Looking at the Mason City High School wrestling team, one would not be able to see all of the work and effort they have put in to be the best wrestlers they can be. However, watching them wrestle shows all of the hours spent in the wrestling and weight rooms.
Dusty Rhodes, head coach of the Mohawk Wrestling team, loves the wrestling season, and as he put it, “It’s busy, and stressful at times, but I’ve been involved with wrestling most of my life and like other years, couldn’t wait to get started, this year.” As a coach, Dusty values perseverance, and fighting through the obstacles that may arise, with good reason. Wrestling is a very physically taxing sport, and as Coach Rhodes mentions, no matter who you are, you are going to get tired during a match. It’s how well you function while you are tired that brings the word “fight” into the picture. Training and wrestling hard gives you strength to persevere through the physical aspects of a wrestling match. An example of someone who is hard-working and has a good attitude, according to Coach Rhodes, is Cullan Schriever.
Cullan Schriever is a sophomore at Mason City High School, and just happens to be the number one wrestler in the nation. Coach Rhodes says this about Cullan, “The attitude he brings to practice and competition is unmatched by any athlete I’ve coached. He is also very successful in the classroom. His success is not an accident.” Knowing Mr. Rhode’s values as a coach, Cullan fits that mold perfectly, and the hard work seems to pay off. But, Cullan doesn’t let that ranking get to his head. “Just because you’re ranked doesn’t mean you start with a head start or that people aren’t going to try to compete with you,” as Cullan put it. Cullan puts in extra work outside of normal practice, and works hard in all aspects of his life. He does this by training all year round, lifting weights, watching video, eating healthy, maintaining good grades, and staying out of trouble that could harm himself and others. Cullan, along with the rest of the wrestling team is a perfect example of how hard work and fighting through obstacles pays off.
You can see the Mohawk Wrestlers in action on December 14th at their home meet against Johnston.