State Wrestling 2009

OK, I guess I better write about last weekend before I forget the details.


I left school early Thursday to take Jake to the doctor. He stayed home from school due to a fever. We figured we better get him well enough to wrestle. In a mad rush, took him to the doctor, picked up medicine, I washed 4 loads of clothes, picked Brett up from track practice, took Jake to wrestling practice, cancelled my plans to go to Hays for Pound Plunge, looked up the weather on the computer, watched the TV for the weather update, packed and headed out at 7:30 pm to Beat The Storm! They were calling for 6-12 inches by morning. The original plan was to leave in the morning. John & Amy were very nice and let us in at midnight. We would have gotten there sooner but I was running at the mouth telling Mom stories and she was such a good listener that neither one of us saw the East Lawrence exit until it was too late. So we had to drive to Bonner Springs and back (just a mer 44 mile detour to nowhere). It was also raining so that had to add to why we didn't see the exit, right?

The next morning we sent the Bellerive's off to school and work, relaxed and then went shopping in Lawrence. Next, we headed to Topeka. We toured the Kansas Capitol Building. We saw the State Senate and the House of Reps meeting rooms. We also toured the Capital Dome. Mom and Brett wimped out and only made it up five flights. Jake and I went the whole 296 steps all the way to the top! & out the door!!! No joke! Then...we had to come down those same 296 steps! I thought I was in good shape, I made it, but, my legs were shaking for 2 hours after; so badly that we were all laughing about it. We went on the tours with two other wrestling families from Garden City. Mom treated us to a delicious lunch at Lone Star Steakhouse!

Weigh in at the Expocenter went fairly smooth. While Jake waited in the line for it to start I bought our tickets to get in the next day. At 4 pm the doors opened...I walked in with Jake so he wouldn't get pushed down and then trampled. At our District table we saw a man from Garden City. He said, "Hey, we just saw you at the Capitol!" His son asked, "Did you go all the way up? and outside?!" Guess he was too excited or nervous to remember me with them. I showed him my shaking legs. A half hour later Jake was skin checked and weighed in at 55 lbs. after a steak and potato lunch and he'd be wrestling at 58 lbs.

John and Amy served a wonderful Lenten dinner of fresh shrimp spring rolls and of course, pizza for the kids. Later Friday night KU played. They had friends come to party and watch the game. They took all our money and kept us up AND KU lost! The Nerve! HA! HA! Giggle, giggle. Just kidding, we had a lot of fun playing call poker. Jake actually went to sleep before the game was over so all was good.

We still had weather issues...even though nothing had happened yet...It was threatening to snow 6 inches over night. I got up early to see...nothing...the ground wasn't even wet. Guess we didn't hurry because we got on our way a little late. So, guess what? It started to rain and sleet on us so we had to slow down. We arrived at 5 minutes until 8 am. Luckily we've been to State before and know the routine (that wrestlers go in a different way than us). I threw Jake my phone, told him what section to find us, and sent him to look for the team. Brett and I made it to the seats in to to watch the Parade of Athletes. Jake came out with the Plainville Wrestling Club. He said it was hard finding them...but he did and that's the important part.

Jake got pinned in 32 seconds in his first match. His second match was much more exciting. It lasted the full 3 minutes. It was tied after the first minute. Then tied after the second minute. Then the other boy ended up ahead. So, we left the wrestling madness. We headed straight to meet John, Amy & girls at church so we could relax and visit Sunday morning before going home. We saw three cars in the ditches on our drive from Topeka Saturday evening.

We are very proud of Jake! All in all, we had a great weekend. Thank you John, Amy & girls for everything! Thank you Memere for everything too! Thank you also to everyone that wished Jake luck!