by Jon Gums – Dakota Grappler

The postseason is here. Everything you’ve been grinding for, every early morning, every late-night workout, every drill, every sacrifice—it’s all led to this moment. State is within reach. The question is: How will you show up when it matters most?

This is not the time to hesitate. It’s not the time to hold back. Now is the time to trust yourself, trust your training, and let it fly.

All the Tools in the Toolbox

Throughout the season, you’ve been building your skill set—adding new techniques, sharpening old ones, and refining your mental and physical conditioning. Now, in these crucial weeks, it’s not about learning something new. It’s about using what you already have.

The biggest mistake wrestlers make in the postseason is overthinking. They hesitate, they get cautious, and they start wrestling to not lose instead of wrestling to win. That’s not how champions are made.

Take a deep breath and remember: You already have everything you need.

• That sweep single you’ve drilled a thousand times? Hit it with confidence.
• That escape you can hit in your sleep? Explode off the bottom.
• That gas tank you’ve built from weeks of grinding? Push the pace and break them.

This is the time to trust your tools and wrestle with freedom.

Conditioning Wins Championships

At this point in the season, everyone is skilled. Everyone has put in work. But not everyone is conditioned for war.

When the third period comes and both wrestlers are exhausted, who breaks first? The one who let excuses creep into their training. The one who didn’t push through the extra reps. The one who cut corners.

That’s not you.

You put in the work. You’ve suffered through the grind. Now it’s time to trust it. You are in the best shape of your life. You can wrestle hard for six minutes—and if it takes overtime, so be it. They’re tired too. The difference is, you’re ready for it.

The Mindset of a Champion

Wrestling is not just physical. It’s mental. And in the postseason, mindset is everything.

• Doubt is your enemy. You are prepared. You belong here. Believe it.
• Pressure is a privilege. Not everyone gets to compete for a shot at State. Embrace the moment.
• Focus on what you can control. Your effort. Your attitude. Your will to win.

As Michael Jordan once said, “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.”

The moment you step on the mat, know that you can win. No hesitation. No second-guessing. Just belief and action.

Wrestle Free, Wrestle Bold

There’s no holding back now. There’s no saving energy for the next round. The time for caution is over. Go all in.

• Wrestle loose. Confidence is key.
• Wrestle aggressive. Make them react to you.
• Wrestle with heart. Leave no doubt that you gave it everything you had.

This is your time. Go earn your ticket to State. Wrestle with fire. Wrestle with passion. Let it fly.

You got this. Now go to work.