The Lancer Way: AJ Raya
1/27/2020 9:00:00 AM | Wrestling, The Lancer Way
The Lancer Way is a new platform provided by California Baptist University's Athletic Department that allows student-athletes to share their stories. All of the words are their own.
Written By: AJ Raya, Wrestling, Redshirt So., Yucaipa, Calif.
Wrestling, where you have seven minutes to display your skillsets in crowds varying in sizes of less than one hundred people to thousands of people.
Unlike many other sports, all eyes are on two wrestlers at a time. You and your opponent, who is standing in your face, awaiting the whistle that cues the start of the match. And of course, ready to do any and everything to beat you.
The outcome of the match is fully dependent on you. A loss cannot be blamed on a teammate for missing a block, dropping a fly ball, or letting a goal go by. If you lose, any mistakes made or lack of preparation is a direct result from yourself.
Wrestling, a winter sport that runs through all the holidays that bring the best food. As everyone around us enjoys the sweet, savory taste of these foods, wrestlers get to at most enjoy the smells and sights of them because we have to spend our season losing and managing our weight for competitions.
The most common question you're asked after hearing all this – mainly the losing weight part – "so, why would you want to wrestle?"
I spent the first 12 years of my life growing up in San Bernardino. My siblings and I had rules on where and when we could go outside to play. We were unable to leave after dark, with the one exception of going to the neighborhood market that was literally right next store to our house and was owned by my grandma Jennie.
I needed something to keep busy and out of the trouble that was so easily in reach.
My brother Tyler and I asked our dad to let us do karate, and soon after that led to us going and signing up for full access at a gym that offers classes in all things martial arts. Years later, my family took over ownership of the gym.
We began our training and had other kids around our age punching and kicking us in the face, and sometimes trying to break our arm. With just a couple months of training, I stepped into my first wrestling tournament, and soon after my first mixed-martial arts fight. We can just imagine how bad both those outcomes were, but it was just the start of a long journey.
I was not the best fighter or wrestler in my younger years, as I spent most of my time on my back or crying. The one thing my dad never let me do is quit; some would say I even wrestled for him for a part of my young career.
I thank him for seeing what I couldn't yet see and giving me every opportunity to get where I am now. The after-hours work he put into my skill sharpening led not only to more wins, but also prepared me for my high school years of wrestling.
My dad wanted to give myself and my siblings a better place to live and find somewhere I could continue to grow in wrestling, so he moved us to Yucaipa when I was in seventh grade.
At the same time, wrestling got more serious. I was competing weekly and going to different cities to train with some of the best local competition until I got burned out going into my freshman year of high school and needed a break.
Against my dad's will, all five-foot nothing and all 100 pounds of me went out for football – the only football I ever played were the streetball games in San Bernardino. Although, I suffered an injury, to this day I'm glad I took the time to try a new sport. It only rekindled my love for wrestling.
I attended and wrestled pre-college at Yucaipa High School. I had the absolute best coaching staff a high school kid can ask for – led by Anthony Loera and assisted by many great coaches, including the father son duo, Ben and Al Walters. In my four years, built a family, with the coaches and with my fellow teammates.
My high school wrestling years brought many ups and just as many downs. Without this group of people by my side, I don't know where I would be. Thank you and I love every one of you!
Then came college, and the dream of being a D1 athlete was actually becoming a reality. My first stop was at a Big 10 school, Indiana University, where I competed as a true freshman. For many reasons, it did not work out for me there, but I'm thankful for the experience.
Newly transitioning to D1, close to my hometown, and having attended wrestling camp with coach Lennie Zalesky since eighth grade; CBU was an easy choice when searching for a new home to compete at.
Halfway through my second year at CBU, I see how blessed I am to attend such an amazing school, with coaches and professors who care about your well-being in life not just your grade or performance. Building a family with the wrestling team helps get through even the toughest of days, and not every team is a family.
Why do I wrestle? To know how to keep fighting in life even when you are "defeated," and to keep that same fight even when life seems perfect. Just like wrestling, you can be up by 10 one second and put to your back another.
Wrestling brings the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, while sacrificing the things you love, like food. The character it builds is truly like no other. The kill-or-be-killed mentality, but also to love those surrounding you. You get what you earn.
Written By: AJ Raya, Wrestling, Redshirt So., Yucaipa, Calif.
Wrestling, where you have seven minutes to display your skillsets in crowds varying in sizes of less than one hundred people to thousands of people.
