An End and a Beginning

Well, wrestling season has come to an end for Tristan. It was a bittersweet ending, to say the least. Although he achieved his goal of making it to State, going further to actually place in the top five wasn't to be this year.

The tournament began this past Thursday, and was to run through Saturday. The school paid for the hotel stay and food for Tristan, but we had to find our own way, which we did. We bought tickets beforehand, and headed down to Madison Thursday morning. It poured rain all the way down.

We ended up having to park two blocks away from where the tournament took place, which meant a two block hike in the pouring, freezing rain. We were soaked by the time we got there, but we made it. Once we found our seats, in the nosebleed section (we were only four rows from the top of the building!), we settled in for what we thought would be an exciting time.

The place was huge, intimidating, and Tristan was so nervous! Nervous, but ready. He (and we) thought he stood a pretty good chance at making it past the first round. Unfortunately, nothing could have prepared Tristan for the speed of his opponent! I'm telling you, this guy was quick! He took Tristan down so fast, we weren't sure how it happened. Tristan fought hard, but ended up losing 10-6, sending him home for the season.

He was really upset, but we were proud nonetheless. He worked really hard this season, and reached every goal he had set for himself, and then some. A good friend and head wrestling coach at a nearby college told us he sees Tristan at the top of the podium next season, and I believe it too.

On the upside of this defeat, Tristan's restrictive diet is over as well. After months of watching what he ate, and sometimes even not eating to make weight the day of a match, he is back to eating whatever he wants. And boy did he eat when he got home! I thought he would surely vomit or explode!

He'll be wrestling all summer this year at camps and such to keep improving more. I think his future plans involve wrestling in college, so I'm sure a placement at next year's State tournament is a goal he'll work hard to reach.

Now, on to the younger ones. Next weekend starts the season for Timothy and Rebecca. Yes, you read that right. Rebecca will be wrestling as well. Boys as well as girls can wrestle in the younger grades, and she's been begging us for two years to let her try. This year I finally gave in, and so far, she loves it. She's really putting alot of time into it, and learning fast, so we shall see.

It just never seems to end around here. From one kid to the next, there's ALWAYS something doing!