Final Wrestling Tourneyment!

Today was our final wrestling tourneyment of the season (can you say WHOOHOOOO!) Even though we went to four meets, Little J did not medal at any... he came in 4th place twice - but no medal.... until today! He won both his matches and got to wrestle in the championship round!!! He was psyched! He has done really well this year! He ended up with the silver and he was REALLY proud of how well he had done.... overall a great season!!!

St Paddy's Day!

A great day for Wrestling, a holiday and a birthday!!! What fun!!!
The boys had a tourneyment here in Eburg, and both did really well.... I spent alot of time in the bracketing room helping (way more time than I had "volunteered"! haha) It was a pretty good day overall! Of course it is also the hubbys birthday as well!!!

Welcome to March.... Welcome to Wrestling Season!

Around our house.... March signals wind, cold, the potential start of spring, and of course WRESTLING season!! Today was our first match in Royal City - a really really small town about an hour east of us (aka - the toolies!!).

Both boys won their first matches, which meant that they would be wrestling at least two more times. Little J lost his second match, so he qualified for the consoluation round (3rd and 4th place). In that round, he lost 1-0... he was a little bummed - but thrilled that he ended the first meet with a 4th place finish and one pin!

Big Al won his first, then was working really hard on his second match... while taking the other wrestler to the mat, the other child landed wrong - and broke his arm! It was awful to watch and just as awful to sit there while the kid is in horrendous pain! Ugh - not fun! Big Al then went on the wrestle in the championship round. His heart was not in it (understandably) and he lost by 3 points. He had a tough day and decided it was just time to leave after that match. I was a bit surprised that he didn't even want his medal... but its understandable...
Now... to see if they still want to do this NEXT Saturday (and every ((UGH)) Saturday in March)


Big Al in the Championship match


Little J getting ready to start his match

More Big Al Wrestling

Just a few photos from the Cle Elum and Ellensburg Matches for Big Al. Big Al is in all black. I don't take too many action shots, due to my crappy camera - and I record the matches for him to watch later!!

Big Al - wrestling

We got to head down to Yakima to watch one of Big Al's middle school wrestling meets. I can honestly say I do not like middle school wrestling!! I find it really unfair that some kids get to wrestle 3 times, and others just one... so as you can tell by that statement, my kids was one of the kids that only wrestled once!! haha! So we watched him for the almost 5 minutes - and then he was done. He did not win the match, but worked really hard! Luckily - their season only lasts another month -then back to club wrestling!! whooo hoooo!

Tis the season for Wrestling.....

Well - the New Year begins, as does a new season on Wrestling! Big Al decided that he wanted to do Middle School wrestling (yet again)... so he started practice this last week. Unfortunately for him (and a big bonus for me!) is that the school put a new policy into place regarding the bad grades issues. If a student is not passing a class (that would be an F) they cannot compete (though they can practice) until the grade is passing AND they have to complete four days of afterschool study help before practice !! I totally LOVE that part!!! Since Big Al is not passing math, he gets to spend the next four days of school in afterschool homework help!!! Yippeee!!! That means that he better be having that math done AND having someone else looking at it to see what help he needs! Cool! I am not sure if he will be able to get his F up before the first meet... his grade is far below the F level... so it will take alot of work on his part to redo homework AND retake and pass a couple of tests!! But I am thankfully that it is the school finally kicking in and being the bad guy - rather than me!!! :)

Wrestle Mania!

We got thru the entire wrestling season! Whooo hooooo! Both boys did really well! Little J is finally able to really use what he has learned and does a whole lot less crying! haha! Big Al is getting better and better - but he needs to gain weight to be able to have someone else to wrestle! Here are both boys at the Ellensburg Wrestling Club end of year match! Way to go boys!

How did he do????

He was so excited to take third place in his bracket! Today he worked harder than ever - we are all very proud!

Well... club wrestling is just beginning!

Here I was all excited about school wrestling being over!! haha! Actually, club wrestling has 2 practices a week and tournaments on each Saturday in March.... but the benefit is that Little J will get to compete as well!

Little J has been working hard at practice, and doing pretty well... considering he is wrestling with a soft cast on to protect his broken pinkie!

Tomorrow, he will wrestle in his first match of the season.... I am hoping that he does well!! Big Al was supposed to wrestle, but according to his grades....there are only FAIRIES and there is no "Darn" about it!

