The Trip of a Lifetime

    "Wrestling is a lot more than just the wins and losses." Heart, conviction, resolve...Those are just a few of the words associated with determination. They're also just a few things wrestling taught one Poland student. Adam Travis first started wrestling three ago as a shy, overweight freshman. Now thanks to the sport he loves, Adam has changed all that and his coach says he proud of what he's accomplished.

            Adam's Coach Mark Harlander says, "He's got the heart and determination that every coach looks for. He works hard every day, he comes to practice, he never gives up and you can see that in him whether he's facing the number one kid in the state or it's someone he's never wrestled before or heard of he's going to give the same 120% that he gives every single day."

            Adam has worked so hard at his craft he qualified for a team that will compete in Puerto Rico in October and he's approached this challenge with the same determination.

            Adam says, "Since I found out I was able to go I've been running, dieting, working whenever I get the chance to tune up on my skills."

            The Poland wrestler will travel over sixteen hundred miles to compete and he says this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

            Travis says, "I thought when am I going to get another chance to leave the country and do a sport I love and I don't think this would come many times I'd get a chance to do this."

            Adam's coach says he's seen a change in Adam over the years and knows this opportunity is a result of the hard work he's put in.

            Harlander says, "He's a leader now and where before he may not have said anything and tried to blend in to the background. He's someone who wants to push himself forward and wants to push himself to do better in everything that he does"

Adam added, "If I'm devoted and really want to do something, if I keep my mind to it I can and will succeed."