it takes to make this dream come true for him.
Like I said before there are no short cuts in life or wrestling. In a world of instant gratification that does not exist in the grand scheme of things. Mason is living proof of this understanding. Mason wrestled sparingly in his first year a Zebra, walking into a room of tough wrestlers that had a little more experience. So at the end of the season Mason and Matt asked the question that most kids and parents ask " what do we need to do?" The difference is they meant it when they asked and they followed through. They were told the concept is simple, but the path will be rough. You want to be great, you need to freestyle and give up part of your spring and summer and continue to train. No problem and they did. That wasn't enough for Mason, so the next question was "what else can we do?" The answer, Coach Williams and Coach Jahn. Mason started doing extra workouts with these two coaches on a regular basis, which meant some days Mason was working out 3 times a day. You see it is easy to ask coaches the questions, the hard part is actually following through. Over the past 4 years Mason, with the help of his family has done just that. 4 years of extra workouts. 4 years of giving up evenings with his friends to train. 4 years of doing whatever it takes for a chance, not a guarantee, a chance to be great. Well Mason you are there and you have reached the greatness, but the work is not done and Mason will not stop, and luckily for the Zebras and for Coach Willard, Mason has another year as he is going to be a senior.
To sum up, what Mason and his family has done for the Zebra Wrestling Team is made a road map for all the future kids that are in the program that ask the question "what do I need to do?" The answer that I will be giving them is "ask Mason." When the parent whose kid can not start as an 8th grader asks me "how can I help my kid get to where he needs to be?" My answer "ask Matt, he knows the way."
One last congratulations to Mason and good luck in Fargo, and I cannot wait for next year when our very own member of the Oklahoma National Team and returning state runner-up is a senior. Everyone in his way better look out. Mason is coming for his title.