Team Leader From My Sophomore Year example essay topic

Silence Rolls over the crowd like a slow moving wave headed towards the shore. Continually pounding in my head is the thought, "This is my chance to show them what I'm made of". My heart beats faster as I began to bounce from side to side in an attempt to get warmed up. My hands begin to shake as adrenaline courses through my veins while I anticipate the upcoming match. All I can taste is the salt on my lips as the sweat drips down my face. Just before my final tournament my Senior year I realized trying out for a varsity sport my freshman year of high school proved to be a key turning point in my life because as a poor student in junior high, wrestling taught me the discipline I needed to do well in school.

Starting on a varsity sport as a freshman was crucial because it provided me with a reason to strive for academic success. Also, it was the driving force behind maintaining and improving my physical and mental fitness. Finally, being a team leader from my sophomore year on meant that I would not only have to push myself, but to push my teammates to strive for excellence as well. "Stephen Curtis, bout 108", I snap back to reality as I hear my name, its almost time for me to wrestle. As I remove my jumpsuit, the cold air of the gym stings my sweaty skin like a half frozen snowball thrown from twenty feet away.

My heart is racing even faster than before while I try to concentrate on the first three moves I plan to execute. I think to myself, "Finally, it's my turn to wrestle". this is what I love this is what I worked so hard for; all the hard work and dedication not only on the mat, but in class as well. As an academically poor student in junior high, the love for wrestling not only forced me, but encouraged me to want to improve in school so that I would be academically eligible to wrestle. In the majority of my junior high school years, I barely maintained passing grades. It wasn't until my freshman year that I began to buckle down academically, and show a vast improvement in my grades. Two other strong contributing factors to my improving grades were my mental and physical improvements.

Weather running, doing calisthenics, or live wrestling I enhanced my physical appearance as well as my athletic ability. Through research doctors have proven that athletic training can strengthen mental ability. By maintaining an excellent physical condition through wrestling allowing me to burn extra energy helping me to sleep better and relieve stress through physical activity my intellectual ability has improved. As a sophomore at a two year old school I was an early team leader.

During my freshman year there were only two classes' freshman and sophomores, and my sophomore year there were no seniors. I was a team captain as a sophomore which gave me a lot of responsibilities. As a captain I was in charge of the other wrestlers, helping to demonstrate moves, and keep the other wrestlers on task. By taking charge of not only myself but other people I have become more responsible in life and my school studies as well. The referee blows the whistle and a shrill sound cuts the air like a hot knife through butter. I focus on the three moves that a decided on before the match and try to execute them.

The first move I try is a single leg take down, unsuccessful in this shot I move straight to the next move, a double leg take down. By not allowing my opponent to reset himself after my first move he was not prepared to stop my second. Two points, I now have the advantage and he is down in referee position. Trying to further my advantage I try to flatten him to his stomach, removing any leverage he might have. To do this I chop his arm like a woodsman would a tree, buckling his elbow and driving his face into the mat.

The first period ends with no other points being scored. The referee flips the coin and I win the toss. "Top, bottom, neutral or defer" he questions. "Bottom" I reply trying to catch my breath.

The whistle blows and I Granby, a move that looks like a cart-wheel from your knees with no hands. My opponent ends on his back surprised at what happen. After a short struggle for position, I pin him in this move and win the match. While both being exhausted from the match, we stand and shake hands. Still trembling from the adrenaline pumping through my body my hand is raised by the referee. I have just clinched the first win of the tournament.

Two years ago I never saw myself at this point. I have learned many things through wrestling, most of which I do not think I would have learned if I had not started my freshman year. I also believe if I had not wrestled varsity from a freshman on I wouldn't have been experienced enough to wrestle in college. God has given me an excellent opportunity here to use the gift he gave me, wrestling, to gain a college education.