Wrestling Tournament Triptych

1.

My first wrestling competition was the Annual Decorah Jaycees Wrestling Tournament held at the Luther College Field House on a Saturday in March during my fifth-grade year of elementary school. My friend Chris's mom drove us to the tournament. I was nervous but my buddy Chris made sure I checked in at the right mat when the competition began. Neither of us had much experience although I believe he'd already competed in the MFL Bullpup Wrestling Tournament. I didn't do too well that day and placed fifth earning myself a green ribbon. Still, the fact that I'd won a match was remarkable considering my lack of wrestling skill at that point. 

For the next few years, I would wrestle at the Jaycee tournament and participate in the Bullpup tourney as well. I always wanted to win a medal or trophy but that seldom happened. Did it ever happen? Although a bit discouraged, I never gave up. Somehow, I sensed I would get better if I just stuck with it. 

At that first Jaycee tournament I wrestled in a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. I didn't have the right gear yet like a singlet and wrestling shoes. When I joined the junior high wrestling squad my parents bought me some proper wrestling shoes and a singlet. I finally looked like the real deal. And my skills had improved a lot by my eighth-grade season. 

2.

During my freshman year of high school, the starting 98 pounder broke his collarbone. As the junior varsity 98 pounder I stepped into the varsity spot. I wrestled 98 pounds in all of the dual meets that season. But another upper classman cut down to 98 for all of the weekend tournaments which was frustrating because I longed to wrestle in a tournament. 

I did move up to 105 to wrestle in a JV tournament that season. I didn't do too well. The competition was tough. And I suppose I cite wrestling up a weight as a contributing factor in my subpar performance that day.

To my surprise and delight, I did wrestle in the 98-pound varsity spot in the conference tournament. I'm not sure how that came to be considering I hadn't wrestled in any other weekend varsity tournaments. At any rate, I had a decent day that left my coaches and me satisfied. I lost my second match in overtime but won my next match to secure third place. I found myself on the awards podium holding a third-place medal. I was happy for myself of course but also proud I'd helped the team. 

3.

I was confident of my chances for winning the conference tournament during my senior season. This may have seemed a strange notion to some considering my opponent in the finals had pinned me in a meet two weeks prior. I wasn't nervous though going into the finals. What did I have to lose? I liked being the underdog. My coach told me I was going to win before I stepped onto the mat. I wonder if he really believed that or was simply trying to boost my confidence and show his support? I believed I could win. Even though my opponent had pinned me two weeks prior I knew I could win. I knew I'd just had an off night two weeks ago but no one else seemed to know that. The fact that a lot of people thought I'd lose actually helped me. I was feeling no pressure. I had no big expectations to live up to. 

Did I win? Yes! I beat him 9-5 and stunned a few people in the process. I wasn't surprised by my victory. Take that, naysayers! Our assistant coach at the time had old connections to the opposing wrestler's high school. He let me know later that even the opposing coach was impressed by my performance. 

I went on to win the sectional and district tournaments that season which qualified me to wrestle in the state tournament. I'd done well and come a long way from that kid who was just worried about finding the right mat at his first competition.