by Alex Cohen ’20

It seems only fitting that as a senior in my final days before graduation, I talk about my greatest high school memory and my best advice for incoming freshmen that goes along with it.

 Going into high school, I had my heart set on making the basketball team. My whole childhood I loved playing for travel basketball teams and going to basketball summer camps. I tried out for the team and I was cut after the first day, getting the explanation from the coach that my 120 pound frame was too small. The next year after vigorously lifting weights I came back at 138 pounds–bigger, stronger, faster, and more skilled than I had ever been before. I competed well at tryouts, scrapping for loose balls, hitting jump shots in the face of defenders, and when we played five on five games, my group dominated. Eventually, the tryout cuts were released. I. Got. Cut. Again. Wow. I was so convinced that all my hard work and preparation would pay off, but it didn’t. I felt numb.

In looking to find a sense of direction, I recalled my experience lifting with the wrestling team over the summer. I joined the team and ended my first season with an 8-2 record. The next year I wrestled at 152 pounds! As a fast learner, I quickly moved to master the basics and when my first match came, I won. And then, I won my second match … and then won again, and again, and again. I was fueled by my memory, the agony of being cut in basketball. I ended the season with an undefeated 18-0 record and was the 152 Pound JV County Champion and Sherwood Wrestling Team JV MVP.

Fast forward to this year’s 2019-2020 season, it was my first year on Varsity.  I set a dream goal before the season to become a regional champion and cement my name up on the champions wall in the practice room. But how could a kid coming off of JV ever win a varsity championship? Impossible. Most people that had wrestled Varsity all four years did not become champions. That season I lost 33 pounds going from 185 pounds to 152 pounds to give myself the best chance to win. Somehow some way I made it to regionals as a 5th seed. I upsetted the 4th seed in overtime, I pinned the 1st seed with a minute left in the third period, and I beat the 2nd seed in the finals by 1 point. I achieved my dreams. My athletic journey is a story of adversity, grit, determination, but especially passion. I found something I was passionate about. So my advice for incoming freshmen would be to find your passion. Sherwood does an amazing job offering many activities, clubs, and unique experiences. Make your time in high school memorable. There will be bumps in the road. There will be hard times. Pick yourself up and keep going because by the time you graduate, you will be grateful for the person you’ve become.