February 2017 – John Passaro

Unknown, by Jaqub Gurule

I was in the drive-thru at a Sonic when I got a phone call from an unknown number.

I answered it.

It was my doctor.

Wrestling is all about sacrifice.

It’s about giving up something you truly value, to hopefully get something that you value even more in return.

We went out of bounds and I saw the exhaustion in my opponent’s eyes.

I was always told to wrestle every match like it was my last, but I never believed my last match would come before I expected.

None of what will happen in my future would be the same had I not wrestled, and for that, I am forever grateful to this sport.

My son is a wrestler.

He is a lightweight in stature, but not in heart.

I have learned, at times I am part of my own journey and at other times I am here to help others with their journey.

The only part I haven’t figured out as of yet, is, which is happening, when.

I lost my dad suddenly, my freshmen year right after counties.

In the game of life, I would call today a win.

It’s an odd moment when you are sharing both congratulations and condolenses.