Jose Espinoza Takedown As I come off the bus, the frost on the ground glistened from the delicate light coming from the moon. This was a mental reminder that the winter was coming to an end, and also meant the wrestling season was boiling down to the end were all the sweat, pain, sacrifice, and determination was about to be rewarded in the final tournament. I enter the small town’s local high school Doniphan-Trumbull to soon be surrounded by an engulfing ever so teasing scent of scrambled eggs with toasted crisp bread with smoothly spread jelly, accompanied by ham and mash potatoes bathed in gravy. As the restless temptation to consume the delicious breakfast self-control begins to take over. The school varsity wrestlers escort me along with my teammates where all the other wrestlers were in a small gymnasium with a mat in the middle with lights beating on the ring. I anxiously wait for the referees to begin weigh-ins; I talk to my teammate about my chances at this tournament. My teammate’s inputs were all very similar some said “it all depends on how you do”, “you could get lucky” but the one remark which was from Sabien which Rallied me up on the inside was “You’re not coming out of here with more than one win”. Weigh-ins begins as my head is filled with doubt I weigh in at the 152 lbs. class. I walk to the main gym were the Lighter weights along with mine were going to be called I eat to ease the nerves. After breakfast Coach Edmo was called to a coaches meeting with the refs so he had us begin warm ups. We all had sickening faces which conveyed our laziness made me feel as if we were in for a long day. After warm-ups were over Coach Ott pulled me over and with a very stern voice said “Let’s leave everything on the mat, and come out with a victory”, and with those words I was ready for the battle. The tournament began to a quick start with me and my weights begin the first matches up. I began to remove my shorts and jacket and walk to the side of the mat meeting my opponent from Grand Island for the first time who was seeded #1. As the ref calls us out I begin to walk to the center of the mat, which I start to be equipped with the high of success. Right under the beating lights, I pull ahead by 2 against my opponent to win 7-5 by Decision. I walk off to the tournament desk to view my next opponent. As I look with a puzzled and annoyed look I walk over to Ott and ask what the tournaments format was, the only answer I received was “ This a farm boys tournament which means you’re getting 5 matches or more no matter what”. It was a Pool entering Round Robin type tourney. I approach the stands to find that I am the only one there and see that all my teammates were preparing to be called up still. As I waited for my weight class start up again, I encouragingly cheer for my teammates, Paul, Sabien, Roger, Chris, and Danny as they wrestle( which they did all win the matches). My name with Adam Centrals was called up about an hour later. I walked up to face another high seeded wrestler which was 6th. We fought to the finish battling for the most points. I caught him in a double leg taking the lead by 2 and then turned him to his back for 5, in the second period up by 5 I got reversed and gave up 2 then I mistakenly gave up 2 from a foul in the third ending the match 5-4. After finishing a long restless battle with my foe I was immediately called up to another mat to wrestle right away. Tired I pulled myself together and upsettingly pinned my opponent in 24 sec. and left to the bleachers to regain my breath. Heading to break with my adrenaline rushing I head to the cafeteria to rest and watch “March Madness” with my team. I after eating a good lunch I head out side to cool off with some fresh air. As I chatted with some of the locals I learned interesting facts about the small town of Doniphan, I was interrupted by the intercom calling all wrestlers back to the main gym. As I walk back inside to the main gym I find myself standing next to my last 3 opponents. They were all ranked in the top 10, Tri-Counties wrestler was 9th, Doniphan’s wrestler was ranked 3rd, and the best for last was Forrest Jones of Winside who was ranked 3rd. As the round 2 began my weight class was called up first again , I stepped on the mat feeling the shock of me being in a champions pool entered in to a relentless battle with 3rd ranked wrestler from Doniphan to capture a 12-10 win. With the highest scoring match of the tournament I head back to the stands with a soiled pride and sit to think through all the mistakes I made. 30 minutes passing away I was called up again to the mat this time with Tri County’s main man. I went on to put another win away this time by a technical fall 17-3. Coming off the mat I was called up again to finish the championship finals mat. All I could think about was how close I was to my first time placing 1st in a varsity tournament, but I was also focused on the match I was about to get into with Forrest who had already beaten me once during the season by a pin. The match started up with an epic battle of defense and offense, we both tried shooting in on each other and we would both ruin each other’s goals by defending it. In the end of the third period the score stood 0-0 and with all my energy drain I felt my heart thump as the seconds ticked down, 5,4,3,2,1….and then it was overtime. In overtime the rule is the first person to score wins. I didn’t want to let my coach down but I knew I was drained so I had to get something fast and quick I went for a firemen’s which almost ended me and the match so I scrambled to my feet again. I don’t know why coach said this to this day but I think it was his confidence in me he told me with a stern voice “GO FOR A TAKEDOWN!” I lowered my body and with an up roaring yell I took down the top rated wrestler handing him his 4th lose to win 2-0 (OT). I stood on the podium and with a big smile I was awarded first and with the best words to come from my coaches mouth he said “ Your one tough kid”