"Champion of The Next Generation"
I tend to be a rather optimistic person and was raised by
parents that supported the various endeavors that my sibling and I
pursued especially our athletic quest. My father would often stand in
the family room [fondly referred to as the trophy room] having 4 other
brothers and 3 sisters that were all pretty good in athletics
made the trophy room a very full place. He would point to one
of the trophies and say; "This trophy only cost me $500 or
this state championship medal cost me $350 or this National
title plaque only cost me $750! My father might of griped a
little about the cost associated with that Particular Award with
travel, hotel cost the meals, the entry fees, but that room
made him beam with pride! When ever my aunts or uncles would
come over my father would drag them to the trophy room and
show them the latest addition and the war stories associated
with it .
This is a second generation, passing of the torch story. Early
in the week a friend of mine "Eric'' called me up to see
what I was doing for the coming weekend. Normally I would of
said that I am traveling to so and so and had this to do
but not on this particular weekend. I had a last minute
cancellation and I now had a weekend home. Eric's suggestion
to me was; "why don't you come on down to Detroit and watch
some wrestling this weekend. I him & hawed a little and said
that if my son David wanted to go and watch then I would
go, otherwise I would stay at home since I get very few
weekends off. Eric said "Why don't you bring David to wrestle
and you enter the masters division" Which was the nice way of
saying old fart and win another world title to add to the
collection. I said I would get back to him.
When my son David got home from school I asked him if he
would like to go to a wrestling tournament with me this
weekend and he said sure. Eric informed me about the registration
and weigh-in times and these were not going to work because
David had a track meet that's coming Thursday. Eric said that
he would make some phone calls and get back to me. Eric who
happens to be one of the referees for this event has been
associated with the Amateur Athletic Union for a number of
years and has some doubt with the powers to be. When Eric
contacts me again, my son and I are now being allowed to
weigh-in later in the evening. Things seem to be working themselves
out. What will David and I be at so the can put our names
in and draw the brackets out was the next question what were
my options? I as and Eric said 215 or heavyweight. I laughed and
he laughed as I said that's a no brainer, put me in with
the fat boys. As for David it was 180 and or heavyweight
[David is in the 8th grade] .
David wrestled this past season at 185 and had to
drop a few pounds to get there. I did not really want to
tell him about the magnitude of the tournament he was about
to enter so I didn't , lets put you on the scale and see
what you weigh. David had been running in track the past few
weeks and I was hoping that it help to keep his weight down
and his cardio up. He was only a couple pounds over. I told him
he was in good shape and lets watch what we eat over the
next two days to make it easier to make weight. Track meets
comes and goes [ his relay team finishes 1st and he placed
3rd in the shot put ] but he arrives home later than
expected. I put him on the scale and he is a couple of
pounds over. I pull out some of my old gear and put him to
work knocking off the pounds.
We arrived at the Tournament Hotel headquarters at
approx 1:00am in the morning. David makes weight easily and is
happy so now he can grub down. I stop and pick him up
something to eat on our way to Eric's home where are spending
the night and finally lay my head down at 3am in the
morning. We are back up at 7:00 and have to be at the ford
field house [ where the Detroit Lions Football team plays ] by
8am for Eric's official meeting. Dave and I stretched out on
the field using our duffle bags as pillows. I told him how
important it was to get off his feet reserving energy and
getting as much rest in between matches as possible. I also
packed some stuff to eat to replenish the body between matches
as well. It's a good size tournament approx 1200-1300 wrestler.
David thought it was cool that we were wrestling in the
Detroit Lions stadium I told him that; "Today was a good
day''. He ask why that was and I said: " I have wrestled with
all my brothers on various teams, today I wrestle alongside my
son,'' life doesn't get any better than that.'' He got a big
smile on his face.
Now what follows was pure icing on the cake. David is wrestling
on one mat and I on another but it is working out so that I can attend
all of his matches and coach him. His first match is a battle and David
takes his opponent down and goes to work pinning him. My first match is
what I was anticipating another guy close to my age, not much hair left,
fat, and out of shape. I take it easy on him rack up a few points carry
the match into the second round and finish it off. David's second match
is an even tougher one. No score in the first round he reveres his
opponent in the second period putting him on his back and pins him.
David is a strong pinner once he gets his opponent on his back.
Round two for me upgrade's quite a bit. I am going against a
very good Greco Roman wrestler that can throw very well and is 9 years
younger than I am! What happen to the masters division is what's going
through my mind I should have been wrestling guys 46-50 yrs old! I was
supposed to be a relaxing weekend for me coaching my son! Hand fighting,
pummeling, snap downs, two-on-one, and arm drags flying back and forth.
No score. Same thing is happening in the second but I catch my opponent
rocking back and forth and am able to snap him down and score the take
down. Third round is another physical display of positioning with no
additional points being scored and I am 2-0.
