The Match

As i sat there with my think black polyester hood covering my closed eyes my mind felt like it was racing at about a 1000 miles per hour, but only one thought was going through my mind. “this is going to be my last match. Ever”. Even though I was in a noisy gym all I could hear was a faint murmur of the people talking. I open my eyes and slowly lift my the thin layer of fabric that is separating me from the rest of the world and look out at the mat in front of me. The last match had just ended. I see the ref’s mouth move and all I hear is 152. Its not time yet. Not yet but soon. As i stand up from my crouch on the floor a single small drop of sweat drips down my back, following the curve of my spine. I pull my hood back up to block out any and all distractions, like my team sitting a few feet away talking with my coaches, or my mom and sister standing near the mat talking, or my dad sitting in the bleachers alone. I begin to pace around the gym. One foot then the other. Left foot then right. Left foot then right. Im feeling tired and sore and stiff from wrestling and sitting in the stands all day. I hear a whistle blow and the crowd cheer. I look up and over to my left towards the mat. The match was done. I was up. I walk over to my coach and I am greeted with a firm hand shake and a pat on the shoulder. My team and every one else who has stayed to watch me moves to the side of the mat and begin to offer me their encouragement. The butterflies in my stomach feel like they are trying to break free of their confines. I remember back to practice when we wound do yoga to help us relax. I begin to breath like coach taught us. In 1-2-3-4-5. Hold 1-2-3. Out 1-2-3-4-5. Hold 1-2-3. I am calmer now. The winning wrestler of the previous match walks over to the corner near us an collects his things. I take one last deep breath. I feel the reassuring and familiar pat on my back. I open my eyes and step across the the bright neon yellow cord. I quickly but calmly pull off my warm up pants. I glance across the mat at the opposing corner. Its empty. I turn around and quickly scan the gym. My opponent is not here yet. A wave a relief and hope comes crashing over me. Maybe he wont come. Maybe he left. Maybe I’ll get the forfeit... Please? The ref slowly. Casually. Walks over to me. I put my hood down to hear him. I see his lips move and hear sounds but do not understand them. FOCUS. shouts my mind.... Focus. Please? “pardon me sir, I didn’t hear that” I say politely. A small smile cracks across his course, rough face. “ We have to wait for the other gym to finish. We want all finals rounds going at once”. I give a. Short. Quick. Nod to show my understanding. I step out on to the mat for the first time in hours. I feel the familiar comforting squish of the mat beneath my right foot. When my foot comes up a perfect mirror image of my shoe is left on the mat. As I watch it the mark slowly fades into nothing. The people at the scoring table beacon me to come to them. So I go. When I get there I am ask what my name and school in. “John Sims, Fairview” I answer with out hesitation showing i have said it before. Hundreds of times. “you’ll be green” is their only response. I thank them and walk out to the center of the mat and pick up the green ankle band. I squat down to one knee. I place the green band, cool and slightly sweaty from hours and hours of wrestling. against my ankle and then i securely over lap the two Velcro ends. I am ready. I am happy. I am calm. I bounce slowly until my opponent appears. I then take off my warm up top and put on my hear gear. It is uncomfortable, the Velcro strap has abraded away a piece of skin under my chin in an earlier match. I can feel the excitement in the gym build. We are ready. The ref brings us to the center of the mat. My right foot is carefully placed on the green bar on the mat indicating it is my side. He and I bend our knees and lean forward. We are ready. The ref steps in, “shake hands boys. Good luck”. Our hands break after our short hand shake. A loud piercing whistle blows. We wrestle.