Wrestling Blogs - Martin Floreani

When I traveled half way across the country to wrestle for Cal Poly I was taking a huge leap of faith, but I really didnt think twice about it or look back. It was something I was meant to do. I got there and would get beat up every day in the practice room, (except against Dave Serwitz and one or two other wrestlers :). There is one thing that I am pretty good at, sticking with something and finding a way to get better. Im not a fast learner, just ask Eric Guerrero as he tried to teach me how to play the Guitar or Ben Askren as he tries to teach me to play disc golf. Im really dumb at first but I usually just keep working harder and eventually catch up and surpass. So by the time our first wrestle off were about to happen at Cal Poly I felt like I was beginning to make strides. I was going up against the team captain Steve Strange. Everyone thought Steve was going to kick my butt but I thought that I could surprise a lot of people.

I went into my first competitive experience at Cal Poly and was wrestling in front of the home crowd for the the starting spot. It was going to be my epic night. I remember going out there and "WHAM BAM" Steve ankle picked me so fast I didnt know what happened. He proceeded to tech fall me by the beginning of the second period. I was, to say the least shocked.

Well that night I had to cut weight because I was wrestling at the community college tournament the next day. I was thinking that I might not even be able to win there. That night was one of the more difficult cuts I have ever had to do. I felt like I was out of my element and had been embarrassed and didnt even know if I could win the next day against the community college kids. I have to say the thought of quiting crossed my mind as I was standing under the shower in the Cal Poly locker room. Maybe I was stupid for believing that I could do this. Not only did I have to wrestle tomorrow but I had to lose 7 lbs as well.

Needless to say I cut the weight and had some of the best experiences of my life with the Cal Poly wrestlers. I made some life long friends and by sticking with it I was put on a journey to do Flowrestling and Flocasts. I didnt become a National Champion or All American, I barely started for Cal Poly my senior year but I wouldnt trade my wrestling experiences for anything else ever. I learned a ton everyday in that room... more about myself than I could have ever learned in a classroom. Wrestling will exposes every weakness and insecurity you have, it tells you everything about yourself while my classes only told me about the outside world. It was never in my nature to quit but the beating I received grounded my spirits. The decision I made that night was a critical point for my life, and i thought the biggest battle that night was on the mat.

Its funny how a lonely choice that you make in the showers on a late and humbling night can change your life forever.