David's third round opponent is not much of a physical specimen
but had chalked up the previous wins. I told him to never underestimate
an opponent. Treat him the same way you would treat any other match. As
the match started David moved around pasting and tiring looking for his
opportune time and then fired in with a vicious double leg take down
that knocked his opponent a good 4-5 feet back wards. He went right to
work cranking on the power half and the match was done in a minute. I
put my arm around David as he came off the mat and told him he did the
right thing.
Dad's turn I now had a 34tr old impressive physical specimen I
was stepping out on the mat write. Just shaking his hand I knew I was in
trouble. Avery physical match banging away up stares and then he fired
in on the double leg take down. It took all I had to shake him off. A
score less 1st round second round chase for position, either neutral
[standing] or down on the mat in referee's position. I chose standing
and the same basic thing happens in round two no points third and final
round his choice. I'm thinking to my self I would choose the down or
referee's position, and win the match 1-0. I should not have been
thinking so loud because he chooses the down position. My thoughts are:
do I let him go right away, try to wear him down and then hopefully take
him down towards the end of the match and win 2-1? Or, Break him down
and try to turn him on his back for a near fall and score two points and
if he escapes I can just piddle away the match and win 2 -1. I did not
like either or options. I had to do all that thinking and come up with a
decision all in a matter of a couple of second!!! I went for the
takedown and turn not going happen was his mind set because he exploded
up off the mat. I was having trouble controlling his powerful body so I
dropped to the leg to the leg ending up in a standing single leg. I
moved him all over the mat keeping him off balanced and then sweeping
his posted leg out from under him. We both went crashing to the mat. I
made sure I healed a top of him and went for the tilt, a tight waist
near arm tilt that was almost there but I was losing my grip. I could
not see the clock to see how much time was left. I could gamble and go
for the 2 point near fall and get it or I could gamble and in the
process lose control of my opponent and he would either escape or
reverse me and I lose. I did not like the metallurgy in the sudden death
overtime. The end of the period buzzer goes off the score 0-0, we now
enter into what is called sudden death overtime. First guy who score
wins I know the game and I know how to work it. It's time to get
physical. Upon the referee starting the match I charge straight in
banging away, pummeling and taking him to the edge of the mat going for
the take down as we went off. No score! We are brought back to the
center of the mat in the ref starts the match and I do the exact same
thing again. The ref brings us back to the center of the mat and warns
my opponent for stalling.' The seed has been planted, is my thought. The
ref starts the match and I head right back in as I had the two previous
times as he charges right back into me. I snap him down and spiral as I
am giving ground taking him with me. As we hit the mat I spin and secure
the take down for the victory.
The day comes to a close for the Severn's and both of us advance
to the finals on the following day. A big meal and early to bed are in
store. Day two David's final match against an Illinois folk style age
group champion competition. He has an opponent that likes to get the
lead and slow the tempo down and take injury time at his will he wanted.
As David steps on the mat I am both father and coach barking loving
commands. His opponent scores the first takedown but David's rally's
back for a reversal to tie it up. David is on top working him over.
Round two David scores and goes ahead, his opponent is able to bring it
back with in one, David is still ahead. 3rd and final round his opponent
is chooses down hoping to escape to tie or reversal to win. Dad is
barking orders and Tec argues to son as the period is in progress. A
very physical round where David works hard on top not allowing his
opponent to escape, time expires and my son has won. I can tell that
David is physically and mentally exhausted as tears of happiness run
down his face at age 14 he has won his first world title.
Dad's turn for final match a large man some where around 315-340
range. I'm thinking to myself again ''what happen to the weight
restrictions to heavyweights?'' The most you can weigh is 130 kbs. which
is 286lbs! I watched his previous match and know I had to watch out for
the throw. First period action was a lot of pummel, head snappy two on
one's and arm drags. I kept the big man busy trying to wear him down, He
pummeling in and got the lock, I knew what was about to happen. the big
throw. I knew my only chance was to use his weight and momentum and
throw myself with him hoping my body would go further out and I might be
able to post a leg and catch him on his back. The throw happens, I throw
myself with him and the post was there. He has me locked up he is caught
on his back. As he struggles to get off his back he breaks his grip and
the match is over as I sink my hooks in. Father and son become world
champions. I made a big deal out of it for David. I picked up a
disposable camera and took a number of photos of him getting his award
and champions jacket. I put my own jacket on and got a couple of
pictures with my boy as well. Yea, it took two days out of my life. We
had to jump through some hoops to make it happen. It cost me two early
fees- gas and food money but the memories are priceless and will be
cherished forever! And you can bet, that I will be bragging to all my
brothers and sisters.
Dan "The Beast" Severn
www.dansevern.com
