Takedown by Rich Wallace Read Free Book Online Page B

preparation for Jesse.
    But he knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
    Coach blew his whistle, and Donald and Mario darted about, lunging at each other and then backing away.
    Donald managed a takedown halfway through the period, but Mario twisted out of it and escaped. Then he took Donald down, but Donald made a reversal and retook the lead.
    The wrestlers in the bleachers were yelling encouragement as the furious action continued. By the end of the period, Mario had escaped again and Donald had scored another takedown. He had a 6-4 lead, but he was tired.
    This is right where he’d been in his previous matches—slightly ahead against a tough opponent. If I waste this chance, I’m nothing .
    The second period went back and forth, but Donald maintained the lead. Mario escaped; Donald took him down. Mario escaped again. Donald couldn’t pin him and couldn’t control him for very long, but his quickness was working to his advantage.
    Time ran out with Mario desperately trying for a takedown. Donald raised his arms and shut his eyes in triumph.
    He’d made the first step. One more to go.
    “Nice job,” Mario said as they walked off the mat together.
    “You, too,” Donald said, breathing hard.
    They sat together in the bleachers as two other JV guys lost their challenge matches. Next up was Donald against Jesse.
    “You can do this,” Mario said.
    “You didn’t help me much.” But Donald grinned. “Maybe you did. I’m tired, but I’m good and warmed up. The nerves are gone, too.”
    “Glad to be of service,” Mario said. “By the way, I’m not done yet. You can expect another challenge next week.”
    “Yeah, but maybe it’ll be Jesse and you in the first match next time, vying to try to knock me off. It’s like playing King of the Hill.”
    “Go out there and beat the king then. He’s waiting.”
    Jesse glared at Donald from across the mat. Nobody liked to be challenged, and it was even worse for an eighth-grader to be challenged by someone in seventh. Donald was aware of that, and he did have respect for Jesse. But this was the way wrestling went. The best guy had to prove it every time.
    The match was similar to the one against Mario, as both wrestlers were quick and agile but not very skilled at pinning. Jesse scored the first takedown, but Donald quickly reversed him and Jesse quickly escaped.
    As Donald expected, he was pretty evenly matched with Jesse. The outcome could go either way. But Donald was getting worn out as the second period wound down. It was his fourth period of wrestling—Jesse had more fuel left.
    So it was no surprise that Jesse hung on for a 7-5 win. He gripped Donald’s shoulder as they walked off the mat. “Nice match,” he said, obviously relieved to have survived.
    “Thanks. Way to go.”
    This loss didn’t sting like the others. Donald had wrestled a good match, but his fatigue might have cost him the win. Making varsity probably wasn’t too far off. He definitely had his confidence back. And tomorrow he’d be competing again. Another chance to win.
    “That’s it for today,” Coach said. “Get a good meal tonight and a good rest. Palisades is a very talented team. Let’s be miserable hosts and beat them.”
     
     
    Donald’s parents were still at work when he got home, and he didn’t feel like being alone. Too much to think about, with the match tomorrow and all. He picked up the phone and dialed.
    “Manny.”
    “Yeah?”
    “You want to come over? Watch TV or something?”
    “Let me check.”
    Donald stroked the cat’s back as he waited. His mom had left him a plate of ham and pasta to heat up, but he hadn’t eaten it yet. It didn’t look very appealing.
    “I can stay till nine,” Manny said.
    “See you in a few minutes then.”
    The dinner looked dried out—it was left over from two days before. Donald scanned the refrigerator for something to make it more appetizing.
    He spread some mustard on the ham and poured Italian dressing on the spaghetti and