Adversity can make us better

“Let’s face it, we’re all imperfect and we’re going to fall short on occasion. But we must learn from failure and that will enable us to avoid repeating our mistakes. Through adversity, we learn, grow stronger and become better people.” — John Wooden
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To be human is to err.
It’s in our nature.
All the greats who have succeed have at some point in their lives — some often more than others — failed.
Michael Jordan. Peyton Manning. Babe Ruth. Wayne Gretzky.
Throughout their respective careers, each one of them has failed.
How they have bounced back from those letdowns, however, helped define who they are as people and athletes.
Before Sunday, Manning had failed in the Super Bowl.
Twice.
But he did not allow those shortcomings to dictate who he is as a player.
During the IHSAA semi-state wrestling meet Saturday at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne — the tournament starts at 8:30 a.m. — nine local wrestlers will have a chance to make John Wooden’s words a reality.
The seven Jay County High School wrestlers and the two from South Adams all experienced failure during the regional meet Saturday at Jay County.
The ultimate sign of failure is a notch in the loss column.
None were bigger Saturday than Andy Kohler’s first defeat of the season.
Without question there are a number of things the JCHS senior would do differently in his championship match, such as being more aggressive at the start and more conservative at the end.
Wooden said it best.
“We’re all imperfect and we’re going to fall short on occasion.”
Saturday was such a time for Kohler.
A very select few are fortunate enough to go an entire season without a defeat.
To lose is to be imperfect. There is nothing wrong with losing. In wrestling — and most sports — there is always a winner and a loser.
Being the loser is OK.
“But we must learn from failure and that will enable us to avoid repeating our mistakes.”
Every action, whether positive or negative, is a learning experience.
‘This works. I should keep doing it.’
Or, ‘This doesn’t work, I need to find something else that does.’
It’s how Kohler was able to win his sectional title match; he fell behind early and he realized what he was doing wasn’t working. He took a different approach for the rest of the match and won.
All nine wrestlers at some point lost on Saturday. For five of them, it was their final match of the day. The others were able to bounce back to win their third-place matches.
Each of them faced hardships. Jay County sophomores Kaimen Sanders and Gaven Hare, juniors Tyler Leonhard and Ivan Hemmelgarn and seniors Dallas Dudelston and Kohler all lost at least once. South Adams sophomores Wyatt Miller and Isaiah Baumgartner did too.
Some lost twice.
That’s OK.
“Through adversity, we learn, grow stronger and become better people.”
Kohler said losing for the first time was a reality check. It grounded him. In a sense it told him, though not directly, of Wooden’s quote.
We’re all imperfect.
Saturday will be the time for him, his teammates and the pair from South Adams to do three things whether they win or lose.
Learn.
Grow stronger.
Become better people.