Monday Motivation: Bouncing Back from an Early Loss
by Jon Gums – Dakota Grappler
This past weekend marked the beginning of the wrestling season for most athletes in North and South Dakota. For many, it was a weekend of excitement, anticipation, and the chance to see how all that pre-season work translated to the mat. Some of you walked away with victories, while others faced early-season losses. If you found yourself on the losing side, this message is for you.
An early loss can feel discouraging, but remember: a state championship is not won in week one. In fact, it’s often the setbacks, not the successes, that forge champions. Wrestling is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about consistency, growth, and how you respond when things don’t go your way. As the legendary coach John Wooden said, “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”
1. Reflect, Don’t Dwell
Losing a match doesn’t define you—it educates you. Take time to reflect on what happened. Were you outmatched technically? Did conditioning play a role? Were there moments where you hesitated or lost focus? These questions aren’t meant to bring you down but to build you up.
Every loss is an opportunity to improve. Analyze your match honestly, talk to your coach, and identify the areas where you can grow. Remember, the best wrestlers aren’t the ones who never lose; they’re the ones who learn the most from their losses.
2. Get Back to Work
Now that you’ve identified areas to improve, it’s time to get back into the saddle. The mat doesn’t care about last weekend’s results—it’s waiting for your effort today. Recommit to hard work and consistency in practice. Drill the techniques that need sharpening, push your conditioning to the next level, and focus on the details.
As Tim Tebow says, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” If you stay consistent in your efforts, those small improvements will add up week after week. By the time you step onto the mat again, you’ll be a better version of yourself.
3. Keep the Big Picture in Mind
It’s easy to get caught up in early-season results, but wrestling isn’t about peaking in week one. The goal is to build steadily, improving each week so you’re at your best come February. A loss in December is just a stepping stone on the path to your ultimate goal.
Think about the great champions you admire. Do you think they remember every match they lost early in the season? Probably not. They remember how those losses motivated them to work harder, stay focused, and keep pushing toward their goals. As Tony Robbins reminds us, “Success is buried on the other side of frustration.” Let this moment of frustration drive you forward.
4. Control What You Can
Focus on the things within your control:
- Effort in practice: Show up every day ready to work harder than you did yesterday.
- Nutrition: Fuel your body with the right foods to optimize performance.
- Rest and recovery: Make sleep and recovery a priority so your body and mind are ready for the grind.
- Attitude: Approach every challenge with a positive mindset and a belief in your ability to improve.
By controlling these aspects of your training, you’ll create a foundation for success that will carry you through the entire season.
5. Believe in the Process
The journey to a state championship is never a straight line. There will be highs and lows, victories and losses, triumphs and setbacks. Embrace the process and trust that your hard work will pay off.
Gary Becka once said, “A champion is someone who gets up when they can’t.” Even when a loss feels heavy, get back up. Keep moving forward. The work you put in today will show up when it matters most.
Final Words
Wrestlers, this is just the beginning of the season. Whether you won or lost this weekend, it’s time to refocus. An early loss isn’t the end—it’s the start of a new chapter in your journey. Take the lessons, get back to work, and remember: champions are made not in week one but in the consistent effort you bring to every practice, every match, and every day.
Your story is far from over. The State Tournament is 14 weeks away, and a lot can happen in that time. Stay hungry, stay focused, and let this setback fuel your comeback. “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Now, lace up your shoes, hit the mat, and get to work. Your best season is still ahead of you.
