Inside for Adventure

The cold December wind whipped across the large parking lot that was quickly filling with cars. The winter air penetrated my down filled coat like it wasn’t even there. The team had already been there for well over two hours. Their bus left home at 7am a lot later than most weekends. As I walked into the gym a low deafening roar filled my ears. Nothing had even started yet and the hundreds of people there were already hooting and hollering. Athletes were sprawled across the mats stretching and warming up. A buzz of excitement and anxiety spread across the gym. You could smell confidence and fear lingering in the air. Coaches frantically checked and rechecked sheets of paper filled with names of their competition. The overhead speakers crackled to life with the announcement that competition is going to start soon and all athletes need to clear the mats. Within seconds all the young men and women scurry to their designated area in the bleachers and all that is left on the floor were two referees. The time had come to begin. Ready or not, it was time to wrestle.

Starting with the lighter weights the matches began.

Two at a time, athletes were called out onto the mat. With the blow of the ref’s whistle the matches began. The crowd erupted in cheers for their school. You could see a touch of nervousness in each wrestler's eyes as hundreds of eyeballs in the stands were glued to them. Muscles tensed up as the struggle began. Hand to hand, wrestlers moved trying to get the edge on their opponent.

Finally one wrestler made their move in an attempt to pounce on their prey. The shot worked and one wrestler was launched to the ground frantically trying to get out of a bad position.

Hands slithered around elbows and heads like pythons trying to constrict their victim. Slowly one wrestler gained the upper edge. With skill and raw power he worked his opponent to his back.

The referee dropped to the mat to get a closer look at the power struggle. The ref's hand slapped the mat signaling a pin. One athlete jumped to his feet in excitement while the other laid there in defeat. The winner was grinning ear to ear knowing he was able to impose his will onto his opponent.

The winners team cheered in excitement while the losers team consoled their teammate; and this was only match one of the day. Two by two they are called out on the mat as they work their way through the weight brackets.

From light weights to heavy weights, the matches continued one after another. There were only two options: win or lose, there are no ties in this sport. Some of the matches were won in seconds while others went on for a full 3 periods. But at the end of every match there was a winner and a loser.

For hours I watched the thrill of winning and the sorrow of defeat. Kids of all shapes in sizes competing against one another to see who was the better athlete of the day. There were upsets and surprises that kept me at the edge of my seat. Every match was a new beginning, a chance to prove themselves again. At one point the entire gym became silent as one athlete's screams echoed throughout the room. He rolled and screeched while grabbing his knee. Injuries are part of every sport no matter how hard we try to prevent them. Unfortunately he had to be taken away in an ambulance. The crowd cheered for him as they wheeled him away. As the hours ticked away so did the dreams of becoming a tournament champion for many wrestlers.

However there were the ones that knew that their final matches could mean the difference between being on the podium and going home without placing. The final round of wrestling was the most nail biting. The best in each weight bracket squared off head to head for first place. One mistake could mean the difference between gold and silver.

The tension was high. The hours spent in the gym and on the mat training for this moment would prove to be invaluable. Blood, sweat, and tears were left on the mat that day. Once the tournament was over and the trophies were awarded all that was left was a quiet high school gym ready for class again on Monday.

All over the North Country there are high school athletes training and practicing everyday. Working hard to improve their skills. These kids spend hours at practice and in the weight room to make themselves better. They have dedicated their young lives to making themselves the best version of themselves they can be.

What do these sports really do for these kids? They give our kids valuable life lessons. It shows them that hard work pays off. If you put in the effort good things can happen. It also shows them that no matter how hard they work and train there is always someone out there that can still beat them. It teaches them how to win with humility and how to lose with grace. Some of these athletes take this seriously and are working on college scholarships and a chance to move on to the next level. Others love the sense of working as a team and it gives them a friend group.

So what does this have to do with adventure? Well, if you are like many Northern New Yorkers you may start to get a bit of cabin fever this time of year and hate being out in the cold. Why don’t you decide to check out something new? Go watch a high school basketball game, wrestling dual meet or hockey game. Support these kids and show a little hometown spirit. Make it a date night, dinner and a game. These kids work hard all day at school, then put in hours at practice, then come home to finish up their homework. They deserve to have a gym or rink full of fans cheering them on. Who knows, you might just find yourself going back each week to watch them. Believe me they love having a crowd cheering them on and it gets you out of the house. This is an easy way to have a Norther NY Adventure indoors.

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures

“Make Life an Adventure”