“In the Face of Annihilation: A Life Lesson on the Mat”
Post 2 of 2: “The Rematch”
Fast forward one week to our second wrestling tournament. It was there, in Graham’s first match that it happened. He earned his first win! He was excited afterward, but also a little worn out. Knowing he’d have a quick turnaround before his next match, I walked him into the hallway so that he could use the bathroom and get some water. We bumped into a few of his friends along our way, and it was fun to hear him recount how he’d scored his victory. He was riding high, though I suspected that the news I was about to tell him might change that. When he noticed we were near the cafeteria, he asked: “Dad, can I get a donut?”
“Not yet buddy,” I replied. “We’ve gotta get back for your next match.”
“Oh, okay. Who do I wrestle?”
A pause from me as I began leading him back to the gymnasium. “You’ve got Crusher.”
An even longer pause from Graham, followed by, “Oh, God...”
We need a plan.
Hearing the dread in Graham’s voice, I led him into an empty hallway where I could talk to him. I’d noticed Crusher’s name on Graham’s bracket that morning when we were checking in, though I hadn’t mentioned it at the time because, well, I didn’t have the heart to. Prior to Graham’s first match, I observed Crusher compete against another kid from our program who I knew was an experienced and talented wrestler. Crusher used aggressive takedowns and throws, proficient body control, and, of course, his signature “brain-smashing” stiff-arm move to eventually win the match by points. Knowing Graham would soon be back in the crosshairs, I dropped to one knee in front of him, and said, “He’s going to remember you from last week. When your guys’ match started you were standing way too tall. Your knees were locked. He shot in, grabbed you, and took you down. You know he’s going to be super aggressive, so this time, use it against him.” I paused and Graham raised his eyebrows. “When he shoots at your legs, step aside, catch him, and fall right on top of him.” I stood tall and instructed Graham to come at me, like he was Crusher. “Think like a bullfighter. You want to avoid the bull’s horns. If you can get him down, throw your weight onto his shoulders and try to turn him over.” We switched roles so that Graham could practice catching me when I came at him. Being aware that time was running short, I gave him one more piece of advice before we returned to the gymnasium. “You have to believe you can beat him.”
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
There they were. Graham and Crusher standing face-to-face at the center of the mat. I have a photo of them on my phone. Graham is positioned low; his feet spread apart and his hands open like claws. Crusher is even lower, with one foot forward and one back. Graham is staring at Crusher’s eyes. Crusher is looking directly at Graham’s knees. The moment the referee blew his whistle, Crusher sprung forward, and Graham, in perfect coordination, stepped aside to avoid his charge (¡ole!). Graham grabbed onto Crusher’s back, and when the two of them fell to the mat, Graham ended up on top and was given two points for the takedown. As Jen, Penelope, and I cheered, the next thing I expected Graham to do was to try to turn Crusher over. I figured this would be difficult, what with Crusher being the experienced wrestler that he was. Graham must’ve had the same feeling, too, because he never even bothered trying. Instead, he placed his hand onto the back of Crusher’s head and, you guessed it, began stiff-arming Crusher’s face into the mat. He was using Crusher’s own finishing move against him. It was like a WWF match from my childhood! Graham was able to hold him there for about five seconds (which were probably the greatest five seconds of his life). At some point, Crusher escaped, and even though he’d reclaim the point lead by the end of the first period, it was obvious by his expression that he was rattled. Win, lose, or draw, there’d be no free meal at this match.
What a difference a week can make.
Graham chose the neutral position (both wrestlers standing) for him and Crusher to start the second period. While the two of them got set, he turned to look at Jen, Penelope, and me. Never one for subtleties, he smiled, gave us a thumbs up, and raised his eyebrows several times. All right buddy, you’re feeling good. I get it! Once I finished laughing, I turned my attention to Crusher, who again, was staring at Graham’s knees. Hoping Graham would stick to the original game plan, I waited for the whistle. When it sounded, Crusher launched forward like J.J. Watt in pursuit of a game-ending sack. Graham saw him coming though, and just like in the first period, he stepped aside, grabbed on, and let Crusher’s momentum carry both of them to the mat. Here’s where things got interesting. Crusher had shot at Graham so hard that when the two of them landed, he rolled right onto his back. There was panic on Crusher’s face for an obvious reason. He wasn’t used to being on his back. The referee quickly stepped around both wrestlers and dropped to the mat. With Graham on top, the referee examined Crusher’s shoulders which were almost, but not quite all the way down. This was the point in the match where Graham made one little mistake. He rose up onto his knees and extended his arms until his elbows were locked, as if he was going to do a half push-up, and used his hands to try to press Crusher’s shoulders down for the pin. From the angle I was sitting, it almost looked like he was trying to strangle him. Maybe he was, but whatever the case, the strategy didn’t work, and just like that, the window closed and Crusher rolled free.
A storybook rematch with a real-world ending.
I wish I could tell you that Graham’s rematch with Crusher ended in triumph. Experience isn’t everything in sports, but it does matter. Crusher ultimately pulled ahead in points, and even though Graham went on to lose the match, he fought with everything he had for all three periods and left nothing on the mat. I was so proud of him for taking it the distance. His growing pains with Crusher would prove to be a turning point, as he’d go on to win 10 of his next 12 matches, and earn first place medals in 3 consecutive tournaments. He’d continue to meet adversity and encounter plenty of interesting characters throughout the season (i.e., the kid in the Killer Clown singlet from his final tournament). His experiences against Crusher remain some of my favorites, and are the ones we continue to talk most about to this day. A big “thanks” goes out to the youth wrestling coaches in our community of Oregon, WI. They displayed a clear passion for teaching and dedication to their craft. Graham’s experiences on the wrestling mat are a good example of why it’s important for kids to try things that are new. They have enough conventional choices in their lives already. Get them outside their comfort zones and they might surprise you.
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- Todd
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