Trotting out onto the mat Saturday, the Dips as a team were winless. Some close losses coupled with several performances that didn’t meet their expectations left F&M searching for ways to tally that first victory and erase the donut that occupied the left side of the win-loss column.
It’s easy to become discouraged during a season that begins 0-11. Many teams throw in the towel and call the season lost. It’s not difficult to understand why; sacrificing so much for so long without receiving the desired results can wear on people. But to F&M’s credit, the word quit doesn’t appear to be in their vocabulary.
Spotting Sacred Heart 12 points before the match even began didn’t make F&M’s chances of getting its first win any better. Due to injuries, the Dips were forced to forfeit both the 149 and 165-pound classes. Although for many it would seem to be an insurmountable hole to climb out of, for an F&M team that came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, the 12-point deficit proved to be little more than a speed bump.
David Hershberger, Robert Ruiz, and Richard Durso all pinned their opponents to open the match, giving the Diplomats 18 quick points. Eric Norgard followed with a victory, as did Matt Fullowan. Colin Ely and Isaiah Cromwell finished the match on an emphatic note, pinning both their respective opponents in matches that were never really in question.
All but one wrestler came out on top Saturday afternoon. The final score was 36-15. To many observers in the stands, the score did not justify what happened on the mat. Without the 12 free points, Sacred Heart had been thoroughly dominated 36-2. It was a performance that cannot be fully appreciated unless you saw it in person.
There was an immense sense of relief on the faces of F&M’s wrestlers as they walked off the mat. It seemed to be a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. The victory of Sacred Heart made all the work every wrestler has put into the season worth it; it showed that the hours spent in the wrestling room in the basement of the Mayser Center was worth it.
F&M would go on to lose to Rider in the second match of a doubleheader. Even so, the victory against Sacred Heart seemed to lift a weight off the Dips’ collective shoulders. There were a number of close matches and many of F&M’s wrestlers appeared to be looser and more confident as they made their way onto the mat for the second time. It’s a credit to the attitude and approach these wrestlers take towards their preparation and their individual matches.
Anybody can be dedicated amidst a winning streak or a winning season. However, it’s when a team is struggling and rebuilding for the future when the truly devoted and those who sincerely love the sport show themselves. Fortunately for head coach Mike Rogers and F&M in general, the Diplomats appear to have a roster filled with the latter types.
That’s what made Saturday’s victory over Sacred Heart so much more special than any other win. Although they have struggled to accumulate wins and they have not thus far had the season many thought they would have going into the year, for those who have been consistently watching the Dips, it has been fairly obvious they truly love wrestling. You can see it in the frustration they exhibit after a narrow loss, the exuberance on display after a win, and the general dedication they display on a nightly basis. To see them pour so much into each match and come away with a result other than a resounding victory is disappointing.
This is why the victory over Sacred Heart mattered. Those outside the program will think little of a winless program succeeding in finally snagging its first win. For those who are involved with the program and for those emotionally invested in the team, Saturday’s victory was sweeter than most others.
Even more promising is the future. F&M starts a number of freshmen, all of whom have displayed the raw talent and desire to make it at this level. Good things take time to develop. F&M may be on the track to success, but there will be growing pains along the way. Eventually, everything will come together and the results will begin to show on the mat.
Sometimes, all a team needs is a little boost.
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