Madison mat subculture special

It happens very year.

Just as soon as wrestling season ends a tremendous letdown ensues.

Who can understand it? Who would care?

Answer: fellow members of wrestling’s subculture wherein a “language” is spoken, the nuances of the passion are understood and appreciated, and the thrill that comes with success (and anguish that accompanies defeat) is clearly known, and spoken fluently by only those within.

Never mind that the size of the local subculture is small. Wrestling bastions like Christiansburg, Grundy or Great Bridge, are exceptional. Their following is comparable to what football and basketball teams have at most schools, but one school that really comes close to duplicating that level of support is Bull Run District rival Strasburg.

Go to one of Strasburg’s matches and check out their numbers in attendance. The color purple is prevalent.

The local subculture appears to include only the wrestlers, their parents, and the coaches (the evidence of which shows up at matches or doesn’t).
With this season officially over, I dedicate this piece to my fellow subculture members who are a part of something special, even if people on the outside don’t know it.

First, and foremost, I salute the wrestlers. You may never receive the acclaim bestowed upon other athletes but those of us who have competed in the sport understand quite well your sacrifice, and the blood that is drawn from it. Years after your graduation from high school you will be a member of a fraternity that reaches out to anyone who competed and you won’t have to be a state champion to be a part of it.

Second, the parents. To the fathers, even if you aren’t former wrestlers, you were in the stands cheering for all of the boys locked in combat with no teammates to come to their aid. I suspect you would have come to their aid if turned loose.

For our wrestling moms who feel the pain when their sons are thrown to the mat in a viselike headlock, you may not understand all the intricacies of the sport, but you were there pulling for your sons and they knew it.

We have some terrific parents and they include: Tony and Shannon Welch, Jim and Abbie Jewett, Dennis and Savilla Nicholson, Archie and Rhonda Riner. Waverly and Shelly Banks, Narda Camunas, Kevin and Cindy McHaney, Billy Good, and I’m sure there are others whom I have not yet met. My apologies if I left you unnamed.

To the coaches, Mike Sacra, Shane Conlan and volunteer assistants Robert Meador, James Jewett, Danny Oktayuren and Tyler Atwell I extend my thanks for the hard work and long hours you put in.

Here’s to those who can decide for themselves if they are or are not part of the subculture:

To“Boo” McDaniel for transporting the wrestlers to their matches and being an avid fan, supporter, and an all around great guy.

To Madison County Eagle Editor Don Richeson for running the long wrestling articles. The wrestlers earned it.

To John Berry for his first-class photography and for making the long trek to Salem for the state tournament.

To team trainer Carrie Sacra for stopping the blood in a sport that often produces it.

To Jim Nelson for being, arguably, the best scoreboard operator in the commonwealth and a great guy to work with.

To Burt Laub who tracked the team’s progress, genuinely feels my pain, and inspired me to write this piece.

To school Principal Mike Sisler for his services at the home matches and, like my buddy Tyler Atwell, for knowing how to pronounce the name of the school that once again won the Group A title.

Thanks again to Tony and Shannon Welch, two of the most generous people I have ever met in my life and whose devotion to the team should be an inspiration for us all.

Maybe during the off season Tony will learn the correct way of pronouncing the name of the Group A state champions.

My bet says he won’t because if I know Tony he will delight in the error just to get a rise out of me, which might be helpful considering that the season I love best is over.

(Eagle sports correspondent Mark O’Connell covers wrestling and soccer and lives in the Madison County portion of Reva with his children, Ethan and Rebekah. Contact him via e-mail at Takedownnews@aol.com.)