Ben Levy '24 Recruiting Profile

I want to wrestle in college. As a current junior, one of the concepts that scares me the most right now is having to give up, just because of something as trivial as age. I've been wrestling for half of my life now, starting all the way back in 3rd grade as an 8 year old. One thing I noticed is that from the very beginning I was never the best, not even close. It took almost two seasons to win my first tournament and barely won otherwise. I worked and worked, watched through middle school as my partners left, quit, and slowly I became known, winning tournaments in the area as a middle schooler, and moving all the way up to third place in VAWA states as a 8th grader.  As I entered high school the COVID pandemic also crept it's way into my wrestling habits and I was forced to practice not only with a mask on, but occasionally with a partner we took some mats out and wrestled outside just to stay in shape.  My first year of high school was a rude awakening, being partners with a senior and my coach mainly. I had to toughen up and roll through the mask after getting pushed around for 3 months straight I placed third in the region after losing a heartbreak of a match against the eventual regional champ in double OT, and missing the state tournament. That's when I knew I needed to make an adjustment to my life outside of wrestling, and I trained through the spring and fall, and once I stepped back onto the mat I was ready to face practice and high school wrestling with a new mindset. That year I placed second in the state, and lost only two matches at my weight class.  

Seeing myself become to my fellow wrestlers, what my partners gave to me when I was growing up was a mixture of emotions, some of relief and satisfaction, and some of wanting to almost be that kid again who leans on his partners for growth.  My new growth needed to come  through support and confidence in me rather than just beating on me. My coach and the other captains decided to elect me captain as a freshman, almost seeing something in me I couldn't even see, and even more so during my sophomore season when my fellow wrestlers elected me their captain. I accredit my success to my environment and my work ethic, without my support from my team, my family, my coaches, and my friends I wouldn't even be considering right now seeking to continue the toughest sport in college. 

My difference is in my size, I am and will be available for the 125lb spot in college, and in my work ethic; I simply enjoy wrestling and I am not ready to give that up at this point in my life.  My value is also in my academics, being a honor roll student with a 4.1 GPA and aiming for graduating with the IB diploma,