Pulled by a Vision

Having a vision is a powerful and important tool.  Do you have a vision?  A vision will grab hold of you and the vision will manifest.

I ran across an old newsletter article I wrote on January 25, 2012.  It was about my oldest grandson, Marshall, who at the time was a senior in high school.  He was on the wrestling team. 

My daughter sent me the article that was published in the Springfield, MO newspaper about Marshall.

Marshall Phelan isn't shy about his wrestling goals.  For this year?  "The goal is to win a state title  For the future?  "I want to go to Mizzou.  I want to wrestle at the highest level I possibly can.  Go as far as I can go." 

Phelan, a senior at Nixa High School, is well on his way.

The Eagle's 132 pounder recently checked one of his biggest goals off his list----winning 100 matches in his high school career.  As of Jan. 18th, 2012 Phelan is 106-52.

"It was a relief---I finally got it out of the way," a sweat-drenched Phelan said during a recent practice.  "It's been a goal since my freshman year.  And it's a lot of motivation to get even  more wins.

"There are a lot of things paying off for him right now.  He has some losses, but he's wrestled some pretty good competition,", Martin (coach) said.  "It's a mindset.  he has a goal this year to be a state medalist, and last year he didn't even qualify.  He's done a lot of great things this year, and he's put himself in a position to get into medal contention at state."

Phelan's work ethic has carried him to this point, Martin said.  He's currently ranked fifth in Missouri at 132 pounds.

"He's stepped into a leadership role for us in and out of the practice room," Martin said.  "He's here just about every morning at 6:00 AM to work out, and he's one of the last ones to leave practice very night."

That work ethic started in junior high, when Phelan wrestled for the first time.

"I fell in love with it," Phelan said.

When Phelan's freshman year came around, the 100-win goal was set.  Four years later that goal was reached.

"It was very exciting for him and for our program, but we don't want that to be the focal point of his season,"Martin said.  "There are still things he wants to accomplish.  So it was nice because there's only a handful of kids here who have done it.  But there will be a handful more that do it, and we want him to do well at state."

And Marshall was a state medalist accomplishing his 5 year goal. 

We all can set goals and watch them come to fruition.  It takes a positive mindset.