Michael Diaz '16 Recruiting Profile

“You may no longer play football any longer due to the risk of receiving another concussion”.  My sophomore year I was told this by my doctor prior to the beginning of my football season.  The doctor informed me that it would be too much on the brain and that I run the risk of long term effects and may suffer from diseases like Alzheimer’s later on in life.  This was devastating news for me, throughout my adolescent and teenage life, football was everything.  I knew I could not let this hinder my athletic capabilities in a negative way.

Immediately, I began the search for a sport that I would be able to participate in. Thereafter, I had come to the realization that most of the sports I wanted to play had a high concussion risk factor.  I was then presented with two options.  Either I joined a non­contact sport or I would continue a contact sport with the risk of suffering another concussion.  So I began looking into the school’s winter athletic programs.  I looked into the basketball, soccer and tennis programs, none of which I was interested in.  So when I got to the wrestling program, I immediately jumped on it.  The following day I asked one of my good friends, a wrestler, when the next practice was held.  He informed me of a practice taking place that evening, so I went.  Upon witnessing the intense training and wrestling skills of the team, I quickly became interested in the sport.  I approached the coach and asked if I can join the team.  I began picking up the skills very quickly and began to fall in love with the sport immediately.  After only a few months of wrestling, I had achieved a varsity spot during my first wrestle off.  Additionally, during the 2014 season I was one of three wrestlers in Great Oak High school to place at CIF and make it into the masters division.  This was quite an accomplishment for me, being that this was my first year as a wrestler. 

My first year in wrestling was great.  I earned the 195 position in the varsity line up after my first wrestle off.  I participated in more than 20 unofficial and official wrestling tournaments and the journey was adventurous.  I began placing in all the tournaments that our Great Oak Wrestling team coach registered us to participate in.  My goal was to place well and enter league at the 195 weight class, however, the teams 220 weight classman, dropped down to 195s in order to obtain a scholarship thusly, making me bump up.  I entered league and wrestled at the 220 weight class.  I was not going to give up no matter how hard it would be.  So I continue to wrestle at 220 and ended up placing second at league, qualifying me for CIF.  I then entered CIF wrestling the 220 weight class, weighing in at 205.  It was a hard road but I fought my way up to 5th place qualifying me for masters.  During masters I went two and out, my first match was against the second seeded wrestler.  The year after I continued wrestling at 220.  During this season,  I placed first at league and third at CIF, but was unable to complete the season due to a staph infection.  

In accomplishing this, I realized that I am a person who does not accept defeat and will do the best that I can to improve my skills and abilities in order to excel in every obstacle I face.   One of my primary goals is to be able to attend a great college and maybe join our military as an officer after I obtain my degree and embark in a career based on protecting this nation.  I will never quit no matter how hard or difficult the circumstance may be.  I will always strive to be the best that I can, improving my abilities in order to achieve success.