The last match. Alex had been waiting since 3:30 and it was now 7:30. He was anxious, tired, excited. Then something terrible happened; a kid on the opposing team got hurt. An ambulance was called and Alex got really nervous! He wanted to help the injured player. He wanted to hug him.
They moved the match to another mat since all the other teams were done with their last matches. Other mats were rolled up. The injured player didn't have to be taken to the hospital and ended up sitting on the sidelines (If that's what the side is called at a wrestling match...?) Alex went over and asked him if he was OK, then skipped back to our team saying, "Yup. He's OK!"
Alex had been told that he would wrestle after Keegan - the last one on our team. Alex waited. And waited. And waited. It was now getting close to 9:00.
Keegan is up! Alex warms up with one of the coach's sons....
Once Keegan's match is done Al steps onto the mat while the 2 teams meet in the middle to shake hands. The meet is done. The ref takes off his whistle, the other team starts packing up their gear. And Alex just stands there dejected.
But wait! From the crowd you hear, "No. There's one more match!" "Wait. There's one more."
Someone from the other team undresses again and the coaches convince someone to ref (since the ref for that mat was clearly annoyed that he would have to do another match. Yeah, buddy. Like it would have taken you all night! Sorry. I don't mean to sound bitter, but the guy was downright rude!)
And then there is Alex's match... sorry for the poor quality. I used my phone to video tape and it only lasts 30 seconds, so you have a few videos to watch...
Everyone is cheering. Telling him what moves to make. It's total chaos that just sends chills up and down your spine to see all these tired young men cheer and yell as loud as they can for Alex.
And then there's this...
The kid he runs to at the end of the match is the coach's son who helped him warm up.
Alex truly is a winner! He's a part of a team that involves and cares about him. Way to go Beetdiggers!!!
1 comment:
Priceless! He's SO STRONG!! What a great sport he is!! very proud moment
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