Get to Know Corbin Purdum

Corbin Purdum received the runner-up scholarship in 2022. Photo Courtesy of Corbin Purdum

RBS&HF Scholarship runner-up Corbin Purdum had the unique opportunity to know Coach Barron by wrestling in the local community. Here are excerpts from his application, so you can get to know him better.

What does wrestling mean to you?

It is difficult to put into words everything that wrestling has done for me. It has given me the opportunity to learn from so many incredible people, such as Coach Barron; my high school coaches; coaches from Columbine, Chatfield, Bear Cave, and Black Fox; and people with different styles all around the country at camps and clinics. Wrestling has shaped me into someone who, instead of staying up late playing video games and sleeping in, will get myself to bed by 9:00 and wake up to go for a run before school. Wrestling has positively changed my entire outlook on where the ceilings of my potential actually, are and I can't even begin to imagine who I would be if I didn't find this sport. It is the most difficult thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding. In the past, I could have never foreseen that I would be eagerly making plans to meet at someone's makeshift garage wrestling room every day at the crack of dawn during quarantine. In the past I would have never believed that I could fall in love so much with a sport to leave my other sports and activities behind. Wrestling has helped me get my schoolwork done early each night without stress solely because I want to make sure I get enough sleep to run in the morning and still be fresh for practice. Wrestling has made it easy for me to find communities of people who are respectful and who work hard not only on the mat but in life, the kind of people I want to surround myself with. It has shown me how to become my best, healthiest self in every way through meal plans and diets in order to make weight. And finally, wrestling has been the best mental health exercise in the world, allowing me to continue doing what I love even through the loneliness of quarantine and enabling me to focus my energy effectively after a bad day at school. Wrestling truly has been the biggest factor in shaping who I am today, and I am forever thankful for it.

When has wrestling helped you overcome adversity?

One major event for me that I've mentioned above also happened to be a major event for the entire world: the COVID-19 lockdown. During this time I felt depressed, unmotivated, out of routine, and felt that I was wasting the little energy that I had sitting at home. I was in a very dark place in my life. But the wrestling community is what pulled me out of this dark place. It was actually my cousin, Jack Forbes, who initially invited me out to the garage wrestling room. It felt great not only to get back to working hard, but also just to have something on my schedule that I could go do each day. It was actually these garage workouts that led to me spending almost all of my waking hours of my summer in the wrestling room, eventually leading me to Fargo Nationals. Jack reaching out to me taught me two things. One, I thrive on routine, and two, I could be doing for someone else what he did for me. As far as routine, simply scheduling a time to go get a glass of water or take the dog for a walk in between online classes improved my mood astoundingly. And as far as passing the favor on, I got as many wrestlers as I could to come train with us, many of which later telling me that coming to practices also helped pull them out of a dark place and give them something to look forward to. In conclusion, in such an unprecedented time, it was what I learned from wrestling and the wrestling community that helped me and enabled me to help others.

What does it mean to live your life with strength and honor?

If you look up the definition of strength, it states the quality of being physically strong; influence of a person; emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with situations or events that are distressing or difficult; a beneficial attribute of a person or thing; a person who is perceived as a source of mental or emotional support and the number of people to make a group complete. Every single item here is the strength Coach Barron showed me through example. He was never just coaching me to physically wrestle. but more importantly to use all the lessons learned to get through life! I have definitely leaned into wrestling to get through some hard personal things where my mental health was not strong. Simultaneously, I have leaned into wrestling to become more physically fit and prepared for anything that comes my way. This strength was given to me and shown to me by Coach Barron. I knew I was more than just another number; I mattered. Similarly, if you look up the definition of honor, it states high respect/great esteem; adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct; regard with great respect; fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement). This “respect” was freely given to me by Coach Barron even when I had not yet earned it and because of that, I wanted to do my absolute best and make coach proud of me. With this gift, I now try to lift up other athletes and friends in my life in the same way, whether it is athletically, academically, or a friend who is just needing to be heard and understood. Showing respect changes the game because it takes a bigger man to give it away even if it is not yet earned and to consistently do what I say I’m going to do. Striving to live my life with Strength and Honor will enable me to be the kind of friend, father, coach, and human being that I want to be—that Coach Barron was. I want to give my time and attention freely, always making others feel like their goals are mine too and that they are the only person in the room. Coach Barron made me feel valued and important from the very first day we met when I wore ripped and taped wrestling shoes because my dad didn’t want to invest in them before I showed my commitment. Coach literally took his shoes off his feet and gave them to me without question, without judgement. That is showing generosity and kindness. He also gave me a vintage Heritage sweatshirt because he knew I would appreciate it. That is showing thoughtfulness and encouragement, and I have never gone to a match in three years now without that sweatshirt under my uniform jacket. On other occasions, without prompting he sat on the side of the mat and coached me when I didn’t have a coach, making me feel important and supported even though I wasn’t his responsibility. That is showing respect and care. He told me straight up where I could work harder and hugged me when I did well. Being a good person who gives much; takes little; and offers support, encouragement, and will literally offer the shoes off their feet without judgement is the kind of person I want to be. Living with Strength and Honor at the forefront of my life will always be in memory and honor of Coach Barron. I want to show respect, support, encouragement, love and gratitude to everyone around me through my actions, not just my words.

What’s next?

I will be attending a four-year college next year to earn my degree in International Business with a concentration in German language. I am currently in AP German and have been in AP micro and macro economics, so combining my two academic interests has become my goal for the future. To date, I have been admitted to Baylor University (TX), The University of Alabama (AL), Montana State University (MT), The University of Nebraska, Lincoln (NE), and Colorado State University (CO). I am still waiting to hear from Clemson University (SC), Auburn University (AL), Ohio University (OH), and Tulane University (LA).