In Granger, Indiana, the wrestling mats are more than just places to compete, they are where dreams take shape and tough lessons are learned. Among the many stories that are seen on these mats is that of Alex Skrzeszewski, who demonstrates not just the hard work needed for wrestling, but also the important life lessons that come from difficult challenges.
Growing up in a loving family, Skrzeszewski learned some of the most valuable lessons one can learn. He says his family was really supportive. For Skrzeszewski, witnessing people make poor choices was his greatest motivation to be successful.
“Seeing that made me want to stay away from bad stuff and help those in need,” he said.
Wrestling came into Skrzeszewski’s life almost by accident in eighth grade when he was a student at Discovery Middle School.
“I joked that I would try it, and then I actually did,” said Skrzeszewski.
He says support from one of Discovery’s Coaches, Chad Hershberger, was one of his biggest motivations.
“He kept encouraging me,” Skrzeszewski recalled.
However, the journey hasn’t been all easy for Skrzeszewski. Learning the techniques of wrestling was tough.
“It was so different from anything else I had done,” he said. “I remind myself that tomorrow is another chance to push myself forward.”
Being an athlete, setbacks are quite inevitable, but for Skrzeszewski, he knows how to handle them.
“When I fail, I just get back up and try again,” he says confidently.
Skrzeszewski defines success not just by the amount of games you win but by reaching personal goals and then setting even tougher ones.
“Success means achieving a goal and then pushing for more,” he says.
Skrzeszewski’s proudest moment came at the Riley tournament when he won five matches to take home his first high school title. Skrzeszewski says he worked hard for his success.
“People don’t realize how much time we put into practice for just a six-minute match,” he explains.
As Skrzeszewski looks to the future and younger athletes of the world, his advice is straightforward, “Always listen to your coaches and parents. Respect what they say.”
In wrestling and at home, every journey for Skrzeszewski is full of important lessons whether it was learned through winning or even losing.
