Bakersfield.com

What an exciting experience it was to be a part of the crowd at the recent California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) wrestling championships.  The hard work, dedication, and expertise of each wrestler was apparent to all.  My hat is off to each medalist along with a great amount of respect for the GPA’s of 3.3 or above, if I heard correctly, of each of the finalists. 

Not to diminish in any way the awesome fete of each of the medal winners, my heart and thoughts are directed to those who lost matches and saw their dream of being a champion dashed.  These words are for you Greg and all of the other wrestlers who had worked so hard and seemed to walk away empty handed.

It hurts to lose! I do understand.  I too have experienced the hurt of working hard at something only to have it not work out.  It hurts deeply to lose a match fair and square, but doubly so when the loss comes based on the poor judgment of others, no matter how well meaning.  Remember this, the ref…whether right or wrong…only has the authority to withhold a medal.  He cannot tear from your heart who you are as a person.

Greg, others have said you have a “funky” style of wrestling.  So what?  Perhaps they haven’t had the health and other issues to deal with that caused you to develop your own style.  You stuck it out and deserve to be given credit for being an individual who stood firm and earned his position as an awesome wrestler.  I appreciate who you are as a young man with the maturity to work with those having special needs while others shun or laugh at them. You are known for your kind and helpful spirit.  You have stayed behind and done a great deal of “grunt” work with wrestling cleanup when the others walked away.  Having watched your hard work and dedication in the face of sometimes unkind or unfair circumstances has helped me appreciate you more than words can say.  And just think...there are many others just like you!

To all who won, I say hold your head up high and be proud of your accomplishment, just take time to remember the many hard fought matches and wrestlers that helped you develop your strength.  To those who lost, hold your head up as well, for the value of your integrity and hard work can never be withheld from you.  Each participant at the tournament was a winner.  Every wrestler and coach can take this experience and build upon it to encourage those God will bring through their lives over the coming years.  Medal winners can encourage others not to give up, that hard work does pay off.  Non-medalists just think! Who better than you will be able to lend a listening ear and understanding heart to others who are passing through their own painful experiences?

A thank you goes to all coaches, volunteers, families, and schools for the encouragement of CIF excellence.  Kids like those who competed at this tournament are reason for pride and hope.  No matter how our crazy word is turned upside down today, we can all sleep better at night because out there in schools across our nation are young people who know how to work hard and strive to be the best not just athletically, but scholastically and personally as well.  

Thank you Phil for not only being Greg’s dad, but for your 13 years and countless thousands of hours dedicated to faithfully being his coach and mentor.  The selfless gift of your example and encouragement will live on in Greg and the hundreds of other youth you have coached over the years.  The world would be a better place if more dads were as giving and faithful as you. 

God bless all involved with CIF, but particularly you Greg.  You have become more than just my beloved grandson, you are now one of my heroes.  We know we can trust the words of Christ who said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness." ….So Greg and all the others….there was pain in losing but no real losers,  The best is yet to come!

Love,  Grandma Kay Kapler