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Last spring, the topic of Rochester Mayo wrestler Charlie Hinsch and his battle with cancer arose in the sports department here at the Post-Bulletin.

Since I'm the P-B's resident wrestling guy, a fellow sports writer tossed in my direction the following question: "Hinsch is just an average wrestler, right?"

I paused for a moment and gave the question much thought. Many images danced through my mind before I finally gave an answer ...

"I've never met an average wrestler. They're all extraordinary."

To this day, I still believe it was a fair question. By definition, Hinsch was probably an above average wrestler. He had an 18-10 record when a blood clot ended his season during the section team tournament last February.

But very few people who aren't members of "the family" understand what it takes to be a wrestler.

Do you think the average person knows what it takes to cut weight? Look at this past week, for example. It was Thanksgiving; the vast majority of us pigged out with very little guilt.

Not wrestlers, though. It was the opening week of practice, which means everyone was working toward their target weight. It's tough for Joe Public to grasp what it's like for a 14-year-old to pass on mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie. But wrestlers do it every year.

The mental toughness required to cut weight is just the tip of the iceberg, though.

Let's not forget the dedication, drive and desire required to make it through a single wrestling practice/workout. Or the self-confidence sometimes needed just to walk down the hallways of your own high school with your head held high. You see, wrestlers get teased, oftentimes relentlessly. Why? Because kids are kids, of course. But teasing ranges from, "wrestlers are gross" to "wrestling is just a bunch of guys hugging each other."

Actually, I received that last comment from an area (non-wrestling) coach - someone who should know better and be more mature - only a few days ago. It's frustrating, but it also makes me appreciate wrestlers that much more.

Wrestlers certainly are physically tough, but it's that mental toughness that sets them apart. That mental toughness is why I have more respect for wrestlers than any other athletes on the planet. And it's also why I knew Hinsch would pin the competition in his battle against cancer.

In case you missed it during the football season, Post-Bulletin sports writer Jason Feldman highlighted Hinsch's journey, which included months of chemotherapy, a huge weight loss and countless trips to doctors and stays in the hospital.

Hinsch pulled through, with the help of good doctors, his family and "the family."

"The family" I'm referring to is the wrestling community. It's a close-knit group, to say the least. Many members of "the family" stopped by Hinsch's hospital room, some people he knew, some he didn't. You see, when a member of "the family" is battling something like cancer, it's not just one person battling cancer, it's the whole family.

While Hinsch won't be on the mat this season, he's healthy and he's putting weight back on. His cancer is in remission, and he's back doing many of the things he loves. He's an inspiration to everyone; the mental toughness and relentlessness gained in the wrestling room helps make wrestlers successful at whatever they do, even fighting cancer.

Predictions

So, this doesn't really fit with the theme of this column, but for the last two years, I've included my Section One predictions with the wrestling previews. So here goes for 2008-09:

The Section 1AAA title goes to Owatonna. I think the Huskies jump back ahead of Albert Lea. Getting Dalton Henderson in the Owatonna lineup will be just enough.

The Section 1AA title stays with Plainview-Elgin-Millville. It's going to be a fight between PEM and Kasson-Mantorville. The KoMets are coming on strong, and I think this could be the best dual of the year.

The Section 1A title stays with Kenyon-Wanamingo. Zumbrota-Mazeppa matches up well with the Knights, and Dover-Eyota is good, too. But the Knights might be the best team in the state.

Ben Pherson is a Post-Bulletin sports writer. He can be reached at bpherson@postbulletin.com