Regon IV Varsity Wrestling

I hesitated to write this because I know Michael will be embarrassed, but I just have express my feelings. This last Friday was the region wrestling tournament to determine which wrestlers qualify for state. In Michael's weight, the top 4 wrestlers go to state.

First of all, I need to explain that Michael has had a pretty rotten year as far as wrestling goes. Before regular practices even started, he was going to extra practices with coach John Webb. At the first practice, his tendonitis in his hip flared up again. Rather than go to the physical therapist that has helped him before, we decided to try someone closer to home. Big mistake!! After 10 days of no improvement, we went back to the therapist who had helped him before. Although he got better, he missed 3 weeks of practice and working out. The first or second day back, he took an elbow to the eyebrow and needed stitches. There went another week.

Michael didn't quit or stop working out though. He continued to lift weights and go to practice to do as much as he was able. He worked really hard trying to play catch up with everyone else, but it was tough.

Michael won a few matches, and lost quite a few. He got pretty discouraged, and it hurt alot to see him hurting so badly. After a big tournament, where he got beaten out on the first day, he was pretty much at rock bottom. We had a good talk, and Michael got a really special blessing from his dad that night. Things really seemed to turn around from that point. I could see a huge difference in his attitude and confidence. The next day was a second chance tournament for those beaten out the first day. Michael went to that tournament, and took 2nd place.

He still lost a fair amount of matches after this point, but he was wrestling better, and feeling better about things. He was ready to take on the world at the region tournament, and his head was in the right place. His first match was against Tanner Prestwich from Timpanogos, he had beaten Michael earlier in the season, and pinned him again this time. He went on to beat Shane Kitchen from American Fork, and Steve Tebbs from Lone Peak. This put Michael in the final match for 3rd and 4th place. He wrestled Steve Westover from Pleasant Grove. They have wrestled several times this year, and Steve has always won, but we always felt that Michael "should have" won, either Steve got a lucky throw or Michael ran out of gas or made a dumb mistake. This time we felt that Michael had a good chance of winning. He wrestled his guts out. He did everything right, but because of a couple of questionable calls, Michael lost this match. That put him in fourth place which would qualify him for state.

However, for some reason, this year they decided to do "true 4th place" wrestlebacks. This meant that if the 4th place guy hadn't beaten the 5th place guy earlier in the day, he could challenge for 4th place. The guy in 5th was Tanner Prestwich, who beat Michael in the first round. Michael went out on the mat and was ready to give it all to win this match, as he said, he had nothing to lose. I'd like to say this had a happily ever after, but Michael lost this match.

What I am so proud of is the way he wrestled, he truly gave it his all. He was actually winning, until he made a pretty big mistake. It cost him the match and the state tournament.

All throughout this wrestling season, as my heart has ached for my son, I have prayed to our Father in Heaven that he would be able to wrestle his best and feel good about his efforts. That prayer was finally answered in this tournament. Michael put forth his very best, and he knew that he could have beaten both of the guys he lost to. He realized that he is just as good as they are, it just didn't work out that way this year. Although he was disappointed in losing and not being able to go to state, he stayed positive and upbeat. He was at peace. That is what I have wanted for him. Of course we all want our children to succeed, but my true desire was for him to have peace and comfort.

I am so proud of Michael and the young man he has become. He handled himself with grace, and is ready to put this year behind him so he can start fresh.

I love you!!