Your Story
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Email to trm@wiwrestling.com
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"Under DOG"
(updated Saturday, September 2,
2006)
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Hello, my name is Jeff Prins and I have been involved in wrestling
for 10 years and this is my story of the Underdog.
I started wrestling in 1994 (age 8) for the Mighty Knights Wrestling
Club in Beloit Wisconsin. This was my first experience in wrestling.
I learned that amateur wrestling isn't like Pro Wrestling on TV. I’m
not your average normal built wrestler because I wrestle with a
physical handicap known as Cerebral Palsy. My left leg is shorter
then the right leg and I walk with a limp. Likewise, when you are
wrestling with a physical handicap their will always be doubters or
believers. I had more doubters then believers and throughout the
1994 I was breaking down the doubters wall and building a chain of
believers with my coaches, and teammates. Therefore, if you do not
try going for the gold you will never know.
Then from 1995 – 2000 my wrestling journey would be challenged with
perseverance, heartache, and opportunity. I learned the word
perseverance as I would watch some of my teammates walk away from
wrestling and the ones that stayed in the game persevered with
winning records, and achieved personal goals. I learned word
heartache at Aldrich Middle School as I would have a winless
wrestling record for two years. Likewise, opportunity always knocked
on my door as I was able increase my folk style wrestling background
by learning a couple Granby moves like the suicide roll.
Furthermore, during those five years I learned perseverance by
understanding that without failure you won’t succeed and when you
are able to increase your wrestling knowledge you should.
Lastly, from 2000 – 2004 my wrestling journey was compiled by
relentless effort, attitude, and success. During my four years at
Beloit Memorial High school relentless effort was one of the phrases
that rang inside the wrestling room on a daily basis. Those words
rang so much in my ears that I would represent relentless effort all
four years. For instance I was relentless to get better in the
weight room, wrestling room, and in the classroom. My winless streak
continued all the way through my sophomore year. That winless streak
would end in my junior year as I won my first match ever and as for
the attitude I would repeat in 2003 as the Hardest weightlifting
Champion for the second time. Then as my four years in high school
came to an end in 2004 I would win another match, varsity captain,
and be a high school graduate.
In closing, you will either love me, hate me, but you will never
forget me and always remember “Winners make the most mistakes” –
John Wooden
Jeff Prins
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"Under DOG"
update
( from June
2004 story )
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From: "Prins, Jeffrey A"
To: <trm@wiwrestling.com>
Subject: Underdog (Updated)
Date: Sun 07/30/06 09:15 AM
Dear Wisconsin Wrestling fans, coaches, and athletes,
It has been three years since I graduated from Beloit Memorial High
School and I have not updated the wrestling world on my story “Under
Dog”.
Since graduating from Beloit Memorial in 2004 I have continued my
wrestling journey at UW – Whitewater. I'm going into my third season
as a member of the UW- Whitewater wrestling team. Likewise, in my
freshman year at UW – Whitewater wrestling at the collegiate level
was a learning experience. For example the wrestling preparation for
the upcoming year never ends, balancing life’s lessons of school,
work, and spirituality. Through the thick of balancing life’s
lessons was learning Coach Fader’s wrestling system. His wrestling
system is not hard to learn; however it can seem complex when you
are coming from a high school wrestling program. In contrast of
learning life’s lessons and Coach Fader’s system I was able to be
apart of a division 3 wrestling program, gain new friendships
between teammates, coaches, fans, and other UW – Whitewater student
– athletes, and I had the privilege to wrestle on a daily basis.
Furthermore, my freshman year in college was a learning experience
in the classroom and in the wrestling room.
“I can do everything with his strength through me” (Phil 4:13) my
sophomore season was all about gaining strength physically,
intellectually, and spiritually. Thus my physical strength was I
competed in a few college wrestling opens such as the Wisconsin
open, Concordia, and the Steven’s Point open. Intellectually my
knowledge in the classroom and in the wrestling room increased. As
for the spiritual strength it got tested as I was able to fight
through the rigorous demands of college’s life lessons and when I
had to deal with my friend Ryan who his family and him almost lost
their lives. Ryan is a 10 year old young man who taught me how to
teach wrestling easier, live life to its fullest and to always
remember wrestling is a privilege because you never know when your
life may be over. Therefore, my sophomore season was filled with new
experiences such as competing at the college level, increased
academic and wrestling knowledge, and was tested by God to remember
that “I can do everything with his strength through me” (Phil 4:13)
Secondly, if you are reading this for your first time my name is
Jeff Prins and wrestling has been in my life for almost 13 years.
Thus through those 13 years I have had the opportunity to be a high
school wrestling captain, coach, and a mentor for a 10 year old man
who’s heart is solid as gold. If it was not for God allowing
wrestling to come into my life I might not be the man I am today. In
closing, my wrestling journey is still running wild and remember
“Winners make the most mistakes” - Coach John Wooden.
Sincerely,
Jeff Prins
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