Personal Narrative: Childhood Wrestling

I thought he was going to rip my whole body apart and slap me around on the mat. I knew that wasn't the right way to think going into a match so I kept telling myself that I would win. "Petro-Risner, Mayberry-Hotchkiss, mat 4," said the announcer. With my legs wobbling arms tingling and heart pumping away, I stepped out onto the mat. The referee got ready, and there it was, the whistle. I sat there crouched down, ready to shoot in for the first take down, but for some reason I couldn't. We tied up head to head. I could feel his strength by his tight grip. We separated and I suddenly got a big burst of adrenaline. Boom, I shot in at his legs and two points went to me with the first take down. After that take down, everything I thought before was gone. I wasn't afraid of this kid. I was just letting myself think I was. I knew that I was not going to lose this match. When the clock ran out in the third period, the score was 9-8 in my favor. I did it. I defeated Jeff Petro in a tough 6 minutes of wrestling. It was Probably the toughest match I've ever had to wrestle.

The reason for my nervousness was because it was the last rodeo of the High School Rodeo season. The last rodeo just so happened to be

The match start he shoots on me and i defend it. It was an intense match from the start I was being defensive because he was a state placer and I knew that he was good.The first period came to an end.The second period began and he scored on me.Then I started fatiguing my heart was beating out of my chest.The lights were shining bright down on us like the sun was out. It was an intense match from the start till this point .

Wrestling use to be pretty easy for me I would go out there mess around for a little bit get some points on the board for me and then I would try to finish it. But, I was a little kid and I was a pretty big kid and most kids with me were never any good and I just had more heart and passion in the match then they did. So, I thought I would get into the wrestling room do some of the warm-ups for the coaches and then show them how good I was. No, that did not

“Why Kid?” said, my grandfather. I replied, “simple, not everyone can do it, that why I love it. I love the grind, I love the self-torture, and of course the leading reason I look ripped in a singlet. Wrestling is one of the most demanding sports there is. The dedication, hard work, dieting, endless practices, and the everlasting season. Don't forget sectionals, then finally state. I can't tell you how many parties that I had to turn down during the season because I didn't want to be tempted to binge eat. The countless Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner I've had to give up. I felt like a dog watching everyone eat their honey roasted turkey.

Next, I wrestled the kid from Jeff West, Hunter Thelen. We both started circling and then I tripped over my feet. He came running at me, he pushed me over then I reversed it and then I got him on his back and he was done by that point. I had him on his back for about five seconds. Then he gave up and I pinned him for the victory.

It was a cold night during the winter at Dover High School. The Central York Middle School wrestling team was going against Dovers wrestling team.This would be Central's first match of the winter season. Everyone on the bus was excited for the match knowing that we could win because we practiced real hard. When we entered the school everyone got quiet and walked to the locker rooms to change. When we got inside the locker rooms everyone started getting dressed and got weighed in. I was lucky because i made weight by a pound under. This would be my first match ever so I wanted to start off winning not loosing.

There was screaming coming from every direction, heavy breathing, and only five and a half minutes left. It was the middle of a wrestling match I was winning 3-2, and I began to think to myself “Don’t mess up, don’t mess up!” This was the third time I had faced the same opponent, and I had lost the other two matches against him.

My first memory of wrestling was in fourth grade when I was wrestling someone who was way bigger than me. He just kicked my butt.

The sun was shining brightly and the snow was melting outside on a beautiful March afternoon. Inside the Marian High School Wrestling room was an entirely different picture. Inside the room there was an intense off-season workout going on. Afterwards, the wrestlers and coaches all sat down, dripping in sweat, and began joking about the wrestlers who chose not to show up to the off-season workouts. My teammates, coaches, and I began making a list of the laziest wrestlers on our team. Jokingly, I asked my coach, “Where am I on that list?” he looked at me with a straight face and said, “Trust me Justin; you are nowhere close to being on that list.”

Our first meet is in a week. If I wasn’t sleeping or eating, I was working on wrestling, lifting, or trying to learn some braille so I don’t walk into the girls bathroom. My takedowns are sloppy, but with more practice they should be

The football season had just ended in Orem Utah and my coach was an assistant wrestling coach. People had been telling me things about wrestling the whole football season to the point where I actually considered it. I went to open mats one day and decided that I was going to wrestle. There were two other first year freshmen in my weight class and I beat both of them. In my first year of wrestling I was already varsity. The whole year I got pounded on over and over again by kids who had been wrestling for years. I kind of just accepted the fact that I was going to lose most of my matches. Our very last dual of the season was against Orem High School who were our mortal enemies. The dual started off at the 120 pound weight class. Me being in the 113 pound weight class meant I would be the last one to wrestle. The dual was incredibly close and by the time I was up Orem was winning the dual by one point. My coach told me to go out there and keep it simple. I went out, took him down, and pinned him in just fourteen seconds. The crowd exploded. Everybody started chanting my name. The captains picked me up and put me on their shoulders as they carried me around the gym. This event was important to my life because it gave me confidence that I needed, it kept me wrestling because I was on the verge of quitting, and it was a moment that I’ll never forget my entire life.

You glance at your opponent trying not to stare at him. You concentrate all you attention on the opponent, from his headgear, all the way down to his shoes. You try to help yourself to think positive, but your mind can’t get off the fact that he “looks” like a better wrestler. As your name is called for the match, your heart begins sinking. You make your way to the center of the wrestling match and face your opponent. The referee blows his whistle and you begin attacking and defending. Within the first few minutes you are physically drained, your muscles are aching and slowing down as they need a break. You keep pushing and don’t stop. As the match comes to an end and you take the victory. The feeling of pride and accomplishment rushes through your blood and suddenly your muscles feel fully rested and ready for your next

There is no possible way to define me without applying that I am a wrestler, ever since; stepping on a wrestling mat. My body is comprised of wrestling material, I have heart, spirit, strength, speed, skill and most importantly dedication. As team members we all play roles, we have to work hard, go to practice, give 100%, and, ultimately, stay in our designated weight class. I recall physically and mentally collapsing on my apartment stairs to stay 132lbs. By that time I was more attracted to gravity than my passion to persevere. Anyways, what I love most about wrestling is the fact that I get to express myself and my team. In addition, wrestlers wrestler wrestlers in the same weight class. Basically, you are able to demonstrate your skill,

I got used to it, or so I thought. I started taking my turns faster and getting in race mode. By this time I had calmed down and relaxed. I got to relaxed and got ahead of my self and BAM! I went down jamming my knee between my bike and the hard packed dirt ground. Adrenaline instantly hit me. I felt dizzy from the adrenaline. I could feel it run through my veins like cold blood. I picked up my bike I finished the practice lap and pulled into the pit. I put my bike on the greasy aluminum stand that I had been using for a year. I sat down to calm my nerves. The adrenaline was still there. I tuned my bike up for the race. I sprayed my chain down with a sticky liquid called chain lube. I took out the wrench and tightened my chain. As soon as I changed out of the sweaty clothes and wash the muddy dirt off of my face, I sat by the fire.