Alexander Eastland '23 Recruiting Profile

I've always been incredibly competitive. Whether it was academically in the classroom,  athletically on the wrestling mat, or just playing family board games–I always wanted to win. I discovered wrestling in 8th grade, after being cut form the basketball team for the second year straight. As I walked out of the gym on the last day of tryouts, I held an evaluation sheet from the head basketball coach. According to the sheet, I was the worst player to try out. I had promised my friends on the wrestling team that, if I was cut from basketball (something I'm sure they were confident in), I'd join the wrestling team. So, I did. And I fell in love. I wasn't very talented. At the time, I was far from athletic, with no strength or speed whatsoever. Just like basketball, I was the worst on the team. But, unlike basketball, I found wrestling's beauty. It was an individual sport. On the mat, there are no teammates to rely on. No teammates to compare myself with. Just me and my opponent, who I had no control over. I am my own biggest competition. In my first year wrestling, I learned that true success is improvement. Winning a gold medal every time is everyone's goal, and my competitive spirit fuels me to want to be at the top of the podium every time. But, as much as I would love to have a state championship ring, my goals lie within myself. No matter where I am or what I am doing, I simply want to push myself. I want to challenge myself to be better at everything I do. Take harder classes, run that extra sprint, lift that extra set. I want to win dual matches. I want to win state championships. I want to win matches at the next level. But, most of all, I want to be the best Alex Eastland possible.