"What A Ride"

“What a Ride!”
To Cody; Love, Dad.

It doesn’t seem like long ago...January, 2004.
I was at the Detroit airport picking you up to come live with us.
Not knowing for sure what to expect; but knew we wanted to give you something I never had; a father. Not only a father, but one that would be in your life. Not seeing the challenges that would take place; we worked through things together by the grace of God and as a family.

I remember the day you looked at all the awards that I had won; from trophies, to medals, certificates to newspaper articles. Seeing those awards, you wanted to play football, baseball and wrestle. I didn’t know for sure if you wanted to be like dad or if these were truly things you wanted to do. I knew football and baseball would be the two sports you would excel in for sure. Your genetics and build were definitely going for you, and I believed just by seeing what was before me, you would do well. However, with the sport of wrestling, I wasn’t too sure of. I knew that this was a sport that would take a lot of mental character. Not having been around you on a consistent basis for eleven years, as you lived with your mom in California, I wasn’t sure what level your mental toughness would be for this sport. I certainly knew that your physical appearance would need a lot of work. I told you if you could give me ten good push-ups I would teach you how to wrestle. I still remember, getting down on the ground and showing you what a proper push up would look like. You gave me two, then, the butt when up in the air, the back swayed and the third and fourth push-up didn’t meet the standard. Out of frustration you rolled over and said, “I can’t”. That day I knew where your mental level of desire and drive were, but proceeded to tell you that no one has ever accomplished ten perfect push-ups the first time. I was able to remind you that the key to your success would be practice.

The next night you came home from school and showed me that you could do four good push-ups…and then the fifth and sixth push-up, your butt was in the air, the back swayed and the push-ups were not properly being done…however, you excelled. Yes, you did. You were able to do two more push-ups than the night before. By your seeing improvement in one day’s time you saw that you could do it; by simply practicing. The next night you came home and did seven and without attempting the eighth, you fell straight to the ground. I told you, “Cody you are now five more better than the first night and three more better than the second night and by tomorrow you will be able to do all ten. “ That next evening in the living room you came down in your shorts and t-shirt and without a word, you got on the floor and did ten perfect push-ups. And then as you fought through those ten push-ups, I was honored to tell you I would start teaching you how to wrestle.

Being only a 130 pounds heavier than you, and 8 inches taller, I had to get on my knees to show you the proper stance. This in and of itself took work and was very challenging, for dad’s knees were becoming very rug burned.

Moving forward, you went out for wrestling that year in sixth grade and got up to doing 300 sit ups a night, 100 on the floor and 200 with the kitchen chairs pulled out. I could see you getting stronger right before my very eyes. At school, 6th grade level wrestling did not allow you to compete, only to go to practices in the evening. There you started to learn the fundamentals of wrestling. While most kids you were wrestling had already wrestled since the third grade.

Onto your seventh grade year, wrestling season came around and dad had the privilege of being able to help coach the junior high team at Reuther Middle School. Remembering you then with size 10 ½ shoe and 125 pound body and your first year of wrestling under your belt, I knew there was great potential in you. After practice being at home, clearing the living room coffee table, chairs and couch, and many rug burns more, you really started to get a hold of this sport. Your first season at seventh grade competition wrestling; was a great experience for you; every win, and most importantly every loss. With each loss you started to build character and with experience gained an understanding of just how tough this sport is. If I remember correctly, you wrestled that year winning 70% of your matches. I remember the awards banquet when they called the most valuable wrestler on the team and they called your name. How happy I was for you. Another building block of encouragement I knew that would keep you in the sport. That award still hangs on your wall ‘til this day. I hope you never forget where it all began.

In August, 2006, the news came that we would be moving to Iowa, your 8th grade year. Due to Iowa’s notarity in wrestling, this would definitely be challenging for you. When we arrived in Iowa, I told you again, these kids that you are going to be wrestling this year have been wrestling since the time they could walk. They would have far greater experience, and what you lacked in experience you would have to make up for in strength. At that point we started working out with actual weights. Lord knows that I did not want to lift weights, but I knew if I didn’t do it by doing it with you, that you would not do it on your own. Both of us got stronger that year. The season came around and you won 95% of your matches and learned so much more than you could have ever imagined.

