The mat is a home like no other. It’s where we compete for respect and pride in our team.

Earning the Respect on the Mat
Manuel Sierra| 2/5/08 | Student Literature

The pressure builds as I wait for my match to come. Music blasting in my ears trying to relax me, even though the pressure keeps building. As I wait for my match to come, I begin to think about what this sport means to me. Each win, each loss, the emotions and the adrenaline rush. But above all that comes the most important feeling of all: the respect.

That would be the case for me. Facing the number one seed usually means it’s highly unlikely that you will win. No one expects you to win yet everyone encourages you to do your best. As my coach is telling me what to do in my match to come, I see my next opponent walking off the mat. As he’s walking off he disrespects me with his glare. The equipment crew begins to prepare the center mat for the final matches of the tournament, I walk to the corner of the gym and sit down to ease my mind and prepare myself.

Beating my opponent would mean a great deal to me because of one thing: Respect. Earning the respect on the mat from other competitors, coaches, and the crowd. But earning the respect from my opponent would be far greater than anything else. The finals for each weight class begin with the 103 class. Each competitor shaking hands with one goal: to win. It took a matter of seconds for the outcome. The winner was a short white guy from Bartlett. As each match continues, I become even more tensed and relaxed. Finally, it’s time for my match. Once checked in, I head to the far end of the mat. I begin to get my blood flowing as the 171 weight division ends with another winner from Bartlett. I take one last look at my opponent from Pioneer. Thoughts about what’s important to me play through my head. Humiliating my opponent by winning or earning his respect.

We meet in the center circle to get our ankle bracelet. I walk to the edge of the mat and kneel down to pray.  Asking for the strength and protection during my match. I hear the roar of the crowd, then suddenly it’s silent. I block out the noises so I can focus on one person, my opponent. As I get ready for the whistle to blow, images and thoughts of my training flash through out my mind. I look at my opponent and he reminds me of the Russian guy from the rocky movie telling me he’ll crush me. The whistle blows and we tie up. We each struggle for a few seconds the he shot at my legs. I sprawl and push his head down. I try to go for the half-quarter, but he was able to prevent it. Finally, I’m able to spin behind and get the two point takedown. It becomes an even harder struggle as I attempt several pinning combinations. I hear a whistle and it’s the ref stopping the match because it’s the end of the first period.

We walk back to the center of the mat while the ref flips a coin. It lands on red so my opponent gets to decide which position he will choose, but he defers. I look at my coach for what position to choose,

He yells out “Go bottom,” while giving me the thumbs down.

With a quick stand up I can surprise him and be one step closer to earning his respect. The whistle blows; as I attempt to stand up, he chops me down and takes control. I work back up to a base and again attempt to stand up and escape. This time it works and I gain one point making the score three to zero. I’m winning but there is no reason to get excited.

“Thirty seconds left Manuel!” My coach yells. “Work for the half nelson, let’s go!”

As we tie up, my opponent pulls me into the head and arms and throws me on my back. The pain of landing on the mat so hard rushed through my whole body. Now I’m struggling on my back, trying not to get pinned, a sign of relief comes as the ref blows the whistle. I see the score and its five to three. And I’m loosing by two. Again my opponent chooses the position for the third and last period. He chooses top, which means I have to work twice as hard to get some points. As I kneel, I think about the one move that I know will get him. The Switch. The whistle blows and in less than three seconds I’m behind him.

“One point green, escape!” yells the ref.
 
I’m still down one point but I’m in a better position than before. Now working on top in referee position isn’t my strong point, but normally I can manage. After a struggle, I let him up and give him a point. There’s less than one minute left and my time has come. I’m going to use the same move he used on me. The head and arm.

He doesn’t know that I’ve practiced this move all year long and nearly perfected it. I set him up and right before I throw him, I give my coach a quick smile signaling what I’m about to do, then throw him as hard as I can. Hearing his back hit as hard as imaginable, sounded like church bells ringing. After a short struggle, I hear a slap, a sign of a pin fall, and the whistle blowing ending the match. I get up and fall right back down to my knees in tears looking up and thanking God for his blessings. I stand up to walk to the center of the circle to shake my opponents’ hand.

As we shake hands he pulls me closer and tells me “today you were the better competitor.”

I tell him how much that means to me holding back the tears. As I begin to walk to shake the coach’s hand, he grabs my hand raising it up to the sky showing the greatest sign of respect. Once done shaking hands with the coach and rest of the team, I receive my medal and bracket placement sheet.

Then the celebration begins off the mat and with teammates, friends, and family. Yet most importantly the celebration begins between my opponent and me in a mental state of mind. On the mat and off the mat, the respect given by one another from me to him and him to me. After the match my opponent and I met to talk about the match.

“So, how long have you been wrestling?” he asked.

“Second year, and you” I told him.

“Third year” he replied.

“When you threw me in the head and arms, I thought I was done.” I told him

“Me too, I thought I had enough time to get you but it didn’t work,” he replied.

“How’d it feel slamming on the mat in my head and arms?” I asked him.

“Honestly, my back is tender and sore but it was one hell of a move.” He told me.

After we had each shake hands and walked off, he turned around and told me, “Good match but next year be ready.” As he walked off with a smile on his face.

We each now know that respect is the single most important trait in this sport. Winning or losing is just a small outcome. Knowing that we each put as much work as the other. Nothing is like the feeling that we get competing in the circle. Now you can understand as to why I compete as a wrestler. No other sport can you earn the respect like you can in wrestling. Every time wrestlers step onto the mat we understand what we compete for. Earning the respect on the mat.