And Then There Was One...

Waking up to water droplets falling from raven dark sky, slowly and steady like when leaving the faucet slightly on. Getting on the bus was interesting because you could tell who the real wrestlers were, who are the committed ones even if they got injured, or didn’t get to wrestle many matches during the season. All I could think of was how I was going to the event that would show the work I put into practicing, paying attention, listening to my coaches. You could feel the excitement in the air, all you heard was murmurs, the crinkling of breakfast wraps, some were listening to music. When our last coach got to the bus we headed off, the ride was long and taunting. You could see little droplets of rain on the bus’s windows. I had to share seats with our manager since we were the only girls. All I did on the ride was listen to music and start to concentrate. My teammates were mostly talking to each other, I didn’t listen much and was mostly trying to calm my nerves down.

Arriving at the school where the tournament was being held felt like getting on a splash mountain ride, exciting and nerve racking. We walked in and the mats were already laid out, a couple teams were already there. My team picked a spot to sit and once we were all seated, Coach told us who was wrestling varsity and who was wrestling jv. I was so sure that I'd be wrestling for varsity, I was so confident but when coach called out weight classes and who'd be wrestling for that weight class he never called my name. I was disappointed, my heart sunk so much. I thought how could I not have been called for varsity, I kept thinking and then I thought, “ Maybe my coaches don't believe in me”. I knew this couldn’t be true, they were the ones who always pushed me to be better. I later realized that either, one they were trying to give me a chance, or two all girls were required to wrestle for JV, because all the girls that were wrestling were all in JV. These thoughts made me feel slightly better. Changing and weigh-ins was an interesting experience, since last year I had to change in the girls bathroom stall but this year the girls had a complete locker room and there was someone who was actually weighing us. It was better than last year since it shows improvement in girls sports and will maybe inspire other girls to join certain sports and it feels good to be counted for. When I came out, I saw that the stands looked more full and more teams had arrived. Some teams were already warming up. My coach told us if we were ready, to start warming up. Most of us went down and started jogging around all four mats. We started doing some technique, I got with my partner and started practicing.

After warm ups we were just waiting, no one knew what we were waiting for since all the teams were there but then I saw that a couple refs walked in. We were waiting for the referees, of course the refs were late. We all stood for the national anthem, and that's when everything started, energy rushing throughout my body feeling tense, anxious, and ready for any obstacles ahead . Our coaches started explaining how everything was going to work and what you're supposed to do when you're called for your match. I having been on the team since last year and already knew most of this. Now was just the most dreadful part of the whole tournament, waiting for your match. Time was going so s l o w, and by the time I looked at the time two hours had already passed. Yet, I hadn't gotten called for my first match, I was getting anxious. Eating to pass the time wasn't an answer, I knew if I ate before a match my stomach would be doing cartwheels. “ Up next we have 165 Citlaly Condado from Franklin and Vitoria Ransdell from North Plainfield on mat three. Head up to the head table.” I headed to the head table got my bracket and waited for my opponent to get there. Once she got there we headed to our assigned mat, my coach was already there. When our match started, I was going all out, and then my opponent's shoe came off. We had to pause for her to fix her shoe, meanwhile my coach told me I was doing well and to keep it up. When the match started again, I took her down and pinned her, I had won that match. I was so pumped, I could feel the energy go through me. Some of my teammates were there cheering me on. I took my bracket to the head table, and the guy at the head table was so excited for me. Going to the stands to rest I saw my literacy teacher she was supporting me, I was surprised since my parents didn't know if they could make it.

After my first match I waited again and it took forever. Some of my teammates had already wrestled three matches and lost all three, and felt bad because I knew they were really good. I had finally been called for my second match and to my surprise my brother was at the bottom of the bleachers waiting for me. I felt like I couldn't mess this up now since I was almost there, we headed for the head table, got my bracket, waited for my opponent and headed for our mat. There was a match still going on that mat so we had to wait, but while we waited my brother was hyping me up, making sure I was focused, and gave me some pointers. When the match started I went all out again I was hyped, I had a goal to get to and I wasn't letting anything get in my way. I won by a pin, when taking my bracket back to head table, the guy still remembered me and was ecstatic. My brother was still with me, told me my family was there. When I saw them I was excited, my parents looked proud, I was surprised when I saw my mom, she didn't like watching my matches. She said every time she saw me wrestling, especially when I was wrestling boys, she felt helpless and wanted to help me even if she knew that it was just a sport. My parents then proceeded to buy me a sweater with my name on the back, I was ecstatic. I headed back to where my team was sitting and drank a bit of PowerAde. Then it was finally time for my last match, I was nervous I couldn't mess this up. I was so close to my goal. My brother was still there supporting me. Once I heard the whistle I went full out, concentrating on what I had to do. I wrestled all three periods, the first two periods were all about trying to tire out my opponent, when it finally came down to the last period I pushed myself from my limits and desperately tried to flip over my opponent and pin him. At last I didn't hear the whistle blow but the buzzer to signal that the third period had finished. When I look over to the scoreboard and I see that … I had won! I won, and although it wasn’t by pin, so much pride filled me. It didn’t hit me until the ref raised my hand. I can't explain how much emotion just hit me, I went to hug my brother and at the time there were no other Franklin matches so all of my coaches were there, I high fived them and did a shoulder bump with my head coach, I took my bracket back to head table and with no doubt the guy at the head table was freaking out and was also proud of me. A sense of relief went over me like there wasn't so much pressure on my shoulders. I ate in peace since I hadn't eaten all day. I then went to get first place on my sweater since the guy said I could get it with no additional charge, he also put two pins on it since I pinned two kids.

At the end of the tournament, I went to the head table and got my bracket and medal. Man, walking up to the head table to have a two sided copper medal with a green and yellow layered played onto my neck, and receiving a 1’ by 2’ piece of paper with my name having been on the top is a glorious thing to be bestowed upon. On the ride back the bus was almost empty, a lot of my teammates went home with their parents. I felt so at peace with myself, I knew that this was only the beginning and there was still a long way ahead.