Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Wrestling Reflection: First Tournament of the Year

On Thursday November 24th, the W. Ross MacDonald wrestling was scheduled to compete at Erin District High School in Erin, ON. This was the first wrestling meet of the season. The whole week leading up to the meet I was very nervous, even though this wasn't my first meet. Thursday morning, I woke up quite early to get ready and wake up the other girls who were wrestling, Kellie and Tiana.

It was time to aboard the bus, I chatted with friends and I took this time to go over some counters that I had forgotten, Mrs. Howe helped me with this.

When we arrived at the school I went to go get change and warm up. I practiced some of the moves and techniques Mrs. Howe helped me with. It was tournament time and my match was one of the first ones. So, I got all warmed up and got ready to wrestle. Right before my match my coaches Mr. Zinger and Mrs. Howe gave me some encouraging words and pointers. I went to the center of the mat, shook my opponent's hand and got in my stance. The whistle blew, the first move my opponent shoots for is... the head and arm. Well, I got stuck in the move and unfortunately for me I forgot the counter. She was able to take me down to my back. I tried, I really did, I bridged twice but I couldn't get up so the match was over, she won. So, I shook my opponent's hand and went over to Mr. Zinger. He asked me "Did you learn something from that match?". Yes, I have to keep my guard up at all times and always be aware of what's happening around me.

Now, I had a few hours before my match. During those 4 and a half hours I cheered on my teammates and tried to think positively for my next match. I went over some moves I might have to use in my next match.

So, I got warmed up for my 2nd match. As soon as the whistle blew I was in midair then... on my back. This girl went so fast I didn't even know what move she used on me. But, as soon as I was on my back we lost contact so we had to go back in the center to start over. Once the whistle blew again she went for a double leg but this time... I sprawled to make sure she wouldn't get a hold of my legs. Now, I could have done so many moves, but I didn't know what to do. Mr. Zinger shouted use the "front head and arm". As soon as I was about to do that my opponent pushed me onto my back and pinned me. I tried to bridge again but it didn't work.

So, I lost both of my matches and I was quite disappointed with myself but I forgot about the negatives and concentrated on the positives.

After we were all done, we went to get change and headed for the bus. Overall, it was a great day and I learned something for the next meet.

By Julia F.

On Thursday, the W. Ross MacDonald wrestling team was scheduled to go wrestle at Erin District High School in Erin, ON. This was the first wrestling meet of the season, so I was kind of nervous, although this is my 2nd year wrestling. I usually get nervous before wrestling tournaments, it's human nature. So, Thursday came along, I became more nervous as we were getting closer to the tournament. That Thursday morning, I was getting ready with my roommate George, who was also scheduled to wrestle today and he told me he felt the same way before but he felt better now and he encouraged me to just be confident.

Now, it was time to aboard the bus, all I did was listen to music and think about wrestling, still kind of nervous but slowly drifting away from that nervousness.

We finally arrived at Erin District High School and we went inside to get settled and ready. So, I got changed into my wrestling clothes and went to go practice some moves and techniques before the tournament got started. My match wasn't for awhile, so I thought I would go watch my teammates wrestle. Scouting other matches gave me the opportunity to learn something.

Getting closer to my match, I got all warmed up and then it was match time. So, I went to the center of the mat and there were two other wrestlers, I thought to myself "This can't be right, one of us is not suppose to be here..." and surprisingly that guy was me. They mixed it up, so my match was scheduled five matches later. So, I sat down and watched as I waited for my match to come. There was a lot of tension here because my match was so close. I got ready and now it's time for my match. I go to the center of the mat, shake my opponent's hand and wish him luck. The referee blows the whistle, my opponent shoots for a double leg and pins me.... wow I never thought I'd be on my back that fast. I got up and shook his hand, he caught me off guard, he was the better man. I learned something though, I always have to be aware at all times.

So, getting to my 2nd match, I warmed up and Mr. Russell gave me a quick pep talk and I made sure I didn't make the same mistake. I wasn't as nervous as before, if anything I felt pumped. Same thing as the first match, go to the center and get ready, the whistle blew. We started off with a little push and pull then he did the same thing the other guy did, he went for a double leg but this time... I sprawled back making sure he wouldn't get it and it worked. I guessed I had an "under hook" on my opponent, I didn't know that until my coach said something, I could have done so much. As I sprawled, I tried locking in the "front head and arm" on my opponent but somehow he managed to break free. This made me frustrated because just with that one move I could've won the match. He tried to get me to my back but... I went to my stomach, arms wide and head up. He managed to roll and pin me, I tried bridging desperately but he won.

Overall, I lost both my matches, I was a little disappointed, I'm not going to lie but as a result of these matches it's something I'm able to learn for the next tournament.

By Adriano

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