Being part of a team means different things to different people. For some, it is the chance to catch a game-winning touchdown, or earn a personal best time in a race. For me, the experience was somewhat different.
In 1961 I arrived at Penn State and walked on to the wrestling team. I met a man who addressed everyone as “Doc.” Respectfully in return, everyone called him “Doc.” Although I was never able to break into the starting lineup and never wrestled a varsity match, Coach Charles “Doc” Speidel made me feel like an integral part of the Penn State wrestling team. He taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout the years. Doc Speidel allowed me to discover the mental toughness, determination, perseverance that I had within myself. Ultimately, I found that the lessons learned in the wrestling room were and are often as important, if not more important, than the lessons learned in the classroom.
For over forty-five years, I have proudly told anyone who would listen that, “I was a Penn State wrestler.” It was being a part of that team that taught me so much. Not everyone can be the number-one wrestler in his weight class, but no matter how well I wrestled, I always finished either second or third in wrestle-offs. However, I learned that for a team to be successful there must be depth on the team and strong competition, in practices as well as during matches. On the wrestling mats, I learned how to set a goal and strive to achieve that goal. I discovered that wrestlers don’t always win, but they always prepare to win. I felt firsthand the excitement and thrills of close matches of others.
When I was unable to continue to wrestle due to a hand injury, I learned that the physical and mental ups and downs on the mats truly prepare a person for the roller coaster of life. I am proud to say that I was a part of the Penn State wrestling tradition and a member of the team.
The commitment to ourselves and our teammates and the friendships that last a lifetime, as well as those we reconnect with many years after “sweating it out” together on the mats, make the team experience unforgettable. I have fond memories when I look back on my years with Coach “Doc” Speidel and my teammates in the wrestling room. (Then, just an area located under the south stands in Rec Hall.)
