"Five years from now no one will care how many matches you won or how many trophies you have," said UTC coach Heath Eslinger.
"It's the friendships you have developed by being on this team, the struggles, the road trips and long workouts which lead to character development."
Thursday night at the Mocs Wrestling Dinner at the Waterhouse Pavilion as coach Eslinger stood in front of current and past wrestlers along with parents, other supporters and UTC officials, he spoke from his heart about caring for people and helping teach life lessons which can carry one for a life time.
"Don't ask 'why me?' or 'what if' " stated Eslinger, "but great people focus on what's next in this journey of life for you and me.
"Right now it's the only question which matters."
Eslinger also gave a recap of the season highlighted by a huge win against Oklahoma (19-16) before a cheering home crowd at Maclellan Gym, another Southern Conference championship and sending seven wrestlers to the NCAA tourney, gave the seniors a chance to say some final words and handed out team awards.
Freshman of the Year: Jacob Murphy ... 3.6 GPA ... 12-9 record and majoring in education
Most Improved: Junior Jared Johnson ... 3.69 in chemical engineering and clinched the dramatic win against Oklahoma in Big Mac with his 12-11 win at 285 against the No.11 ranked wrestler.
Pat Murphy Academic Award: 3-Peat for John Lampe who has received this award in 2013-14-15 and carries a 3.98 GPA.
Ethan Reeve Workhorse Award: Senior Sean Boyle ... 33-7 record at 125 pounds, SoCon champ and NCAA qualifier.
Jim Morgan MVP Award: Senior Nick Soto and Levi Clemons.
Soto had a career record of 114-28 and was undefeated in SoCon competition for four years and and "had the greatest turn around I have seen in a long time as he went from being a boy to a man in four years," said Eslinger.
Clemons earned a 4.0 in the fall and graduates with a degree in criminal justice. He was a SoCon champion and NCAA qualifier as a junior.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net