As I look back on my sons wrestling career I have been proud of everything that he has accomplished. He has learned to work hard and enjoy and respect the sport itself. This will take him to the next level in wrestling and life itself.

As parents we need to realize that if they don't enjoy it at 11 they aren't going to be doing it in high school, and that is what it is all about.

The one thing that I have always believed in wrestling more than any other sport is that you have to learn how to lose as well as how to win.

I am sure that there have been moments when I have got on Tyler for a certain match, and I am not proud of that. The one thing that I have learned is that you need to be supportive in the losses as well as the victories.

Last year, his Senior season, Tyler had more than his share of physical problems. Things weren't going the way that he had planned for his senior season injury wise. He was never 100% throughout the season but went on the best he could. During his Quarter final match he lost a close one that I feel he should have won, as did he. I felt that maybe he overlooked that match looking for a rematch with Johnson. When he came into the stands I knew that he was devastated by the defeat and I was concerned that he was going to be one of those that doesn't come back and just throw in the towel. We had a little talk about what things meant not only for him but his team and he went on and redeemed himself by beating that same kid he lost to 5-0 for third place.

For this I am probably more proud of than anything he has accomplished.