Erin Kelly, a writer with cerebral palsy, explores the fundamental lessons that can be learned from Cody Mulligan, the first blind amateur wrestler.
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“We get one opportunity in life. One chance in life to do whatever you’re going to do, and lay your foundation and make whatever mark you’re going to make…”
Many may consider this quote to be the embodiment of Ray Lewis’ storied NFL career, seeing that he led The Baltimore Ravens to victory at The Super Bowl last year. Some may even make a strong case that, when you strip away the odds Lewis had of ending his career as a champion, this quote has nothing to do with football or sports in general.
In fact, an argument can be made that this quote instead embodies what it means to be a champion in life. If one is indeed willing to not only make that argument, but also defend it, 14-year-old amateur wrestler Cody Mulligan deserves a gold medal.
According to a recent article published by Yahoo Shine, Mulligan may very well be the first blind wrestler to achieve success on the mat—on a high school or amateur level.
Diagnosed with Batten Disease at age four, Cody won his first two matches earlier this year as a member of the Sparrow Point High varsity wrestling team, where he attends school in Baltimore, Maryland. His victories, along with his no-quit attitude, have made him the shining star of his team.
He also enjoys playing football, in which his strategy is simply to run and tackle—much of the same tactics he uses in wrestling. In fact, Mulligan explained that he considers his blindness to be an advantage rather than a disadvantage when he’s on the mat.
“It’s pretty much about feeling, anyway. Sometimes you can’t see what you’re doing. So, you kind of have an advantage in that way,” he said in the article.
Mulligan also noted that his disability only pushes him to be better and stronger, and that his teammates don’t even look at him as being blind.
“People are willing to help if I need help, and it’s nice that everybody lets me be the same [as they are.] I always wanted to be on a team, and everybody says, ‘Nice job!’ and ‘Keep going!’
Cody’s story is proof that there isn’t just one thing that defines a champion. It’s a composition of many characteristics coming together to build one strong individual. When your back is constantly against the wall, you inherently develop a certain set of skills and instincts that can’t be taught.
I think that’s the heart and soul of this story. No one can tell you what a champion is, because everyone has their own idea and definition of what it should be. I think people need to find that quality within themselves in order to truly separate oneself from the crowd.
Like Cody, I have to push myself a little harder if I want the outside world to see something other than the obvious—whether that means defending the words I write, or quietly outshining the shadow of my cerebral palsy.
It’s about having a willingness to go beyond what’s expected. It’s sad that people—or society as a whole sometimes can’t see passed what their eyes allow them to see. Sometimes they need to be shown those thing, but I think that’s where sportsmanship comes into play.
It’s easy to look at someone who’s off the beaten path and say, “They are the way they are.” and walk away. It’s even easier for the person being judged to think they’re not worthy of your time. When a disability is involved, however, I think the willingness to go out on a limb is crucial. Not only does it show bravery, but it also lets others know it’s OK to perhaps step out of their comfort zone and ask why you are the way you are.
Cody Mulligan may have a disadvantage over the rest of the world, but he’s paving the way for others to follow in his footsteps. His story leaves us with this observation: if a blind person can carry an entire team on his shoulders, imagine what we can do with our eyes open.
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Thanks for this Mike. Cody’s story inspired me so much that I felt it deserved to be put out there for the world to see – and it was one I could relate to in terms of will and determination. I didn’t know there were other amateur wrestlers who were blind. interesting stuff!
Good article, a great display of will and dedication, but not the first blind amateur wrestler. In fact, the Alabama School for the Blind has a good tradition of high-school wrestling and even a few state champions. I was pinned by a few of them myself. They were able to utilize their sense of space and weight to know where they were, where I was and when I was out of position. I feel I’ve been able to do the same thing with my ADHD, a deficit in attention that has spawned strengths such as flexibility, creativity and acceptance. But… Read more »