I survived the first wrestling tournament of the year…just.
It’s certainly harder on the coaches than on the athletes. Waiting around nervously, pacing and worrying ABOUT your athletes FOR HOURS (and HOURS…!) takes a lot out of you…but in between, it’s punctuated with moments of screaming, ranting, raving, and thumping the mat as you ahem encourage your wrestlers to do their best while they’re fighting.
In more basic terms: “WIN, DAMMIT! WIN!”
I nearly lost my voice. I nearly lost my sanity, if the near-migraine I came home with is any indication. I certainly lost all of my energy, as demonstrated later that night, by the crappiest work out I’ve had in weeks.
Note to self in future: skip gym after a tournament. Proceed directly to friends’ house for wine, good food, witty chat, and relaxation.
Perversely, I get to miss the next tournament, as I’m taking my grade 11s on a field trip to Toronto. It’s a case of “out of the frying pan, into the fire”…
