I’m not the most exciting wrestler to ever step onto a mat -- not by a long shot. However, I take risks. I score points. I am interested in more than just the personal satisfaction of getting my hand raised. I want everyone watching, at home and in the stands, to enjoy the show that they’ve just witnessed. I want my matches to be talked about long after spectators have left the arena.

We have grown up in an era when winning is all that matters. The mentality is: “It doesn’t matter if you win by an inch, or a mile. Winning is winning.” But is it really? Doesn’t it matter anymore how we score the points, and how exciting we make it to those who are watching?

When wrestling was preliminarily dropped from the Olympics, FILA was revamped, and immediately, they went to work on making the sport more appealing to non-traditional wrestling fans. This meant changing many of the rules. My question is: What about the actual wrestlers? What if we, the wrestlers, worked harder to make the sport more appealing, more exciting? What if the responsibility was ours?

The best promoter of an individual is himself or herself. There have been a number of exciting grapplers in the past -- wrestlers who had the crowd’s satisfaction in mind when approaching the mat. We need to take a page from their book, and it starts with preparation. Ask competitors these two things: 1. Did you give 100 percent in your preparation? Are you willing to give 100 percent right now? If both wrestlers on that mat can say yes to those two questions, then sit back and grab your popcorn.

I believe wrestling is an art. By definition, art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. Emotional power. How could you better describe wrestling? Few appreciate art, but that doesn’t take away from its beauty. Nor should it take away from the level of passion and commitment each wrestler should put into their work. Have you ever seen an all-out battle, where both competitors fight to the whistle, for every point, every position, and every second? That’s art -- a pure masterpiece. The wrestling mat is a canvas. Now let’s add some paint.

I ask wrestlers and coaches to encourage fearlessness. If you can dominate, do it. If you’re winning by one, with 30 seconds left, get another takedown. Go for the big throw. Take risks. Reward yourself, and those in attendance. Show spectators just how entertaining our sport is -- as is. As wrestlers, we hold the key to unlocking the door that shows the world how awesome our sport is. Don’t be afraid to turn the knob. For all six minutes.

“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.”

-Steve Prefontaine

-Jordan Burroughs