Actually enjoyable

How do you tell the man who started first and has conducted himself with honor and integrity that he probably won’t win?

How do you tell the first coach that thought your son was good enough to wrestle in college that your son is going to wrestle for another coach who just last week came to the same conclusion?

How do you tell the man who encouraged you to send the boy to the High School Senior Nationals because “he’s earned it” and because he wanted him to get all of the exposure he could get that because of that tournament, my son’s dream college is preparing to make him a scholarship offer?

How do you tell a man who has proven that he has your son’s best interest at heart that you have chosen another man to be coached by another man of whom I have heard good things but I do not know?

The discomfort of these thoughts hovered at the forefront of my mind while we ate dinner and chatted.

Then it came down to the business at hand. Instead of asking me a question, he went right to work on improving Baker University’s offer.

By the time that he finished, we had gone from having to come up with $13,000 per year to $8,000. If my son improves his test scores in the next 6 weeks, that could drop down to $5,000! That is manageable!

Then it was my turn. I decided to take the easy way out…I just told him the unvarnished truth.

Baker University is my son’s second choice. It has nothing to do with the wrestling program. Drexel just fits him better. I think that he already knew that.

I promised to keep informed.

It was an enjoyable evening. I think both of us left with even more respect and affection for the other than when we arrived. I just wish I could have relaxed a little more during the meal.