Teamwork
Joe Russell, Team USA Wrestling Coach
Ready:
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17
Set:
Wrestling is considered an individual sport, but wrestling takes on the form of a team from the moment you step on the mat. We need others to help us learn, grow and succeed.
During my coaching career I have seen this time after time. Three examples from teams I have coached: The first time the University of Minnesota won the NCAA National Championship as a team, no athlete made the national finals. All 10 athletes could not reach their personal goal. Nevertheless, the team decided to wrestle for each other and to do their utmost for each other to win the team title. For the first time in NCAA Wrestling history all 10 wrestlers became All-Americans (top 8 in their respective weight class) and they became the first team to win the team championship without having an individual finalist.
A second example, from the 2017 World Championships in Men’s Freestyle Wrestling, the team title came down to the final 2 matches of the championship. Both bouts pitted USA against Russia. For the USA to win the team championship, the USA needed both wrestlers to win their individual match. Russia needed to win one of the matches for Russia to win the title. In both matches Russia was winning late in the match. Amazingly, in both bouts, the USA athlete scored late to win individual world titles and clinched the team title for USA. The USA Team had not won the team title since 1995.
Lastly, in 2022 and 2023 the USA once again won the World Championship in Men’s Freestyle Wrestling. This result is even more amazing knowing only 4 wrestlers competed in both World Championships. Thus, in 2 World Championships the USA had 16 different wrestlers represent the USA in the 10 weight classes contested each year.
This is a great example of the iron sharpens iron principle we see in the book of Proverbs. Our faith is individual, but our walk with God is often best done as a team. A Huddle is a team of believers working together to love God and love others. And amazing things happen when the team works together!
Go:
How have you seen the benefit of a team mentality in wrestling?
How has a teammate helped you improve as a wrestler?
What steps can you take to build a team of believers to help your faith mature?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, You have gifted me as a wrestler and a lot of time that means I battle alone but I know You created us to be better together. Thank You for the team I am on and for the hard work we all put in. Surround me with a team to build my faith and increase my influence for You. For Your glory, not mine. In Jesus’ name, amen.”