STEELE SPORTS

For my wrestling fans in Steele County, I’m sure no storyline in the sport has loomed larger than Matt Ramos’s pin against Spencer Lee at the NCAA tournament semifinals earlier this month.

While the pin and the second-place trophy may be what fans will remember forever about Ramos’s run in 2023, what I will not forget is his speech leading up to the semifinal match.
“I tell myself before every match, my coaches tell me before every match, ‘I’m the best wrestler in the world. There’s nobody that can hang with me.’ He’s a great wrestler and I really respect him. I think I can hand with him, and I’m really excited for tonight,” said Ramos hours before his historic win over Lee.

You would hardly believe he was preparing to face a guy who had won 58 straight matches and multiple NCAA titles.

Lee was a certified juggernaut, yet Ramos made his intentions publicly known – with conviction to boot.

Many times, we see athletes who enter matchups as huge underdogs speak from a similar script of quotes such as “anything can happen” or “I have a good feeling.”

That was not the case for Ramos – and he heard about it from many a doubter on social media.

Countless accounts responded to his comments saying he had no chance, and that Lee would make quick work of him.

Ramos was undeterred.

What makes his story all the better is his ascent to the top.

After signing on with the University of Minnesota in 2018, Ramos spent the majority of his first two years as a redshirt and largely competed outside of collegiate wrestling.

After signing on with Purdue in 2021, he began wrestling for the Boilermakers at 133 pounds and went on to finish 3-2 at the NCAA tournament, but not placing.

Enter 2022 and Ramos’s stock skyrocketed after a cut to 125 pounds.

While Ramos was in the shadows working to earn his spot amongst the sport’s elite, Lee had already become collegiate wrestling royalty by winning three NCAA titles at 125 pounds.

Yet, when the moment shone the brightest and the cameras were trained on him, Ramos spoke from the heart about his belief in himself.

The value of a moment such as this is to teach young athletes that no test should evoke fear if you know you plan to give your everything.

In this world, everyone is beatable.

Ramos’s words speak true to every sport as well – if you believe, you will achieve.