Ragged as the Road

It was a battle, but I was finally able to do what I’ve always wanted to do…Attend a Texas State UIL event in Austin. The fact that it was wrestling makes it even sweeter.

I did not realize how much I enjoy wrestling.

I.had.no.idea.

To enjoy wrestling a person needs to get past the singlets and general positioning of the sport.

If they can’t, then maybe it’s more of a personal issue rather than the sport.

Just sayin’…

When I was a sophomore in high school I was able to help work the Clearwater Classic wrestling tournament hosted by Lewiston High School in Booth Hall. It felt like there were 20 mats on the floor. I am pretty sure there were only six mats though. There were wrestlers and parents and coaches EVERYWHERE. It was a lot of activity for our little gymnasium. The University of Idaho Sports Medicine Program sent their students down to help with athletic training coverage and I was able to hang with the “college kids”.

I loved it!

There was a point where I realized how cool the human body actually is. Some young man had his arm bent in such a way I was sure it was going to pop out of place.

It didn’t.

I don’t remember if he won or lost the match, but I do remember telling the “college kid” next to me how awesome it was that he was in a weird position and did not sustain an injury. At 15 it was incredible to me.

It still is.

Since I am a woman and athletic trainer in Texas it’s often hard for people to believe I know anything about the sport. It’s not their fault. Pretty girls with nice smiles are a rarity. I have the resume to back up my knowledge of the sport.

I enjoy the culture. It takes guts for a high school kid to put his/herself in the middle of the room in a skimpy uniform and go one-on-one with another human being. There is not another sport like it. Football has padding, in lacrosse there are sticks, in basketball there are five guys on the court.

Wrestling is personal.

A loss hurts a little more.

A win feels that much greater.

I went to Austin to represent my entire school district as the athletic trainer for the State tournament. I think it’s a big deal. I worked my tail off for the kids and coaches and earned my place at the meet. It turned out Jersey Village sent their trainer too, which was great. She is awesome and it was nice to get to know a fellow district trainer.

The “tournament athletic trainers” were not my favorite. I called them Ninjas. They stayed in the “training area” and only came out for an injury. The problem with that is by the time they saw a problem and came out a trainer from one of the schools had already taken care of it. I use the term “they” liberally. I only saw one man the entire weekend. I am told there were three athletic trainers. I was not a fan.

The wrestling was great. Two athletes, one boy one girl, earned their fourth State title this weekend. She finished her high school career undefeated…as in never beaten…as in four years and countless matches with a win.

Very cool.

After the tournament I could have come home, but stayed and went out with a few of the referees on Sixth St. Austin is a great place to just be. Transvestites were hobnobbing with students and parents of students. It happened to be Dad’s weekend, so there were daughters with fathers up and down the streets. I actually ran into some of my old students and couldn’t believe they are now old enough to be in the same establishments.

The guys were great to hang with and treated me very well. They even lent me some clothes and a bed to sleep in that night. By the time we got back to the hotel all I wanted was sleep.  

Austin was a successful trip. Totally worth all the struggles I had getting there.

Inspiration song…Ragged as the Road by Reckless Kelly