Hi, my name is Juan, and I am writing about the NYISE
wrestling team. Our team has yearly competition with various
private schools throughout the tristate area. Most of the schools
we wrestle are not ones for the visually impaired. Toward the
end of each wrestling season, we take part in a major tournament
sponsored by the Eastern Athletic Association for the
Blind(EAAB). Last year was this organization's fiftieth
anniversary, and about 7 schools attended the event. As a
member of this team, I can tell you that we have experienced,
athletic, and skilled wrestlers with speed and technique. Some of
our members have won first/place championships. I think wrestling
is a fun and competitive way to get in shape and to become
self/disciplined.
You can also learn good fighting skills, and you might be able
to slam somebody you don't like without getting in trouble. But,
for me, personally, it means more than this. You see, I've always
gotten good grades so when I get a good report card or make the
Honor Roll it doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment
anymore. So I have decided to explore new areas. I figured if I
could accomplish a championship in wrestling, I will have proven
to myself that I can win in other areas as well. So its basically
about broadening the horizon of success.
With this attitude I developed a dream and vision to win. I do
not only hope this for myself, but for my whole team. Through
our wrestling team, I have the chance to express this dream and
vision, and our whole team can repeat its former accomplishments
with a new member on its army of champions.
Nov. 26, 1996: NYISE vs. Frisk
We just had our first matches this week. Our team did quite well.
Driven by the dream and by inner strength, we suffered almost no
losses when we wrestled. So we are traveling down the road of
champions. With each match we take steps down this road, and with
each team meet we leap toward victory. As I write about our
matches I can't help thinking of my match because it means so
much to me and my dream. It could be my first win, and it was.
Before I wrestled my mind kept thinking the word energize,
energize, energiiiize! It was time. The whistle blew and the
match began. We wrestled for almost two periods. He gave me a
challenge, but I kept pushing on. After almost two periods, I had
the victory. It was not only me, but our entire team that won. We
hope to continue to win and to finally be champions at all
costs.
Match: Dec. 4, 1996
We have just gone through another good match. Again, most of our
team members emerged victoriously. Although we all did well,
there is one match that sticks in my mind. It was between the
good wrestler, Amlock, from our team and a well/matched
opponent. After only about a minute of battle, Amlock slayed the
Jaberwalk! His secret perplexing weapon was a deadly stand/up
cradle which levitated the other guy in to the air. What goes up
must come down, and our helpless opponent gravitated on to his
back. Amlock fell on top of him with painful velocity and pinned
him. Our opposition faced a serious case of enbafflement as the
crowd roared for Amlock. Not all of our matches went this way,
but we still came out on top following our slogan-PIN, POWER,
PERSEVERANCE, BREAK!
Once more, I reflect on my match. This one was rather
interesting. The other team didn't have any heavyweights so the
people advanced in poundage on our team, including me, did not
have to engage in wrestling combat, or so we thought. But plans
can change and they did. It turned out that I had to fight my own
teammate for the spot of first heavyweight. I didn't expect this.
But as they say, the show must go on. So we wrestled. He is an
excellent wrestler, and although I have shown major improvement I
was not yet ready to pass this test. On top of this, I had a
cold, but I still gave my fellow team member and yet opponent a
challenge. So I refused to get pinned but lost by points.
Although this unfortunate loss was a setback to my dream, our
team still had a spectacular victory. As I think of this I think
of what one of my favorite songs says. It talks about bearing
with unbearable sorrow but yet reaching the unreachable star. Our
team is continuing to reach higher and higher, and when the time
is right, we will reach this star!
The Final Decisive Battle and Update
After a series of wonderful matches in which we pummeled our opponents to the cold ground, the final battle looms at our doorstep. This battle will take place at a tournament of champions in South Carolina this weekend. We vivaciously plan to exterminate all chances of winning for our opponents but we are facing a greater challenge than ever before. We have fewer members now than in the beginning, but our morale is still quite high. Due to intense personal pressure some of the team members, including myself, have been forced to reluclently take an absence of leave, temporarily putting off the gaining of the precious champions' metal of honor. But for the team there is no giving up or giving in to the already defeated opposition. Our victory is only an untold fact that with time will be painfully ingrained in the hearts and minds of foolish competitors. And with this we continue on, breaking down barriers and demolishing hinderances to success. And it is all because of the great dream. The force will be with us, and the glorious title of champions will be given to our fantastic team.
We will win! update:
The season has just come to a victorious close. Our shrunken but yet determined team won the prized second place. Due to various unfortunate situations and intense school pressures, some team members, including me, have been forced to temporarily put off the precious dream. But we pressed on to success. People who have failed at earlier attempts to win are now second and first/place champions, standing tall on the pedestal of honor along with the two/time heavyweight champion, Jeloni. But I once again vividly remember my dream which led me to join the team in the beginning. I think deeply, fiercely fighting back the pain of not being champion and desperately search for a wise perspective, and now, now it is coming to me. Some dreams will remain eternal dreams, things we can never stop longing for, but will never have. But sometimes, the unexplainable vision of fire somehow drives us on to break the barriers and accomplish the impossible. This vision has begun to burn in my heart this season, but it is not the raging flame it is meant to be yet. But with each passing day, every minute, each thought the fire is burning brighter. I am not alone in this great desire to be champion. The whole team shares this vision of flames. Jeloni, who is now the heavyweight champion, has done the impossible twice! He has proven that the dream can be reality. I will follow his example. Next season, we will soar like eagles. We will shine like the sun because the unreachable star will have been reached. Our matches will become battles which we must fight like the great, agile Samauri. It will be like a mighty team of brave soldiers swarming on our opponents. We will be the final champions!
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