School wrestling is OVER!

Today I am so thankful to shout it allll out!! "WRESTLING IS OVER!!!!!! WRESTLING IS OVER!!!!!"
The last two months have been pure HELL trying to get Big Al to qualify each WEEK for wrestling. Grades - oh my Gosh!! He missed three out of the eight matches due to that "Darn Fairy"... aka D's and F's on the report cards.

His last match was last night. For the first time in the season, he got pinned - twice!

But I am more than happy that it is over! No more daily pick ups and checking to make sure that he is making the right choices on homework, etc...... I can breathe a bit easier now when the DARN FAIRIES show up!!

Big Al will wrestle (for now!)

Well... so far, Big Al is managing to keep just above a "D"... I know that it is going to be a major struggle for him (and us!) to maintain it.. but we have to be hopeful!
He got his official Middle School warm ups and singlets today... so here he is striking a pose!

Wrestling season is OVER!!

Thankfully, spring is finally here... which means the end of another wrestling season! Whooo hoooo! We went to three out of town tournaments this year, with not so great results, but the boys had a good time and really improved on their skills! The last hurrah was an inter-club tournament. The boys had a fun time and did have to wrestle each other.. but they enjoyed it!

Wrestling finale at Moses Lake

I realized when we got home that I did not take ONE picture!! Oh well! I did video all the matches for the boys... Neither boy medaled. It was a long season for them... for Big Al, it was more difficult as there are not too many 12 year olds that weigh less than 65 pounds that he can wrestle.. and the kids that DO weigh under 75 pounds have been wrestling since the day they were born and are really GOOD! Little J had fun and seemed to be able to get his anxiety a bit more under control... but that is what kills him on the mat. He gets too worked up thinking he might get a medal and then forgets what to do! Oh well... live and learn!

Wrestling, East Wenatchee

Big Al had only ONE kiddo to wrestle today! They wrestled 2 out of 3... Big Al did beat him both times and got his first medal of the season... so we had to waaaaaiiiiiitttttttt until late so he could stand on the podium to get his medal!



This was too cute! Little J had to wrestle a GIRL his second match! While waiting in the line up to go out... she says to him "Do you want me to beat you up???!" I have always told the boys to NEVER underestimate a mad girl!! haha! Little J did end up pinning her (his very first pin in a tournament!) in their match... that was his highlight of the season I think!

First Wrestling Tourney

Above is Little J at the beginning of his second match. He did not win either match that day... but, he did learn some new skills!


This is Big Al in his second match. He won one match of the day total. He did have to wrestle kids 10 pounds heavier than him, as there was no one to wrestle in his age/weight class! Hmmmmm... not like we've been telling HIM that! Better shovel some twinkies down that kid to pack on some weight! (wishful thinking, I'm sure!)

Last Tournament of the year

Well, Saturday was our LAST wrestling tournament of the year - and probably the one that was the best and the worst!
The Good.... the gym was not too crowded, the school was nice, things moved pretty fast and it was really organized, oh and Big Al won 3rd place!
The Bad.... both boys had really tough competition! Including each other!
The Ugly... in the consolation round, Big Al and Little J had to wrestle each other... the winner of that match would go on to wrestle for 3rd place... I actually added video this time :) as it is both my boys - so yelling at them was justified!! haha! Actually, it was a tough match, which I think that they both enjoyed... until the end! Big Al beat Little J on points... 14-4... He was unable to pin his little brother, who did put up a fight! Both boys hugged at the end, and Little J actually was smiling before walking off the mat.. then, all Hell broke loose! Little J stormed up to his seat in the stands and was completely unconsolable for the next 45 minutes. Tears, violent rocking, kicking... it was UGLY! Not until he walked off the mat did he realize that HE was not getting a medal... he believed 100% (and still does) that his brother is 100% responsible for him not getting one! No matter how many times you tell him the FACTS, like his brother still had to wrestle again to get a medal and actually win... does not matter.. according to Little J its all his brothers fault.... oh well... whatcha gonna do? The kid is totally NOT reasonable when he gets in one of his moods.. which happened to last the whole rest of the day... argh!

Here are the two brothers getting ready to face off in the consolation round!

Big Al, sporting his bronze medal after his 3rd place win!

