The Best Wrestlers I’ve Coached All Did These 7 Things
Wrestling Success Leaves Clues
After decades in the sport—coaching wrestlers ranging from beginners to world champions—one truth has become crystal clear:
Success isn’t random.
While every athlete has their own path, the best wrestlers I’ve coached consistently display the same five traits. They aren’t always the most naturally gifted, but they’re the ones still standing when the season gets long and the matches get harder.
This isn’t theory. These are the real-world behaviors that separate good wrestlers from great ones.
Whether you're a youth wrestler, a high school standout, or a parent trying to help your kid reach their full potential, these are the traits you want to cultivate.
1. They Take Ownership of Their Development
Champions don’t wait to be told what to do.
The most successful wrestlers I’ve worked with take responsibility for their growth. They’re proactive about getting better. Instead of relying solely on their coaches, they take the lead in their own development.
They:
Ask detailed questions during practice
Study their own film without being told
Seek out high-level training partners
Stay after to drill weak positions
Keep a journal of mistakes, goals, and technical insights
Ownership creates accountability. Accountability creates growth.
Wrestlers who depend on others for motivation or instruction rarely break through. But those who drive their own progress are almost always the ones with long-term success.
Example: I had a wrestler who would text me match footage asking for technical notes before I could even review it myself. He would make his own adjustments mid-match based on what he saw in this film. That’s ownership.
2. They Build Mental Toughness by Doing Hard Things Consistently
Everyone wants to win. Few are willing to suffer.
Mental toughness doesn’t come from hype videos or motivational quotes. It comes from repeatedly choosing the hard route: showing up when you're sore, drilling through fatigue, finishing sprints when you’re already gassed.
The best wrestlers I’ve coached embrace difficulty. They don’t avoid discomfort—they pursue it.
Here’s what that looks like:
Running hill sprints solo after practice
Pushing through a 90-minute grind match without checking the clock
Wrestling heavier teammates in practice to get better looks
Watching film and getting an extra technique after a tough loss
They understand that pressure is a privilege and adversity is the training ground for growth.
Just as important, they don’t overreact to setbacks. They don’t need to be babied after a loss or a bad day—they analyze, recalibrate, and return stronger.
Real example: One of my top wrestlers had his nose broken in a World Series semifinal. He wrestled his bronze match anyway and gave it his absolute best. Why? Mental fortitude built over the years.
3. They Train With Intensity, Not Just Volume
There’s a difference between being present and being engaged.
Some wrestlers think showing up for two practices a day equals hard work. But the best wrestlers know that it’s the quality of reps—not the quantity—that matters most.
Elite-level training is:
Focused
Fast-paced
Intention-driven
Whether it’s drilling single-leg finishes or working top breakdowns, elite athletes go hard. They don’t coast. They treat every rep like it matters, because it does.
Intensity also includes:
Sprinting with full effort
Staying locked in during technique
Treating warm-ups as preparation, not just tradition
Choosing hard partners and tough positions
Don’t confuse “busy” with “productive.” Champions train with purpose.
Real example: I’ve seen wrestlers spend 4 hours in the room and improve less than the kid who trained for 90 minutes with laser focus. Volume doesn’t beat precision.
4. They Study the Sport Outside the Room
The top 1% of wrestlers are also students of the sport.
They don’t just train, they study. They understand wrestling as deeply as a coach does. They learn from others, break down positions, and absorb strategies from every level of the sport.
High-level film study includes:
Watching your own matches for patterns and habits
Studying top wrestlers for setup chains and motion
Learning counters and transitions
Understanding scoring nuances and mat strategy
This level of wrestling IQ leads to better decisions in matches and fewer wasted movements.
Multi-style exposure matters too. The best wrestlers I’ve coached all learned to switch gears between folkstyle, freestyle, Greco, and beach. They broadened their understanding of positioning and timing.
Real Example: One of my athletes has national or world medals in over 20 different disciplines of martial arts. He wants to leave no stone unturned in his journey to get better!
5. They Show Up Every Day, Especially on the Days They Don’t Want To
Consistency beats intensity when it’s done long enough.
The best wrestlers I’ve coached all had this trait: they showed up, no matter what. Not just when they felt good, not just when they were winning, not just when the lights were on.
They showed up when:
School was hard
They were dealing with family stress
Their body felt off
Practice felt repetitive
And they didn’t just go through the motions—they were engaged.
This doesn't mean every session was perfect. But it does mean they stacked good days. And good days turn into great seasons.
Real example: One of my wrestlers lost 16 matches and won only 4 in his first year. He attended every practice throughout the entire offseason. He took notes, coached teammates, and studied film. When he returned the next season, he continued to improve until he found his way onto the state podium.
Consistency is a superpower. And it’s available to everyone.
6. They Surround Themselves With Winners
Environment shapes performance.
Elite wrestlers seek out rooms where they’re challenged. They don’t hide in comfort. They wrestle the toughest guys in the room, they train with athletes who beat them, and they compete at the highest level they can find.
They:
Travel for summer duals and camps
Join clubs where they’re not the best
Embrace hard matchups in practice
Ask upperclassmen or college wrestlers to train
They don’t protect their ego. They prioritize growth.
If your environment doesn’t push you, change your environment.
Real example: Some parents unintentionally hold their kids back by only letting them wrestle “safe” matches. The best wrestlers lose plenty early, but they get better because of it.
7. They Respect Recovery Like They Respect Training
Rest, nutrition, and mental recovery are just as important as time on the mat.
The best wrestlers I’ve coached understood that the body is the engine, and if you run it without care, it breaks down.
They:
Slept 8+ hours a night
Ate clean during the season (no crash diets)
Took care of their joints, backs, and necks
Asked questions about recovery protocols
Took recovery days seriously: not as “days off,” but as “days to rebuild”
They understood that what they put in (food, effort, rest) determined what came out (performance, results, longevity).
Pro tip: If you want to wrestle into college or the senior level, recovery has to become a lifelong habit—not just a mid-season bandaid.
What Coaches Can Do to Help Build These Traits
Great wrestlers need a great environment. Coaches can help by:
Creating a culture of accountability
Encouraging leadership from within the team
Rewarding consistency and effort, not just wins
Integrating film study and open Q&A
Connecting athletes to college or elite-level opportunities
Your room becomes what you emphasize. If you celebrate grit, reflection, and high-level thinking, your athletes will follow.
What Parents Can Do to Support This Growth
Parents play a massive role in a wrestler’s development. The best wrestlers I’ve coached all had parents who:
Supported the grind but didn’t over-coach
Focused on effort, not wins
Trusted the process, even after tough losses
Promoted nutrition and sleep habits
Encouraged self-reflection without micromanaging
Your job isn’t to be the coach; it’s to help your athlete develop character and consistency.
Greatness Is Earned in the Ordinary
If you want to become a high-level wrestler, or raise or coach one, focus less on talent and more on habits.
Talent helps. But it’s never the defining factor.
The best wrestlers I’ve coached:
Took ownership
Embraced discomfort
Trained with intensity
Studied the sport
Showed up consistently
Sought out tougher partners
Prioritized recovery
You don’t need to have it all figured out on day one. But you do need to start.
And the best part? Every one of these habits is available to you, starting today.