Going into your freshman year, the intimidation level rose and challenged you, to a point where you about gave it all up by not going back into wrestling that year. However, I knew that if I could convince you, which I knew would not be easy, that your decision to stick with it, would help you through even the adult years of your life, not avoiding challenges but facing them, knowing to choose to side with God at every moment, relying on His strength. So out for wrestling you went that year. Two weeks into practice as a freshman in a 3A Iowa high school wrestling team, notorious for its success being Winterset, you were ready to quit; juniors and seniors pounding on you, bloody lips, black eyes, tears and frustration. At 145 pounds, you stood in the kitchen and told me you were quitting and done. I quickly reminded you of the rule in our house, if you go out, you stick it out, there will be no quitting, no matter what! Suck it up and get back in there tomorrow. I knew without doubt, at this level of wrestling in the state of Iowa it would be challenging as a freshman. Then it came down for the varsity team to be put together. At 145 pounds you wrestled off a junior and won, making varsity! I don’t know if you know it now, but I certainly did, as a freshman in an Iowa high school wrestling program, to be varsity and a 145 pounds, is an accomplishment in and of itself. However, I also knew that there would come a lot of defeats and very few wins…because this weight class and on up are the toughest weight classes in wrestling. But much to my surprise you rose to the occasion and had an awesome year. You placed first at conference and second at sectionals. That was awesome! I will never forget sectionals in Dallas Center Grimes when in the final match against the kid in Bonderant Ferrar the score was 11 to 7 and all that kid did as a senior, hung on the whole 3rd period. Two weeks prior to that, you had beat a kid from Sadel who was a senior, 7 to 4, this kid wrestled you back and challenged your second place medal. Because of your inexperience and not knowing how to rise to the occasion at that time, you were defeated In your mind and in that wrestle back you lost 8 to 5. Your attitude was this, “I want the season to be over.” Before the match, I tried to encourage you as much as I could, but I could see it in your eyes the season was over. I was disappointed, but understanding was still very proud of you. For earlier that year I was told by a certain person that I was too hard on you and that wrestling was just not your sport, and that you did not fit the character of a wrestler. I refused to believe it then and you have certainly showed them now that what they assumed and speculated was not true.


(Cody, his freshman year in Iowa)

Sophomore summer, we moved to Texas. I had to look for a school that had a wrestling program. I walked into the school at Leander High and spoke with one of the counselors and asked them if they had a wrestling program, their answer was, “Yes. Would you like to meet the wrestling coach?” In which I replied, “Sure.” I was introduced to Coach Clemens. I went on to tell him that out of the five schools I looked at in the Austin area, this was the first one I found that had a wrestling program. I was wondering why that was, being from Iowa, every school has wrestling. He grinned at me and said, in Oklahoma, where I’m from, every school has wrestling as well. With excitement in Coach Clemens voice, he asked, “Are you guys from Iowa?” And I replied, “Yes.” I was taken back as I thought he was going to jump out of the room.

Cody, I hope you understand…what people see in this sport, and the respect level that they have for wrestlers whether they themselves have ever wrestled or not, they always give respect to those that have and do. Your sophomore year, Texas wrestling, your confidence level had grown, your physical body had grown and your mental toughness had grown. Once again, you won and rose to the occasion, winning 95% of your matches…with two of your only losses being from the number one ranked kid in the state, Peyton from Westlake. At regionals, when your opponent separated your shoulder in the semi-finals, you had given everything you had on the mat. When you made the decision to move to California to live with your mom, both Coach Clemens and I and our family were heartbroken. By the grace of God He manifested the things you needed to see to know that your place was here with me.

Going into your junior year in Texas, what high hopes everybody had for you. You rose to the occasion! You worked out and trained really hard. Now with a more assured confidence level and maturity, the only person standing in your way was Peyton, the former state champion, now a senior from Westlake. You, being undefeated up to that match, you trained and worked hard. Peyton only beat you 2 to 0 and he hung on for ‘dear life’. At that point your confidence level rose, however, trying to make weight at 152 pounds was overwhelming but not impossible. Your body was trying to grow and you were trying to cut weight. That struggle finally caught up to you in districts when you were challenged by Eric for a shot at going to regionals after you had already taken second place at districts, and was on your way to regionals. You had already defeated Eric five times in the last two years by pin in the first period. Wrestling him was not your challenge, but since Eric had wrestled five times that day, the district tournament decided to bring everyone back who was being challenged on Monday...yes, the day after Super Bowl. The challenge was not Eric, but making weight, which you were unable to do, a season ending challenge.

Onto your Senior year. To this very point in time…never forget the blood, sweat and tears, the wins, the losses, the hard work, training and dedication you have given to this sport. For such a time as this, February 25th, district champion, regional runner up and state qualifier…now is the time to rise to the occasion and leave everything on the mat for God, yourself, and your team!

Remember, there is no next year…give back to God, yourself and others what you have graciously received…
YOU ARE A CHAMPION!

Love, Dad

Cody, you "can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you."
Philippians 4:13