Ending Wrestling with a BANG!!!

**Disclaimer...I can not get my spell check to work, so I am sure there are some mispelled words...**

What a crazy 2 weeks it has been!!  We've spent 2 weekends back to back out of town with wrestling.  I did what I SWORE I would not do...travel with sports (at such an early age anyway).  Brayton is really in to this wrestling things, so we wanted to support him anyway we could.  He was chosen to be on the "dual team" (elite team)...so at the end of the season it became more of a "team" effort instead of individual.  You were wrestling not only to WIN, but to score points for the TEAM.  We started off at lowerstate at Statford High.  Brayton did awesome and won his match and recieved points for a forfit.  We ended up getting 2nd for Lower State.

The following weekend we traveled to Columbia (along with Ge Ge) for State.   We decided we would make a mini-vaca out of it, so we got a nice little suite with an indoor pool. 

Brayton thought is was SO COOL and he was in heaven.  

Brayton enjoying his champion breakfast (don't worry, Frank wasn't too far)

The team didn't do quite as well.  We didn't even place.  Those upstate boys are TOUGH. 

(warming up)

However, Brayton wrestled in an exhibition match and won his first and impressed the heck out of us on his 2nd.  On the 2nd he wrestled a 50lb weight class (Brayton is in 45lb) and he was atleast a few years older with more experience.  We thought for sure Brayton would get pinned within the first few seconds.  Nope...not our boy...he fought with every ounce in  his body.  Bless his heart, you could see the frustration all over his face.  It was so pitiful.  I have to say,  he didn't win, but I was more proud over that match than any other.  He did not GIVE UP...and it would have been so much easier if he would have :-)

OK, so now we are on the FOLLOWING weekend.  The team thing is over.  It is time for INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.  NO WAY in the world was I ready to let my baby go up against the best in the state....NO WAY...especially with it being his FIRST YEAR!!  That stuff can wait, right??  Well, he WANTS to go...he is PSYCHED and ready to roll!!  So, we pack up and head to Greenville (this time with Kylee).  We get there to find out that the first person he wrestles is the STATE CHAMP from last year...GREAT!  I was a nervous wreck, of course we kept it all from Brayton...after all, this is as much of a mental thing as it is a physical. 

Welll, he WON that match and floored his mommy and daddy!! 

Long story short...my boy did us PROUD ( of course he did )!  We went up there for the experience and left with a 4th PLACE medal!!!!  Not bad for a little rooky :-) 

There were a few TOUGH matches.  He couldn't catch his breath and started crying uncontrollaby after one of them.  Those little boys were really good and they knew their stuff.  I was so ready to go at that point.  It's so tough, and at times I want to throw up.  But, he really enjoys it and he has A LOT of potential...so guess what...he has my support 100%!!  Of course I'd rather be a soccer mom, but I'm getting pretty use to this rough stuff :-)  The top 4 in the state got invited to Nationals, but we will definitely say NO to that one!!!  We're excited to see what next year will bring with wrestling!!

parade of Champions

ps- My little Grappalette (Brinlee) did FANTASTIC on both trips...couldn't have asked for better!! 

Well, she did cry almost all the way to Greenville, but other than that...great!!

pss- forgot to mention that we (Frank and I) walked out and forgot all of Kylee's clothes on the steps.  Bless her heart, she took it so good.  Uncle Frank made up for it and bought her a T shirt.

...it even had Brayton's name on it...which they thought was too cool!!

4th Place in State for 45lb Bantam