My little man is getting there!
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:42 pm
As most of you know by now, my little guy Skylor started wresting two years ago. As a bit of a coincidence, he wrestled this past weekend in the same gym that he started his career in in March of 2010. It sure was a great homecoming of sorts!
He wrestled his little rear end off and took home the gold, but that has never been something that I worry about a whole lot. (I won't lie, it's SO AWESOME to see him succeed but there are more important things like sportsmanship, accepting a loss with grace, etc) There were two things that occured on Saturday that really impressed me more than his time on the podium.
His semi-final match was against a young man that Skylor knows well. They have wrestled against eachother a couple times in other tournaments and were even practice partners at a regional wrestling camp this past fall. It was a BATTLE, with Skylor pulling out a win in the end. (Check out the first pic and tell me you don't see the relief in his face as he shakes his opponent's hand!).
The first was watching his opponent wrestle in the consolation rounds. He was wrestling an opponent that was handicapped. I had seen this youngester wrestle in the past also and was impressed with his efforts although he never won a match. Well, Sky's friend could have ended the match pretty quickly but instead took his time and allowed his opponent to take him down and even turn him over once. He allowed the match to go the full distance and although he made sure he was slightly ahead in points, he also made sure that his opponent had fun, was able to "turn a few moves," and then told him how good he wrestled afterwards. Meanwhile, during this whole match Sky sat on the edge of the mat and cheered the handicapped young man on. All of this from a couple 8 year olds...and with no prodding or direction from their parents. It was really awesome to watch!!
After the medal rounds were over Skylor and his friend/opponent came up and asked if they could wrestle an exhibition match since niether of them were really pushed by anyone else in the tourney. I spoke to the father of the other boy and we agreed to let them do it and got them signed up. They got the opportunity to wrestle in front of the entire crowd, without any other matches going on, and really put on a show. Final score of their exhibition was 12-12!! What a fitting end to a great day!
Anyway, yes I am bragging a bit. However, I can't help but be proud of my little man and his friend who not only took it upon themselves to help another wrestler out but then, instead of playing and running around like so many of the other wrestlers, they wanted to wrestle AGAIN and get some extra mat time in. I LOVE YA BUD!
He wrestled his little rear end off and took home the gold, but that has never been something that I worry about a whole lot. (I won't lie, it's SO AWESOME to see him succeed but there are more important things like sportsmanship, accepting a loss with grace, etc) There were two things that occured on Saturday that really impressed me more than his time on the podium.
His semi-final match was against a young man that Skylor knows well. They have wrestled against eachother a couple times in other tournaments and were even practice partners at a regional wrestling camp this past fall. It was a BATTLE, with Skylor pulling out a win in the end. (Check out the first pic and tell me you don't see the relief in his face as he shakes his opponent's hand!).
The first was watching his opponent wrestle in the consolation rounds. He was wrestling an opponent that was handicapped. I had seen this youngester wrestle in the past also and was impressed with his efforts although he never won a match. Well, Sky's friend could have ended the match pretty quickly but instead took his time and allowed his opponent to take him down and even turn him over once. He allowed the match to go the full distance and although he made sure he was slightly ahead in points, he also made sure that his opponent had fun, was able to "turn a few moves," and then told him how good he wrestled afterwards. Meanwhile, during this whole match Sky sat on the edge of the mat and cheered the handicapped young man on. All of this from a couple 8 year olds...and with no prodding or direction from their parents. It was really awesome to watch!!
After the medal rounds were over Skylor and his friend/opponent came up and asked if they could wrestle an exhibition match since niether of them were really pushed by anyone else in the tourney. I spoke to the father of the other boy and we agreed to let them do it and got them signed up. They got the opportunity to wrestle in front of the entire crowd, without any other matches going on, and really put on a show. Final score of their exhibition was 12-12!! What a fitting end to a great day!
Anyway, yes I am bragging a bit. However, I can't help but be proud of my little man and his friend who not only took it upon themselves to help another wrestler out but then, instead of playing and running around like so many of the other wrestlers, they wanted to wrestle AGAIN and get some extra mat time in. I LOVE YA BUD!
