West Virginia Wrestling

WEST VIRGINIA MAT THOUGHTS

by Dr. Bill Welker

Every season I always try to share with my readers an inspirational story during this joyous time when many of us celebrate the birth of Jesus. The following narrative was a gift from Lou Geary, an outstanding Brooke Bruin football player of former days, who e-mailed the story to his high school coach, Paul "Bud" Billiard. I hope you enjoy it.

RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it" said Miller.

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked.

"Not zackley. but almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble," Mr. Miller told the boy.

"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts... all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

- Anonymous Author

The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take away our breath.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to All!


The Takedown
The objective of wrestling is to pin one's opponent, and a takedown is usually the first step toward this goal.

Statistics, for decades, demonstrate that the wrestler who successfully executives the first takedown in a match wins the bout 85 to 90 percent of the time. What is a takedown?

To set up a takedown, the wrestlers must be working from the neutral or standing position, a situation where neither wrestler has control.

A takedown is scored when one of the wrestlers gains control over his opponent. The determining factor is causing his opponent's supporting points other than his feet - knees, thighs, buttocks, or hands - to come in contact with the mat under control beyond reaction time (as judged by the official).

Supporting points are defined as the area or areas in which most of the wrestler's body weight is carried.

A wrestler can be awarded a takedown as long as he or his adversary is in-bounds. Remember, the line around the wrestling area is out-of-bounds.

It is also important to understand that a takedown can now be awarded if the scoring wrestler's feet are in-bounds and touching the mat.

The wrestler who scores the takedown is awarded two match points for the maneuver. Note, the double-leg takedown, single-leg takedown, fireman's carry, arm drag, snap-down and pancake are just a few types of takedown moves.

Mini-Mat Quiz
Q: Wrestler A shoots a double-leg takedown on Wrestler B. At the completion of the takedown, Wrestler B is completely out-of-bounds and only Wrestler A's feet are in-bounds on the mat. Would Wrestler A still be credited with a takedown?

A: Yes. Since both of Wrestler A's feet remained in-bound, he is considered in-bounds and can score the takedown.


OVAC Joe Thomas Wrestling Warrior

Coach Joe Thomas OVAC Wrestling Warrior of the Week is Wheeling Park's Tom Kettlewell, who wrestles at the 285-pound weight class this season. The Patriot wrestler had a record of 35-13 last year at 215 pounds. He finished 4th in the OVACs and 3rd in the Region I AAA Tournament, qualifying him for the West Virginia State Championships.

Kettlewell presently holds a 5-0 record, winning the prestigious Brooke Classic by defeating the No. 1 seed at the 285-pound weight class. Ranked in the top 5-percent of his class academically, he is a light heavyweight, tipping the scales at only 220 pounds.

Congratulations are extended to Wheeling Park's Tom Kettlewell - this week's OVAC Wrestling Warrior!

The Wrestling Drill Book Update

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Ohio Valley wrestling enthusiasts so much for their tremendous support of the book. To date, over 300 books have been purchased Valley-wide.

Over the holidays, books can be purchased at my book signings, which will be held at the OVAC JV Tournament on Wednesday December 27th and the Wheeling Park Domino's Duals on Thursday and Friday, December 28th and December 29th from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m.

Mat Message
"Without humility there can be no humanity." - Don Buchan

(Dr. Bill Welker can be reached via e-mail at: mattalkwv@hotmail.com)


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