Connor is a Wrestler

Connor is in 9th grade at Shepton High School, a 9th and 10th grade school that feeds into Plano West, the 11th and 12th grade senior high school. Early in the school year, he was approached about wrestling and started attending practices. He really enjoyed it, has a good build for the sport, and has impressive endurance. Although he's never wrestled before, along with two other freshmen, Connor made the varsity team for his weight class, which is currently 113 lbs. 

I know very little about wrestling, but I'm here to learn and am happy to support his enthusiasm for the sport.

However, I was nervous about his first match, which was earlier this week on Wednesday. Nov. 13th.

Connor's first match

The things I learned about wrestling from Connor's first match.

1. It is a team sport, but each wrestler competes individually in matches, with points accumulated by the whole team.

2. A match consists of three two-minute periods. I cannot believe the endurance it takes to wrestle for two minutes, and then you do it three minutes straight in a row. (Also, this is highly stressful for a spectating mom.)

3. Each wrestler accumulates points for how they wrestle. There is still a lot for me to learn on how points are awarded. If one wrestler gets 20 points, the match is over.

4. Additionally, the match is over if a wrestler pins the other (both shoulders flat on the mat for a set amount of time). The goal is to pin your opponent.

5. There is a time-out just for blood. However, Connor said that that guy tended to bleed a lot, and it was the only "blood timeout" out of about 30 to 40 matches I attended that evening. 

6. As always, the guy's equipment is better than the girls.

Boy's 

Girl's

7. Connor is a really good sport with an amazingly positive personality. I am so proud!

Connor didn't win his first match. The other wrestler accumulated more points within two periods but didn't pin Connor. Coach said it was good that he wasn't pinned in his first match. The coach is a little old-school but Connor really likes him and so do I!

Next match/tournament is this Saturday!