Tim Rooney - Kent State Wrestling
“My career started as a seventh grader. I was introduced to the sport because my dad assumed I was not going to be any taller than him and he was right. Little did I know at the time that it would turn from a hobby to an obsession in the following years. I took my career seriously in highschool but never fully embraced the sport which led to me almost making the greatest mistake of my life in not choosing to wrestle in college.”
“Thankfully, my dad convinced me to give it a try, and if I did not love it then I should hang the shoes up. It was during this time my first year and a half where I realized the biggest thing stopping me from being successful was myself. My inability to fully commit to my craft was keeping me from jumping levels and falling in love with my sport.”
“For my final three and half years of eligibility I was hooked. Every day was about getting better and I developed a level of interest in wrestling that some would call psychotic. Coach Mitchieff and I worked together to overcome self doubt and kept me pushing to be a better student athlete. Our game plan was simple, treat everyday as an opportunity to get better and go into every practice with a goal. I gradually improved over that time and went from a losing record as a freshman to being a two time NCAA qualifier, solidifying myself as one of the best in the nation.”
“When we heard the news about the cancellation of nationals I was upset for a total of five minutes and have not been sad since. I was at peace with the work I put in and was happy with the person I had become through years of dedication to my sport. Wrestling taught me to control what I can control and that is why I was able to overcome this adversity. But, more importantly, It taught me that the journey and work done far outweigh any accolade one can earn. The only advice I can pass on to others is to look at all the positives that your sport has brought and to not allow anything to ever change that. Control what you can and keep growing no matter what.”
