Recorded in Cozad, Nebraska
This snapshot was collected in conjunction with the Museum on Main Street program at the Smithsonian Institution. It is part of the "Stories from Main Street" storytelling project, intended to capture Americans' thoughts about their neighborhoods, waterways, towns, traditions, and personal experiences.
Talk about participating in a sporting event in your town.
"My Sophomore year started out like any other school year where your summer seemed to go by too fast. One of my friends has gone out for wrestling the year before, and ever since had been trying to get me to try it. I'd play sports, so I decided, why not? I went to the meeting and got what I needed and started going to practices. We started practicing for three to four weeks before the first meet. I didn't participate in it because I had to do some things before I could compete.
After the meet we had three or four more practices before JV had a meet to go to. I can't quite remember where the meet was, but we left in the middle of the day to go. It was about an hour drive, but it felt a little longer. We were one of the first ones there, but the last ones to weigh in. Since I was in the heavier weight class, I had to wait a little longer.
My name was announced to warm up at mat three, so I got ready and quickly warmed up. Match on mat three was done and I was up. I got the bands on to identify who I was on the scoreboard, and waited for the referee to start the match. He blew the whistle and we locked up and started to fight for hand control.
Unfortunately for me, he got hand control and took a shot and got me to my back. I lost. Even though I lost, I wasn't finished. I had dropped down to the loser brackets. My second match, this time, was almost the same, but I lasted longer. Even though I lost both my matches, I was having fun."
Asset ID: 7174
