The Real Medals

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this episode, I reflect on a question my son Gray asked me about what separates the most successful wrestlers I’ve coached from the rest. After more than 20 years in the wrestling room, I’ve had the privilege of coaching some incredible athletes—state medalists, champions, and even guys who went on to compete at the highest levels. At first, I thought the answer was simply about controlling the controllables, but the more I reflected, the more I realized it goes deeper. The best wrestlers weren’t just obsessed with winning—they were driven by the love of competing, by becoming the best versions of themselves, and by bringing others along for the ride. And while that’s easy for me to see in coaching, it’s just as true in teaching: greatness doesn’t come from the short-term wins, but from the dedication, consistency, and purpose we bring to the process every day.