Unlike many other sports, all eyes are on two wrestlers at a time. You and your opponent, who is standing in your face, awaiting the whistle that cues the start of the match. And of course, ready to do any and everything to beat you.
The outcome of the match is fully dependent on you. A loss cannot be blamed on a teammate for missing a block, dropping a fly ball, or letting a goal go by. If you lose, any mistakes made or lack of preparation is a direct result from yourself.
Wrestling, a winter sport that runs through all the holidays that bring the best food. As everyone around us enjoys the sweet, savory taste of these foods, wrestlers get to at most enjoy the smells and sights of them because we have to spend our season losing and managing our weight for competitions.
The most common question you're asked after hearing all this – mainly the losing weight part – "so, why would you want to wrestle?"
Before answering, I want to go back to where it all started.149 - Aj Raya of @CBUwrestling
— CAUSAWrestling (@calUSAwrestling) November 25, 2019
🥇 @CSUBWrestling 2019 Road Runner Open Champion! pic.twitter.com/I2cfqhuDGy
I spent the first 12 years of my life growing up in San Bernardino. My siblings and I had rules on where and when we could go outside to play. We were unable to leave after dark, with the one exception of going to the neighborhood market that was literally right next store to our house and was owned by my grandma Jennie.
I needed something to keep busy and out of the trouble that was so easily in reach.
My brother Tyler and I asked our dad to let us do karate, and soon after that led to us going and signing up for full access at a gym that offers classes in all things martial arts. Years later, my family took over ownership of the gym.
We began our training and had other kids around our age punching and kicking us in the face, and sometimes trying to break our arm. With just a couple months of training, I stepped into my first wrestling tournament, and soon after my first mixed-martial arts fight. We can just imagine how bad both those outcomes were, but it was just the start of a long journey.
I was not the best fighter or wrestler in my younger years, as I spent most of my time on my back or crying. The one thing my dad never let me do is quit; some would say I even wrestled for him for a part of my young career.
I thank him for seeing what I couldn't yet see and giving me every opportunity to get where I am now. The after-hours work he put into my skill sharpening led not only to more wins, but also prepared me for my high school years of wrestling.
My dad wanted to give myself and my siblings a better place to live and find somewhere I could continue to grow in wrestling, so he moved us to Yucaipa when I was in seventh grade.
At the same time, wrestling got more serious. I was competing weekly and going to different cities to train with some of the best local competition until I got burned out going into my freshman year of high school and needed a break.
Against my dad's will, all five-foot nothing and all 100 pounds of me went out for football – the only football I ever played were the streetball games in San Bernardino. Although, I suffered an injury, to this day I'm glad I took the time to try a new sport. It only rekindled my love for wrestling.
I attended and wrestled pre-college at Yucaipa High School. I had the absolute best coaching staff a high school kid can ask for – led by Anthony Loera and assisted by many great coaches, including the father son duo, Ben and Al Walters. In my four years, built a family, with the coaches and with my fellow teammates.
My high school wrestling years brought many ups and just as many downs. Without this group of people by my side, I don't know where I would be. Thank you and I love every one of you!
Then came college, and the dream of being a D1 athlete was actually becoming a reality. My first stop was at a Big 10 school, Indiana University, where I competed as a true freshman. For many reasons, it did not work out for me there, but I'm thankful for the experience.
Honored to coach this young stud! #lanceup #risetoD1 #brightfuture https://t.co/qoWQks4eZk
— CBU Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) September 12, 2018
Newly transitioning to D1, close to my hometown, and having attended wrestling camp with coach Lennie Zalesky since eighth grade; CBU was an easy choice when searching for a new home to compete at.
Halfway through my second year at CBU, I see how blessed I am to attend such an amazing school, with coaches and professors who care about your well-being in life not just your grade or performance. Building a family with the wrestling team helps get through even the toughest of days, and not every team is a family.
Here are some photos of the guys with their buddies from @Timtebow's Night to Shine event with @CrossroadsCA. An amazing evening of fun as they gave a prom to those who otherwise may not have experienced one.
— CBU Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) February 12, 2019
-Hebrews13:16 #XRNTS2019 pic.twitter.com/Kg7SIq0H52
Why do I wrestle? To know how to keep fighting in life even when you are "defeated," and to keep that same fight even when life seems perfect. Just like wrestling, you can be up by 10 one second and put to your back another.
Wrestling brings the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, while sacrificing the things you love, like food. The character it builds is truly like no other. The kill-or-be-killed mentality, but also to love those surrounding you. You get what you earn.
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