This video below is Big Al finishing off his 3rd place match!

I am very thankful that wrestling is OVER! No more major sports stuff until fall!! Whoo hoo! The nice thing is that next year, the boys won't have the threat of having to wrestle each other since they will be in different age brackets... what a relief!

The match of the season

Last night, Big Al and Little J had their end of season inter-league wrestling match. Unfortunately, our worst fears came true... the boys had to wrestle each other! Big Al was extremely cocky prior to the match, saying he was going to cream his little brother on the mat... this of course got Little J's confidence way down.
I had to video the whole thing of course - which I can't post - due to the fact that I broke my promise to myself to keep quiet and just record.. haha! It is a challenge to cheer for both evenly... it didn't happen of course, I did end up cheering louder for Little J, since he was by far the underdog!
In the end, Big Al pinned Little J in the final round - near the end.. I think that Little J was worn out! Both boys made me proud by congratulating each other and being proud of how they did. Little J was happy with himself that he didn't cry!
The boys placed 1st and 2nd in their bracket and got another nice medal to add to their little collection!!

His first medal !!

Saturday we had another wrestling tournament.... Both boys did pretty well... even though it was an extremely LOOONG day for the boys (and us too!) The boys did weigh in at 7am and we did not leave until almost 8pm! ARGH!!
Needless to say... it was a happy day for both boys!!
Little J won his first match - which was a great feat for him! Big Al lost his first match to a really good kid - but he was ok with it - since he knew the other wrestler had LOTS more experience.. Little J won his 2nd match - as the other wrestler forfeited! So, due to that, he was automatically in the finals round for 1st or 2nd... Just pure luck we think.. but he does not care!!
Big Al won his second match and qualified for the consulation round... just so happened he got a bye - and got to wrestle for 3rd or 4th place!
In the finals round - Little J got pinned in about 30 seconds - but still took 2nd place over all... he was so concerned that since he got pinned so quick that he would no longer get an award... his main concern!! :) So, he took 2nd in the weight class.
Big Al had a great 3rd match.. he won 17-3... the other wrestler was pretty agressive, but Big Al had more skill and won on points. So, Big Al took 3rd in the weight class!
Both boys were extremely happy and proud to get their medals!!!

Below is Big Al starting his match for 3rd place

Little J was just getting started.. I barely had time to get any video before he got pinned!

Big Al taking on his opponent in his match he won.

A quick picture of Little J (the blur in red!) in his first (and only winning) match of the day!

I did not add any video this time... I yelled too much - so all you hear is my screaming and cheering for the boys!! I need to take some tape for my mouth next time!! We are very proud of both boys who did great jobs in their matches and exhibited some great sportsmanship!!

News from the homefront!

For some reason - this post took me forever to get on here! Last weekend we took the boys to the first wrestling tournament of the season in Yakima. This was Little J's very first tournament! He had loads of anxiety.. there was a lot of nervous crying (something he is very proficient in!) and lots of stress for him....
Big Al was ready - there were no big issues for him! The only challenge he faced was that he had to wrestle a GIRL right off the bat! That threw him for a loop! He ended up beating her without too many problems.
It turned out that Big Al and Little J were in the same weight class - something that we were concerned about... they are about a pound apart in weight. The first match - Jason had to wrestle - he did end up losing 7-2... at least he scored points! The second match, he wrestled the same girl that Alex beat... It was Jason's first win... though it was stressful for him - he was very relieved!

Here is a very bleary picture of Little J starting his first match (he lost to the same guy that beat Alex - who did end up winning the weight class)

Here is Little J down in the referees position....

Big Al starting off the match he ended up losing to the same boy who beat his brother.

It was an extremely loooooong day! I felt better knowing that Little J had won at least one match - so he was not discouraged enough to quit! Big Al ended up the day taking 4th place in the weight class... Little J took 5th... not bad out of 8 kids!

Saturday will be yet another match - this time a little further away in Wenatchee... hopefully - we will have some good news and better pictures to post!

The video is of Little J winning his match... the look of relief on his face in the end is classic!!

Wrestle-Mania.. starring Miss O

Little J has been able to attend the same wrestling practice that Big Al is at... good thing for me - that's one less day a week to taxi them both around! Miss O enjoys watching the practices - and seems to think that she has a future in wrestling too... take a look at the short video!