When Penn Boys Wrestling needed a new Junior Varsity Wrestling Coach, Brayden McMillen was quick to step in.
The new JV wrestling coach had to build relationships with the team fast and make sure he was on top of the game.
A former Kingsmen wrestling standout, Coach McMillen said that connecting to student-athletes is “Just being able to talk and relate with the kids.”
Being the young coach, it was easy for Coach McMillen to find something in common and connect with the wrestlers.
Showing interest in video games or relating with school was a key to building relationships for Coach McMillen, as well showing mutual respect.
“Just because I’m a coach shouldn’t mean they couldn’t come up and talk to me about anything other than wrestling,” McMillen said.
Coach McMillen wants to fuel a desire to learn about wrestling, but to also gain a larger perspective about life.
“There’s more to the world than just wrestling,” McMillen said. “This is only a short portion of their lives. I want them to understand that putting in hard work pays off. It may not show right away, and wrestling shows that. Instant gratification just doesn’t come in wrestling. Putting in the work and understanding that you have to outwork someone else correlates to life as well.”
Penn JV enjoyed a successful season, and also gained lasting relationships and life lessons.
