Ranger Rookie Wrestling Tournament

Kade has been working exceptionally hard at this new sport! Practices are one hour long, three times a week and he is SORE when he leaves. The wrestling club we joined in September seems semi-new - the coaches were all former college wrestlers and working to grow their business.  Triangle Wrestling Academy meets in a rented warehouse/office space with new kids joining each week; they are finally expanding the facility in the Spring! 

Kade said he was ready to compete so we signed him up for the Ranger Rookie Wrestling Tournament! This was all new to me, but Brent seems to be in his element! 

Weigh-in's started at 7am (an early start for all of us!) and then we could sit and have some breakfast. When Kade was mostly digested, it was time to warm up. Brent helped ease some nerves and started the warmups with him. 

I love that Brent loves to give his little wrestling advice. It's adorable to see these moments. 

The team met at 8:30am to properly warm up - running, stretching and shooting drills and then finished with a group huddle. 

Kade was awarded a bye in the first round, so we had to sit awhile before his first match. But here it was! And I was so enthralled, I was so focused on the video - I took no pictures! 

Kade used a half nelson to pin his opponent! Just amazing!

I thoroughly enjoyed re-watching the video and watching his coach really go through the motions and yelling directions to Kade. I also loved how Kade looked up mid-hold, had enough power to hold his opponent, and then followed through! 

Now we are getting the hang of it! One wrestler wears red around the ankle and the other green so the referee knows whom to score points. 

The next opponent was a little more of a challenge. 

Kade did fight really hard in this match. I so wanted to reach out and give him the extra boost of power to help!

He made it to the second period of this match before succumbing to a pin. 

The third match was a surprise - he was paired against another TWA (Triangle Wrestling Academy) friend. I think it put both boys at a disadvantage because the Coach could not help either boy and simply told them "Good luck boys" before the match! 

The boys were very evenly matched though and they took it through all 3 periods before Kade finally won on points. Tough match!

As this was all new to us, we assumed we would be done at a certain time, however that was not the case and we were still there waiting for Kade's final match well after lunch! We were all exhausted from the loud crowd and sitting around - and Kade was physically exhausted. 

After his opponent was a no-show at match time, Kade had to wait and watch two other matches until he finally arrived. We definitely saw a difference in "first/second-match-Kade" to fourth-match-Kade." Poor guy wasn't completing his attacks which left him vulnerable. 

Neverthless, Kade had a great first tournament winning two and losing two, earning him a Third Place finish! 

Kade scooped up his Bronze metal and posed for a picture on the podium. Great job Kade!!