A message from Steve Dlott, parent and wrestling enthusiast……………...
Hakarot Hatov-A public acknowledgement to Michael Goldberg, David Rosenblum and Aaron Lapp
This past Sunday, my son, Moshe, along with ten other boys from Fuchs Mizrachi, participated in Yeshiva University’s annual
wrestling tournament. The “Wittenberg Tournament”, as it is known, brings together Jewish Day Schools from across the country to
compete in this event. Wittenberg is the culmination of the wrestling team’s long and exhausting season, and is the premier meet the
team and its coaches spend all season working toward. I, unfortunately was unable to attend, but Moshe told me the Yeshiva University
gym was packed with parents and family cheering these kids on. What a Kiddush Hashem.
I did not always feel that way. In fact, before last year when Moshe joined the team, I would have been one of the last people to utter
Kiddush Hashem and wrestling in the same breath. When the flyer announcing wrestling attached to the Erev Shabbat memo was
first distributed, I reacted with disgust. What, I asked, is a nice Jewish Day School like Mizrachi doing sponsoring wrestling?
Surely, I thought, more gentlemanly (and better networking) sports, like tennis and golf, are a better choice. And what about injuries?
Barbara was concerned that our 5’11”, 172 pound rock solid son might get hurt! Nevertheless, both because of his size, and
Aaron Lapp’s persistent recruitment efforts to fill as many weight classes as possible, Moshe joined the team.
Any concerns or preconceptions I had about wrestling’s “brutality” were quickly reinforced at the very first meet. I will never forget
my stunned reaction watching that first match and seeing, what it appeared to me, Uri Weiss-not even my own son, no less- and his
wrestling opponent pummeling each other. It reminded me of rabid dogs fighting over a chicken bone. I remember calling Barbra,
who could not bear to come and watch, and repeating over and over again, as if in a daze, “oy vey” or “this is so intense.” Fortunately,
by Moshe’s match, I had settled down, or become numb, I’m not sure. It was still gut wrenching to watch, but I managed to
survive, as did Moshe. My experience that night, and ever since, had a profound influence on me, on many levels. I came away that
evening with a tremendous respect and admiration for these boys. Wrestling is a very difficult sport, and it takes considerable physical,
and more importantly, mental fortitude to participate. It also takes incredible courage. Our boys wrestled some very tough opponents,
with far more experience and training, than they had. And, wrestling is not a team sport. You sink or swim based on your own
merits and skill. Nevertheless, I witnessed a great camaraderie between these boys that night. I also developed a deep respect and
admiration for the teams’ coaches, Michael Goldberg and Aaron Lapp. Aaron is credited with having the vision and persistence to
start a wrestling program, over the quiet objections of naysayers like myself. Both Michael and Aaron have devoted countless hours
every season, including two nights a week, and several hours on Sunday, developing, and nurturing, these boys. As I witnessed,
coaching can be extremely fulfilling and exhilarating. It can also be equally stressful and frustrating, especially coaching a team
lacking adequate practice facilities. Fortunately, Michael and Aaron are very patient, and know when to push these boys and when
to back off.
I’m sure I speak for every other parent of every wrestler on this team in expressing a Hakarot Hatov, and deep sense of gratitude to
Aaron and Michael for all of their hard work these past three years. Thank you for teaching me what a Kiddush Hashem wrestling
can be to Fuchs Mizrachi.