Overcoming Adversity: Joel Brown

by Dan Willis, Head Coach, Hoggard High School

Since this is the week after States, I know there are hundreds of kids across the state that are still devastated from losses that occured at this past weekend's State Championships. I saw everything from kids collapsing on the mat after an overtime loss in the semi-finals, to a kid on my own team crying for hours after a crushing loss when he expected so much more from himself. People who don't know what these young men go through both mentally and physically to put themselves in the position to compete for a State Title are the same people who don't understand how these young men can fall in complete agony without being able to compose themselves after their dream of becoming a State Champ has just been ruined by a loss.

I would like to share a story about what one of my wrestlers has gone through in pursuit of his dream of a State Title. I'm sure there are several wrestlers out there who will be able to relate to this story.

Joel Brown is one wrestler that I will never forget. Although only a junior in high school he has taught me so much about setting goals and doing whatever it takes to achieve them. He has been through so many disappointments through the sport of wrestling that I often found myself feeling sorry for him and wondering if things would ever go his way.

Joel began wrestling for our AAU club "The Wilmington Warriors" in the 8th grade. He soon became obsessed with wrestling. After wrestling all summer, he found himself in the starting line-up at Hoggard as a freshman. Joel entered the regionals with a 21-11 record that year. In the first round he had a 6-0 lead in the third period, but was pinned. That was the first of many disappointments to come.

That summer he wrestled in tounaments all across the state, attended wrestling camp with our team at the University of Iowa, and even traveled to Fargo, N.D. to compete in the Cadet Nationals.

When the end of his sophomore year rolled around he entered the regionals with an impressive record of 38-7. There was one problem. He was poked in the eye during practice that week and as a result received a scratch on his cornea. Doctors strongly advised him not to wrestle and we were worried that his season may be over, but he was not about to let his season slip away again. Instead of not wrestling, he opted to wrestle with a patch over his eye. After losing in the semi-finals he found himself wrestling Shawn Brookshire (who he had beaten twice earlier in the year) for a chance to go to States. With a 1 point lead, Joel was taken down with 2 seconds left, once again ending his season. As he sat in the bleachers watching several of his teammates (many of whom did not wrestle in the off-season) qualify for States, I could only imagine what was going through his mind. I was very happy for those wrestlers, but I could only hurt for Joel as he sat there with a patch over his eye, drenched in sweat.

After the season, I did not know what to expect. To my surprise Joel picked up where he left off, but with more intensity. We practiced all summer from the week after the season ended to the week before the next season began. We never took a break. Joel was at every practice and went to every tournament that we attended. One week after we got back from wrestling camp, he traveled to Fargo, N.D. again for the Cadet Nationals. Finally his luck started to change. After missing All-American status in Greco-Roman by 1 match (just his luck), he earned All-American status in Freestyle. I was so happy for him since he finally had something to show for all of his hard work.

At the start of his junior season Joel had been through a summer of non-stop wrestling and weight lifting. I must say, he had done everything he possibly could to prepare himself to win a State Title. He had made sure it was his time and was not going to let it pass him by (as he put it). At the beginning of the season he posted a sign in his locker that read "Joel Brown will be State Champ". Some believed it, others laughed. I just prayed that he wouldn't be disappointed again.

Joel had unbelievable intensity in practice every day and just never backed off. He was enjoying a great season and was ranked #1 most of the year. Then we went to the Miller/Mott Invitational and found out that defending State Champ Scotty Acfalle had moved up to 171 pounds and was there to stay. Scotty beat Joel 7-3 in the finals. I thought Joel would be upset, but he still remained positive claiming that "it was his time".

When regionals rolled around Joel was seeded #1, but was upset in the semi-finals by Jarell Bellamy (the same wrestler who had pinned him in the first round his freshman year). Joel had beaten him twice this year but once again lost when it counted most. I could not find Joel for over an hour after his match, and was worried that he might not show up for his next match. Finally, one of his teammates found him crying in the stairway of a back hall. Although I explained to him that his chance of becoming a State Champ were not over, I still wasn't sure if he was going to come back and wrestle. I can't tell you how relieved I was to see him sitting in the bleachers 15 min. later.

Joel ended up placing 3rd in the regionals. He called me on that Sunday after the regionals to inform me that he was sick with a 102 degree temperature. He was then forced to miss Monday & Tuesday of practice trying to get well. I talked to him on the phone Tuesday night and informed him that he would have Scotty Acfalle in the semi-finals (if he would have won regionals he would not have seen Acfalle until the finals). I don't know, but I could swear he was crying as we hung up the phone. I felt like his season was falling apart and I believe he might have felt the same way. Before we left for States he had taken the sign in his locker down and threw it away. He had his worst tournament at regionals, one day of practice since then, and I could pray things would change at States.

Joel coasted through the first two rounds at States winning 14-0 & 15-5. He then met Scotty Acfalle in the semis and the unbelievable happened. Joel won! I have never seen Joel smile so sincerely. I was overcome with joy as I jumped up and down on the edge of the mat.

In the State finals Joel held an 11-5 lead in the third period. As the time ticked down to 10 seconds, I sat in the chair afraid to jump up. I wanted to wait til it was over and nothing else bad could happen to him. Finally, Joel Brown was a State Champion. He is so very deserving of this honor, and I can't stop smiling when I think about it. All of his hard work, time, commitment, and undying dedication has rewarded him with a State Title!

There was never any guarantee, but he believed in what he was doing and worked extremely hard to get it. I will talk about Joel for years and years to come, but not about the State Title that he won. No, I will talk about all of the things he went through and the price he paid to get that State Title.

By the way, we had our Wilmington Warriors AAU practice the next Monday after the States. Can you guess who was there?

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