__________ S P O R T S ________
7
Took down at take down
35TH TAKEDOWN TOURNAMENT BRINGS WRESTLERS TO COLLEGE ON OCT. 27
BY JARED PREBLE
MANAGING EDITOR
When I first step into Randall gym, memories of
day-long tournaments flooded to life. Families
in the stands eager to cheer on their personal
champion, wrestlers aplenty going through the;
warm up motions and the sound of mat shoes
slipping and sliding.
It’s been a year since I last wrestled, at last
year’ s takedown tournament.
This year marks the 35th year in which
Clackam as Com m unity College has hosted
their wrestling takedown tournament, a bracket
tournament comprised of several matches with
three one-minute rounds a piece. All ages are
welcome, from elementary school students to
open ages.
I fill out my form, pay the $20 fee and take
weight.
At 172 pounds, I’ m 10 pounds lighter than
when I wrestled in high school. I lace up my
shoes and hit the mats for a warm up before the
tournament begins.
Boxing has kept my body in shape, yet I still
find my joints creaking as I roliaround the mats.
I chat with some of the wrestlers currently on the
team at my old high school and try and get a crash
course in the sport I once dedicated hours to.
The movements don’t feel right, and I find
myself struggling to stay in stance and lean tell
I’ m in for a rough time.
Placed in the open 174 bracket consisting of
six wrestlers, I’m pooled with four CCC wrestlers
and another unassigned wrestler. Our bracket
competes last, so I resign to watching other
Wrestlers as I wait for my match. As I pace through
the gym I see kids as young as six competing
against each other, though it’ s difficult to make
the distinction between wrestling and flailing
around.
As the tournament progresses, the ages
increase and my patience lessens. I grow more
and more restless, eager to see how I fair against
disciplined wrestlers. I’ m given a bye in the
first round, so I watch the others in my bracket
compete. Within the first round of the first match
I can tell I’ m in over my head. Pairs practically
spriiit at each other with astounding speed,
there’ s single and double legs all over the place
and they’ re all close point matches.
Finally my name is called and I’m placed against
Israel Casarez, the 162 pounder for CCC. We check
in with the judges and are assigned either red or
green ankle straps for score keeping. We meet
in the center of the mat, and the ref initiates
the match.
Instantly my fears are confirmed, as I ’m sco-red
on in less than 10 seconds. The difference in
strength is most notable, as is speed. Before I
know it I ’ m being flung around the ring left and
right, each time I rise more confused with how
I was just took down.
I manage to bounce back each time, yet if seems
to be to no avail and the match is over before I
can even attempt to score a single point. Casarez
gives me a fist bump and a “ good match” as he
reports his win to the table.
I step off, gassed out and in desperate need
of water. My head aches as I step but into the
hallway and try to hydrate. I sit down for a couple
Photo by Jacob Thompson
minutes and then return to the assigned mat to
await my next beating.
A few of the wrestlers opt out halfway through
the bracket, leaving me with just one more match
before it comes to a close, I inform some of the
other wrestlers on my defeat, which surprises no
one. Time slips through my fingers as I try and
learn as much as I can from the other wrestlers
in my bracket before I’ m subjected to another
whopping.
Once more, the judges call my name and
the match is announced. Nate Johnson is my
opponent, and I’ m determined to not lose so
easily, The first round begins and instantly I
feel a second wind.
It by no means refreshes my past knowledge
of wrestling, rather it gives me the strength to
hold my own against a more seasoned enemy. It’s
a solid 30 seconds before his first score on me,
and it followed many snap downs and sprawls
on my part. I'can’t find a single shot, leaving my
only opportunities to snapping and clinching.
The second round begins and within five
seconds he shoots and picks me up. If it weren’t
for the referees telling Johnson to give me a “ soft
landing,” I probably would’ve been slammed
unconscious..
,
It’ s 0-3 and my second wind left a ways back.
I’ m struggling to stay in stance as he continues
his assault, though he’ s not in peak condition—
either. The round ends with both of us nearing
exhaustion. The final round starts and I attempt
several shots, aH fruitless. It’s not long before he
scores the final two points and ends the match.
I stand with a partial cut on my left eye and an
aching right knee and left foot. I wish him luck
in the restof the tournament and thank him for
the competition.
As I stumble out into the hallway and attempt
to stabilize m yselfr I hazily appreciate? the
opportunity I was given today. While it may
not seem like i t , J ’ m confident I’ve grown a lot
since last year’ s competition. I also am shocked
as to how well rounded the other wrestlers in my
bracket were, and hope that I can achieve that
proficiency one day with boxing. Those thoughts
of grandeur are cut short, however, as my body
subconsciously lunges towards the nearest trash
can where I bid my lunch a farewell.
Instantly my fears are
confirmed, as I ’m scored on in
less than 10 seconds.
Jared Preble, right, gets ready to grapple against Israel Casarez in the 174-pound weight class.
Clackamas Print ------- --------------------------------------- j------
theciackam asprint.com
October 31, 2018