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Why we love
wrestling!
Posted by JV on 1/29/2008, 1:25 pm
This email just came
across my desk and I felt the need to share it. Thank you Connor. This is
why I love wrestling.
My name is Michael Denny and I am the middle school wrestling coach at
Housel Middle School. Last night (January 22nd) we hosted teams from Selah
and Ellensburg in a three way meet. There were 66 matches during the course
of the evening, but I wanted to write you to share our feelings about one
match in particular. Housel Middle School coaches contacted the coaches from
Morgan Middle School to try and set up an “unorthodox” match for one of our
wrestlers. You see, we have an eighth grade student/athlete who has
cognitive and physical disabilities who has turned out for wrestling this
season. His parents only wanted him to take part in wrestling as a “manager”
and maybe get some time on the mat during practice to feel more like he is
part of the team and get a chance to participate in a sport like his older
brothers. Our wrestler has been practicing each day for the past two weeks
and was looking forward to a match though we were very skeptical about the
possibility or wrestling someone from another team. We knew he would not be
able to stand up to the physical rigors of an actual wrestling match so we
asked coach Graf if there was anybody on his team who could wrestle our guy
and assure us of two things: 1. we needed our wrestler to be safe, 2. we
didn’t want the match to be a mockery or embarrassment for either wrestler
or the schools they represent.
Coach Graf contacted one of the Morgan Middle School wrestlers, Connor
Sherwood, and asked if he would be willing to participate in a match. He
asked Connor if he would be willing to assure us of our wrestler’s safety
and dignity. We assured Connor that he would definitely win the match, but
that we wanted our wrestler to have a chance to wrestle in a “real” match.
Connor thought about the situation and indicated he was willing to
participate in the match. We set the match to take place at the end of the
night after all other wrestling had finished.
Coach Graf approached the Housel Middle School coaching staff toward the
middle of the second round and asked if we were ready to wrestle the special
match because he wanted to make sure the crowd did not leave before they
wrestled. The match started off how I expected with Conner taking it nice
and slow with our wrestler. They traded control back and forth and Connor
allowed our wrestler to work his moves and use moves that occur in typical
matches. All of the coaches, wrestlers, parents, fans and officials knew
what was happening and we were enjoying the moment, though we knew it would
not last much longer. Wrestlers from Housel Middle School began lining the
mat and chanting the name of our wrestler. Wrestlers and coaches from all
three teams were watching from their seats and the edge of the mat. Fans in
the crowd were all watching, and eventually standing up the see how the
match unfolded. As time started to run out we expected Conner to begin to
work toward the win, but it became clear that something very special was
about to take place! Connor was keeping the match close, but our wrestler
began to build a lead as the final seconds of the third round came to an
end. Connor kept a close eye on the clock and made sure our wrestler
finished the match with a 9 to 8 victory!
I have been involved in Wrestling for nearly 20 years as a wrestler,
official and a coach. I can honestly say I have never observed this kind of
maturity and selflessness from a wrestler Connor’s age, or any age for that
matter. In one match, Connor was able to give our wrestler, his parents, our
school and our community something to have and cherish for the rest of our
lives. There were few, if any, dry eyes in the gym. As I walked through the
door this morning the news of the match quickly spread through the office
and the teachers lounge and the majority of responses were a teary eye and
an emphatic “WOW”. As a matter of fact, I have pulled the blinds and shut
the door just to write this letter because it is still such a moving
experience and memory.
It seems in today’s society we teach our younger generation to “go for the
win”, “don’t give up”, “winning is the most important thing”, “don’t give an
inch”, but last night we saw what is good about school athletics and the
promise of tomorrow’s leaders. Connor could have easily taken our wrestler
down, pinned him quickly and painlessly, and it would have been recorded as
just another match. Instead he and the coaching staff made a decision that
will forever change everyone who watched that match last night. I commend
Coach Graf for his continued leadership and development of these fine young
men, but I most importantly want to thank and pay tribute to Connor for his
thoughtful, caring, and compassionate match! This is the kind of story I as
a coach have always hoped to share with others, this is the type of match
that gives us so much hope for the younger generation, and this is the match
that shows why wrestling is the oldest and greatest sport.
In Wrestling,
Michael Denny
Wrestling Coach
Housel Middle School
Prosser WA |
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