Five-hour waits between bouts, broken Wi-Fi, no parents in sight—and a 12yo who must coach herself through the chaos of Women’s National Duals. In this candid, father-daughter debrief we dissect the mental minefields of elite wrestling: anxiety vs. flow, fun vs. pressure, and why Day-Three dominance followed two days of disappointment. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode shows how the right mindset turns setbacks into breakthrough wins.
Chapters • Day-One Logjam: Five hours of “hurry-up-and-wait” and its mental toll • The Invisible Coach: What Dad normally does—logistics, calming, energy cues • When Detachment Backfires: Books, earbuds and the anxiety of limbo • Tulsa Déjà Vu: Past tournaments that taught the same hard lesson • Aspen’s Advice: Remove the weight, rediscover the fun • Day-Three Flip: Frey’s new routine and instant results • Anatomy of Flow: Headlocks, drag-to-ducks, and wrestling as art • Love the Fight, Laughter in battle, and the long road to embracing the suck • Energy-Management Protocol: Eat, drink, socialize, isolate—repeat • Applying the Lessons: Upcoming Rumble, Bassett Camp, and life outside wrestling • Final Reflections: “I didn’t lose, I learned” and saying thanks to every opponent