The Victory Punch

It was a nerve wracking moment for me; the first wrestling tournament of the 2021-2022 season. I didn’t have a lot of experience from the previous season because I joined late. I only had one match all season. However, now it was my time to prove myself–to my team and to my coach that I could do this.

I waited two hours before I had my first match. When I walked up onto the mat I thought of moves I could do. It was just a matter of setting them up and executing them. We put on our ankle bands: I was red, she was green.

“Shake hands,” the ref said. The mind piercing whistle followed after we shook hands. I froze for a second. She took a shot on me, and my instant reaction was to sprawl and get behind her. “Two points red,” the ref said.

I had to figure out how to turn her on her back so I could get the pin. However, nothing was working. None of my moves would prosecute. I started to panic, and that’s when it happened.

She reversed my move. “Two points green,” the ref said as she almost pinned me. I kept fighting against her, keeping my shoulder up. I fought to get back into base and did a reversal.

“Two points red,” the ref said. Now I was on top, fighting to get her down, leading to a pin.

The ref blew the whistle, and the idea that I won the match hadn’t clicked in my head yet. “Take off your ankle bands and shake hands,” the ref said as she grabbed my wrist and lifted it up, first towards the people who were working the brackets, then to the stands. That’s when it clicked.

I had won my first varsity match. When I heard the stands roar and cheer, it was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t wait to do it again.