A graduating senior’s thoughts on his wrestling career

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Dear Edgemont Wrestling Family,

I was fortunate enough to be able to watch most of the NCAA Wrestling Championships this weekend with our entire coaching staff at MSG.

If you’ve never seen it, you absolutely have to. It’s one of the purest sporting events you’ll ever see. No million dollar contracts waiting for these guys, no glory outside of the wrestling community – just 330 student-athletes who have worked incredibly hard most of their lives for a chance to reach their dreams.


As a coach of this sport and knowing what goes into it for the athletes, it’s both thrilling to watch the victories and heart-wrenching to watch the defeats. For all of our coaches, this is true at the NCAA tournament and even more so with our own athletes at Edgemont, whose journeys we’re so personally involved in.

Friends always ask why I’m so tired after a wrestling tournament – “all you did was sit there.”

When I get home from a wrestling tournament I’m physically and emotionally exhausted. My body feels like it’s wrestled each of the dozens of bouts I’ve coached. Our entire staff feels similarly – we’ve talked about it.

You’re so emotionally invested in the successes and failures of your student-athletes and the roller coaster of emotions they face during the wrestling season, it’s easy to ask yourself why you do it.

Anyone who knows me or any of our coaches knows EXACTLY why we do it: to help our kids develop the qualities and characteristics that will make them successful. The adversity and struggle our wrestlers face, the wins and the losses, the exhilaration and the heartbreak are all a part of this.

The sacrifices we make as coaches are always worth it when we know the important life lessons have become a part of our student-athletes.


Hunter Moore ’16

Last month, graduating senior Hunter Moore wrote about what he got out of our program and the impact it’s had on him (by way of a few “Pete-isms”). Rather than tell you about it, I think you need to see it yourself:

When I came to Edgemont in 5th grade, I didn’t know anything about wrestling or the impact it would come to have on my life. Over the years wrestling has taught me many lessons and a lot about myself. As I prepare to put on an Edgemont singlet for the last few times and reflect back on my years wrestling for Edgemont, these are some of the lessons that I will take with me:

“The Buck Stops with You”
You can easily fault your situation for your lack of success, but YOU are the one that controls your destiny. In life, no one cares about your excuses. There is no one to blame for failure but yourself. And if you do fail, try again, and again, and again, because eventually you will succeed. If you want to double your success rate, triple your failure rate. Champions are made when no one is watching.
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“Battle Stations!”
Everything you do in life should be done with a purpose, like you are going to battle.? Bringing intensity to what you do leads to success.
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“Don’t Settle for Mediocrity”
The majority of people will coast through life giving 70%. These people stay in the middle of the pack their whole life. I will not be one of those people.
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“Be a Finisher”
Finish what you start with the same intensity you started with.
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“One More”
If you apply the “one more” mentality to everything you do, your potential is limitless. You can’t go from being a beginner to a state champion in one day but if you improve by just 1% everyday, it will add up.
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“Be Grateful”
It is important to look around you and realize all you have to be grateful for. Sometimes it is instrumental in lifting your spirits. But most importantly, time is limited and you never know what will happen next. Take nothing for granted.
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“The Hay is in the Barn”
Wherever it is you choose to keep your hay, whether it’s a barn or cabin, the hay will be there if you put the work in. Believe in yourself.
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“Process over Outcome”
Everything is a process. It is important to realize this and not to get hung up on outcomes. Focusing on the outcome will only impede your success whereas learning from the process will make your success that much greater.

The lessons I have learned while wrestling for Edgemont are invaluable. Win or lose, no one can take these lessons away from me. My coaches have been an essential part of my growth and success on and off the mat and I know that I would not be where I am today without them. The level of dedication and knowledge they bring is unmatched and I will draw on their example throughout my life.
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I have no doubt that the lessons I learned and the toughness I developed at Edgemont Wrestling instilled in me will be integral to all of my future endeavors. ?I encourage everyone who can to take part in or to support Edgemont Wrestling and I hope that it changes their lives like it changed mine.

– Hunter Moore? ’16

It’s so rewarding to see our wrestlers internalize these lessons and apply them to the rest of their lives. That’s truly what it’s all about.

As you know, to make that happen our program has grown well?beyond what our school funded budget allows. That’s why Edgemont Wrestling Club Inc. exists: to?help cover the costs that our school budget does not – training equipment, travel expenses to tournaments around the state, motivational and promotional materials and more.

Please help us continue to improve our program and the experience we’re able to offer wrestlers like Hunter.

We have three weeks left in our Annual Giving Campaign?and are about 42% to our goal of 42 donors. Please help us maintain our level of excellence. Whether it’s $5 or $1,000 or anything in-between every little bit helps.

Edgemont Wrestling Club Inc. is an independent non-profit 501(c)3 corporation whose sole purpose is to raise money to support the Edgemont Wrestling Program.?All donations are tax-deductible.

Please?help us “Build Champions on the mat and in life.”?Please?help us make a difference.?Please?donate now!

Donate here.

A huge thanks to our 2016 Edgemont Wrestling Club Donors so far:

  • Pete ’96 and Katie Jacobson
  • Bill Magner
  • Manny Alayon
  • Williams Family
  • Mike and Terri Mitchell
  • Adam Lewis ’96
  • Eric Kantor (our 1st Coach!)
  • Ety Rybak ’96
  • Rothschild Family
  • Diana Eppolito
  • Brian Jacobson ’99
  • Thayer Family
  • Wang Family
  • Tommy Cisco ’99
  • Adena Katz
  • Nieves/Evans Family
  • Mann/Moore Family

Thanks and Feed the Panther!

Pete