I wrestled my whole life and into college last season. God called me into ministry and I transferred to a Ohio Christian University. (They do not have a wrestling program)
First off what weight class are you going to be wrestling? I know this may seem personal but as another wrestler it isn't. I wrestled 285 hence my handle. I compete at state and national levels in the HWT category and praise God for the attitude of hard work, determination, heart and skill he gave me to compete.
Some general advice
1. Rarely does the best wrestler win on skill and physical abilities alone. Wrestling is a sport that requires heart. When everything inside you feel like quitting, you can't breathe and you have given everything you have to give is your heart big enough to push through and wrestle even harder?
2. Be in the best shape possible. Stay after practice and run, do extra lifts, get a workout partner who will push you harder when you feel like quitting.
3. Believe in yourself. If you can honestly tell you self that "you want it more, worked harder for it, have a bigger heart and are fearless" you can beat kids who are more physically talented then you.
4. Watch tape of yourself. Just like NFL QB's tape study is a huge part of wrestling. Watch the matches you lose over and over and ask coaches o help you see where you need to improve your hip positions, what types of moves to work on that suit your body type, what areas do you need to improve on the mental aspect of wrestling.
5. Don't be afraid of pain. Don't be afraid to cause your opponent pain and don't give into fear when you are in pain. If you start focusing on pain you are feeling your opponent will win because he will be focused on the match.
6. Technique. You need to pick 2 moves from neutral, top and bottom. Practice them literally thousands of times until you don't have to think about how to do it and your body moves naturally and does it on its own. The best wrestlers have an attitude from the bottom position that says " No one, absolutely no one, can hold me down." Act like the guy on top is holding your head under water and if you don't get out your going to drown. Get out at all costs, do not stay underneath your opponent, GET OUT!
7. Have fun on the journey, despite wins and losses enjoy every moment and allow to be fun or you will burn out.
I love this sport.
