After one of my speaking engagements down in South Texas, I opened the floor up to questions, which I love to do. Questions are often times way better than answers because they cause you to truly think. A 16-year-old young man proceeded to ask me, “What is the difference between a winner and a champion?” I know. You are probably thinking, “That is great question from someone that young.” Well, he was Texan, which speaks for itself. Seriously though, there are many opinions on the answer to this question, but I need to give you mine before you read my Checklist for a Champion below.

Winners put the time and commitment into achieving their goal. Winners put in the extra hard work and deeply believe in themselves. Winners plan on making good decisions every day and fail forward as they make mistakes. Winners use the gifts God blessed them with to the best of their ability. Most importantly, when it comes time to shine, winners do their best and let God take care of the rest. Regardless of the outcome, a winner recognizes the utter importance of giving their best, full, and complete effort.
Because of these traits, many winners become champions. On the other hand, there are tons of winners who never win the gold medal, first place trophy, or blue ribbon, but they will always be winners in life because of their positive attitude and priceless humility. Winners know life is not all about them.

Champions win the Title! They are the City, State, National, and Olympic Champions.
Champions get the gold! However, you can be a champion and not be a winner. Champions are not always humble. Some champions foolishly think the world revolves around them. Some champions feel they deserve special treatment due to their achievement. Sooner or later, all champions realize their title will not bring them long-term joy. Being a champion will make you happy because it’s an exhilarating happening, but the happiness will soon fade with the burdens of this fallen world. This why being a champion cannot be the most important thing in your life. You can’t put all your eggs into the champions golden basket. You must focus on something much greater! The greater gold comes from always being a winner while striving to become a champion.
If you become the champion, your winning attitude will keep you on the right track. If you don’t become the champ, you will always be a winner.

Now you know what I think about that, what does it take to become a champion wrestler?

1. Begin wrestling when you’re young: I began wrestling when I was 6. Most NCAA and Olympic Champions began wrestling sometime between 5-10 years of age. However, there are some quality exceptions. Kerry Boumans began wrestling in Louisiana when he was a freshman in high school. He eventually became the State Champion, a NAIA Champion at the University of Mary, the 2000 US Open Champion, and 2001 World Cup Champion. Kerry was the 2000 Olympic Alternate at 127.5 lbs.
2. Wrestle in many tournaments. Wrestle in big tournaments: Besides competing in your area, wrestle in tournaments in many other states. Go to National tournaments. You have to gain the vital “Big Show” experience. You have to lose to win.
3. Begin wrestling freestyle and Greco Roman as soon as possible: The sooner you begin wrestling in the summer and fall, the sooner you’ll become a champion. Playing baseball in the summer can be a blast, but if you want to be a champion wrestler, it can sidetrack your skills. Set early goals for winning the Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo, ND. If you do well in Fargo and earn good grades, your chances of wresting in College are very high.
4. Dream Big: If you desire to become an NCAA or Olympic Champion, set those as your goals. Write your goals down on a sheet of paper. Hang that paper up in a place where you can see it everyday. I started dreaming of being an Olympic Champion when I was 8 after seeing the 1984 Olympics on TV.
“To achieve the possible, you must attempt the impossible. To be all you can be you must dream of being more.”
5. Go to summer camps and be teachable: Learn from some of the best coaches and wrestlers in the world. You will learn from the best and get a chance to wrestle with the best. Often times, you will realize Olympic Champions are showing similar technique to your coaches back home. You will also realize Olympic Champions are really goofy just like you. This is a good realization to have! Be a sponge and learn as much technique as possible. Take a spiral to camp and take notes on all the technique you learn. Going to a camp is like going a class. You should always take good notes.
6. Purchase technique videos of your favorite wrestlers. Read wrestling magazines: It can cost anywhere from $500-$3000 to get a NCAA or Olympic Champion to do a clinic in your area, but you can have them in your house on video anytime you want for $30. It baffles me when people think $30 is too much for a wrestling video. I bought some of Kendall Cross and John Smith’s videos the other day. When you read wrestling magazines, you keep up with our evolving sport and learn vital insight from wrestlers who have already been there and done that. When you think you know it all, is when you actually know nothing.
7. Plug into your Spiritual Strength: Being a champion requires physical and mental strength, but by adding spiritual strength, one becomes a total athlete. To add spiritual strength, you must humble yourself before your Heavenly Father and begin to delight yourself in the Lord. You humble yourself by prayerfully admitting you can do nothing for God’s Kingdom without His Strength and Courage through you. You delight yourself in the Lord through Bible Study, Prayer, Worship, and Fellowship. Read your Bible for depth not just distance. Pray however you want as long as it’s sincere and from the heart. Worship is praising and thanking God through song, nature, or serving others. Fellowship is spending quality time with the Fellows on Christ’s Ship toward Heaven. In 1999, I finished 6th in the World Team Trials with physical and mental strength. After that tournament, I humbled myself to God and began delighting myself in Him. Within a year, God took me from 6th in the US to 1st in the World. Will that happen to you? Maybe, if it’s according to God’s Will. But, even if you don’t become the champ, you will forever be a winner for Christ, which is infinitely more important.

I wish you well along your journey. Don’t rush it! Eat your cereal slow. Take time to stop and smell the mat room. Plan for the future yet live in the moment while choosing right. Regardless of what happens, please, know God loves you and has a plan for your life if you draw near to Him. If you want to know more about a relationship with God, check out the “Belief System” link on the new GreaterGold.com web site.

"They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally."
I Corinthians 9:25 (Msg)

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