Sean's 8th Grade Wrestling Season

It's hard to believe Sean's 8th grade wrestling season has come and gone!  It's always a fast 5 weeks that feel like a whirlwind.  This year, Sean really stepped up.  I've never seen him take on a leadership role on a team before, but he submitted a letter to his coach and was chosen to be one of the team captains.  He showed up early to practices to help the coaches set up the mats and was usually one of the last ones out.  He worked so hard this year too mentoring 6th and 7th graders.  I'm so proud of his extra work and dedication!  

They had their exhibition against Discovery and West to start the season off.  Sean wrestled at 137 against a kid from West and pinned him during the first round.  

Their first official meet was after spring break and was at Liberty.  Sean had a kid who was pretty amped up and had us a little nervous.  But, Sean ended up pinning him during the first round.  The kid did not take losing very well and had a little temper tantrum, throwing his head gear and storming out of the gym, but Sean stayed composed.  

They then had their first home meet against Discovery.  Sean wrestled against a very tough opponent and went all three rounds losing by points.  He battled!  I know it bothered him to lose, but he held his own. 

East ended up winning both meets that week against our opponents.  They then had an open practice for parents and kids got to challenge other kids for their spots.  Sean was able to keep his spot at 137.  It was fun watching Sean get to coach the kids wrestling (captains got to coach). 

Their next meet was a home one against Pioneer, which had a very small team.  Sean was luckily able to get a match and won very quickly with a pin in the first round.  I almost felt bad for the other kid.  

Their final regular season meet was at West and there was some drama to start it off.  Apparently, East's team got randomly weighed in that morning and Sean was one pound overweight since he had breakfast at home and breakfast at school.  He then had to wrestle up at 145 and lost his record from the previous meets.  The coach also "retired" for medial reasons and the assistant coach had to step up.  Needless to say, the team was a bit shook with weight class changes and the coach leaving.  They lost to West by a few points and Sean lost by points going all three rounds.  The kid he wrestled ended up taking 1st place at the district meet.  

The district meet was the last big event and always lasts all night.  Sean had to be in the 145 weight class with 14 other kids across the district.  His first match was a forfeit so that was easy.  His second match he won by pin.  His third match he lost going against the same kid from West he lost to the past week.  His fourth match he won after going all three rounds by points.  And his final match for 3rd/4th place was against his teammate Liam and he was told by the coaches to lose because Liam would earn our team more points (I don't really understand that...but okay).  He took 4th out of 15 and we are so proud of him!  

The exciting part of the night was East taking 1st place and being district champs, just like Sean's 6th grade year!  Sadly, the trophy wasn't there that night, but they had it the next day at school.  We also got to get some pictures of it at the wrestling banquet.  The banquet was nice again this year with spaghetti dinner.  Each family brought a dessert.  The coaches talked about each kid for a minute.  And the kids got to cut the assistant coach's hair, as promised if they won district champs.  

Can't wait to see how Sean does wrestling high school next year!  Go Canton Cobras!