Words cannot express the happiness and gratitude I feel for the coaches, wrestlers, parents, Mama Sam and the entire Blackhawk Wrestling Family. This year's wrestling banquet marked the end of four years filled with so many cheers, tears and fears.
At the banquet I spoke about what my grandfather once told me - Leave Your Mark Behind - so I did, and my mark was all about MY wrestler. You should always leave something behind that makes you a better person, a better wrestler, a better student, a better friend or whatever you want to be better at. More importantly, what you leave behind should be about finding that MOMENT in your path which you can turn back to and say - THAT is when it all changed. THAT is when I met a goal. THAT is when I rededicated myself. THAT is when I learned an important lesson. THAT was my defining moment. THAT is going to change me in a positive way. THAT is going to make me work harder.
This photo captured in this poster was the exact moment in Tanner's high school career that would change his perspective on everything. This photo captured the essence of A Promise Kept. We all knew it was going to be a tough season after Coach Jenkins passed away two weeks before the wrestling season began. However, Tanner made a promise to his Coach during the final days of Coach's life. At the hospital, Tanner would talk to Coach about everything. He thanked him for being a great leader, for pushing him to work harder, for helping him to find wrestling, for believing he could turn Tanner into a champion and for being a great mentor. Tanner promised Coach that he would bring the DVL title back to La Quinta High School at the end of the season, in Coach's honor.
We soon found out this was going to be a more challenging task than anticipated. Tanner would suffer a severe injury just one month into the season which would not allow him to wrestle until the DVL championships match 6 weeks later. Imagine a gym packed with 2,000 fans, nerves on edge, DVL title on the line, and the promise to Coach Jenkins lurking over Tanner's head. Tanner had not wrestled since his injury and now he was going to try and help lift his team to a DVL title.
Things during the match were not going as planned. Matches which should have been won, were lost. Winning by a pin, just was not happening. The team found themselves behind by 17 points, 13-30 and there were only five matches left. Then bring on the heavyweights! We got a forfeit at 195, making it 19-30, then Robbie, our 220, pinned in 15 seconds to make it 25-30. Finally enter Tanner at the 220 weight class. Tanner had the opportunity to bring the title home as he walked onto the mat. He had not wrestled in 6 weeks! Tanner stepped onto the mat with confidence, determination and the memory of the promise he made to his Coach. Tanner pinned his guy in 25 seconds, sending the score to 31-30, the first lead since a 6-0 start, and bringing us one step closer to the title. The final match at the 106 weight class had to end in a victory, and it did, making the final score 37-30 -- and cinching the DVL title.
In "The Wrestler's Time", I wrote about Tanner's moment. The moment that allowed him the opportunity to realize a promise to a man who was dying of cancer, our beloved Coach Jenkins. Life is about those moments -- so go out and make your moment count. It is not about winning or losing, it is about the way you deal with all the obstacles, how you bounce back, how you overcome and how you leave your mark.
There were so many of these moments in the four years on the team. I am so very proud of these young men and women who make up the LQHS WRESTLING TEAM. Hard work and dedication to anything you choose to do in life should be your foundation, and that foundation will be bolstered by being a part of this team.
Good Luck to you all next season -- although I may not be there physically cheering for you in the stands, bringing you bagels after weigh ins, and taking your pictures, I will be there in spirit. So go out and make your moment!
Mrs. Doria
