Last year, John Bryant entered Wake Forest as a freshman hoping to continue wrestling, a sport that he loved to play throughout high school.
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He went to the freshmen activities fair to find out more about Club Wrestling, but there was no booth set up for the club. He saw wrestling listed as one of the options of club sports list, but he soon learned that the club held no practices, participated in zero matches, and had no leader actively recruiting members.
“I was really disappointed,” Bryant said. “I believe we’ve existed on paper for a while, but never really in execution. I’m trying to change that.”
Bryant is now the president of the club as a sophomore. He is trying to develop the club into one that is sustainable with an influx of members and funds.
By the end of this academic year, Bryant plans on assembling a “solid group of guys who are committed to developing this club.” He is hoping to receive $800 from the Student Budget Advisory Committee to put toward uniforms, equipment, and the renewal of the National Wrestling Collegiate Association registration.
By the time he graduates, he hopes the club will consistently participate in matches and tournaments. After that, hiring a coach would be the goal.
“I’m doing my fair share of showing what I know in the practices from my knowledge, and some other guys bring to the table their own moves and experience,” Bryant said, “but I think a coach would be able to push us for even further success.”
While there are 13 people on the club’s listserv, there are currently only four or five guys who come out to practice on a consistent basis. Most of the guys are underclassmen, and one guy has no prior wrestling experience.
“You don’t have to be experienced to be on this club,” Bryant said.
Freshman Carr Cody decided to join the club team to “continue to reap the mental and physical benefits the sport offers.”
“For me, the best part about wrestling is getting into an intense match,” Cody said, “where every part of your body screams to surrender, and every point seems to last eternity.”
Wrestling provides people with the opportunity to exercise, get in great shape, and relieve stress, according to Bryant.
It is different from most other sports in the sense that it is very individualized.
“Your accomplishments are your own and your failures are your own,” Bryant said, “and that motivates you to succeed.”
The team practices Sundays at 4:00 p.m. in Reynolds Gym but hopes to eventually practice twice per week, year-round.
The club is “starting off very small right now,” Bryant said, but it has “guys who are willing to help each other out and who are committed to the club.”
“With the proper effort, practice and instruction, anyone can accomplish something special,” Cody said. “My high school’s wrestling room, had a sign that said ‘pain is temporary; pride is forever.’ This is true. Join the wresting club and you can experience it firsthand.”