Bryan
Tuesday, January 1, 2008

I'm on the spectrum

Hi, my name is Bryan and I am a wrestler. I was the winner of ASA’s Individual with Autism Award last summer. I was very happy and proud to receive this award, and met a lot of nice people at the ASA conference where I received my award.

I had to work hard to become a wrestler. Coach Brad Howell was my teacher at high school. When I told him I wanted to wrestle, Coach told me I had to work hard and be the best I can be to get on the team. He said, “The harder I work, the luckier I will get.” The other coaches helped me to train me for the team too. I went to club practices, wrestling camps and extra tournaments until Coach said I was ready to be on the team. I practiced every weekday and Saturdays during wrestling season. I always listened to Coach and did all the drills, like monkey rolls and crab walks. I never got tired. Coach said that motivated the other wrestlers.

My team members thought they would have to help me a lot, but I helped them too. I like my teammates and now I know a lot of other wrestlers in the county, from the state competitions and from the national tournament in North Dakota. I think that if you want to do something, then you should ask to do it—ask for help, and work very hard to get it. My coach taught me to be tough—to try my hardest and not complain. I worked very hard to become strong for wrestling. When I graduate this year, I want to get a job and continue wrestling. Thanks to people helping me, I think I will have this.