Update on Cody!

I apologize it has been a while since I have last updated you all on Cody's progress. Cody has done an exceptional job this season! We are so proud of him and expect even a greater attitude for next year, Lord willing.

His journey to state has ended. He had a great season and learned that his ability, talent and strength could only take him so far. From this learning lesson we have all seen that sometimes our hearts and minds need the greater work and exercise.

This sport has truly taught me in my own life the parallel's of the sport to my personal struggles with everyday life.

It has also been a great reminder of our words to each other and ourselves are so powerful and they can be a great builder to our lives and other peoples lives, or they can be the wrecking ball of destruction.

In a nutshell, Cody was able to place 2nd at Districts! However, there was a surprise that none of us were expecting. The young man who acheived 3rd place was able to challenge Cody to take a chance in going to regionals. As a side note, the UIL rules in the State of Texas regulates the amount of matches a wrestler can compete in a tournament in one day. The maximum is 5 in a day. Being that this was the case and the way the brackets were set up the 3rd place challenger was somehow able to tail into the bracket. With this rare situation of 'tailing in' the challenger had wrestled his 5 maximum for the day...yet Cody could have taken on the challenge because he had not wrestled 5 matches and had won 2nd place...so they had to go back the following Monday to weigh in and wrestle.

Cody went back on Monday with his wrestling coach. There were a few more weight classes that were also present. As they weighed in each young man according to their weight class, they finally got to the 152 lb. weight class. They had the challenger weigh in first. As he stepped on the scale, he successfully weighed in. As they called Cody, they weighed him in and sadly he was 3 pounds over. The end result is that the challenger was able to continue onto regionals and Cody was not.

Thank you for your comments and for your encouraging words to Cody! He did a great job this year and again, we are so proud of him! It's not over...it's just begun...he is now training for next year! Thank you for your prayers that his heart and mind would align with God's Word in speaking life into situations, even when he doesn't feel like it! It's a great prayer for all our lives!

Thank you for all your support, prayers, cheers and love for Cody throughout the season and his life! He is blessed as we are blessed to have him in our lives!

Hill Country News...'Backyard Brawl'

Our wrestling guys finally made it in the 'Hill Country News'! Check it out!

January 6, 2010, 'Backyard Brawl'

Well....this evening was the 'Backyard Brawl' against one of our rival teams! Our team were the visitors and the score was 51 to 32 as a team. That's not all!!!! Cody also won with a pin into the 2nd period.

Great job guys! We are so proud of you young men! I have to say that it was definitely a 'brawl'...one of the first matches was the heavyweights and our opponent almost vomited on the mats....thank God he made it to the trash can. It actually happened twice.

Then we had another one of our great guys, we call him 'J~Flo', his opponent dug his nails into the back of his neck, which drew blood. Being that this happened, they had to clear the mat, get him cleaned up as well as clean the mat from any blood. Then, somehow his opponents 'headgear' strap dug into the back of 'J~Flo's' head as he had a 'dime' size hole dug into his head. 'J~Flo' ended up pinning his opponent at the end of the 2nd period.

We had another one of our guys, Anthony, who was about to gain control of his opponent and in the process, his opponent's head came down on his forearm which was very painful. They ended up checking out his arm and they were erring on the side of safety, in which he had to forfeit the match. We are praying for him as we don't know if it's a fracture, break or just a bad bruise.

We had another 'face off' in which something happened to the opponent's shoulder...he winced in pain. The coach allowed him to go at it again, only to re-injure his shoulder. However, he like a true wrestling warrior, got onto the middle of the mat, holding his arm, shaking our guy's hand as we won that match.

Another young man, our opponent came down on his knee wrong just in the first few seconds of the match, wincing in pain. He went at it again, only to re-injure it. After the second time, he came up limping, and like a warrior, came hobbling to the middle of the mat, shaking our young man's hand as we won the match...which was actually the final match.

As you can imagine...it was just that...a brawl...we saw puke, blood and other injuries.

You all did such a great job and we are so proud of your hard work; on and off the mat!

To all the readers; thank you for your support over Cody...it is greatly appreciated!

Please leave your comments as well...Cody would great appreciate it!

2009 Invitational Tournament 152 lbs./12/18 & 12/19/09

December 18, 2009, "The moment when it counts"

"I press toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 3:14 ~

Sweat. Tears of frustration. The temptations to give up and the torturing thoughts of what might happen. The life of a wrestler before the match.

I still remember those moments when Tim, Cody's dad would place his arm around his neck as tears of great frustration rolled down Cody's face. I remember those times when his dad would pat him on the rear saying, "Great job!" And then off on the side showing Cody more moves and how to be better next time. They celebrated and then it was on to preparing for the next match.

There were those times when Cody was making up in his mind that he was quitting as the thought of getting back on the mat made him nauseous. Yet the rewards and the victories seemed to wipe the temptations to quit out of his mind immediately.

I remember there was one night in particular where someone told my husband that he needed to 'back off' on Cody and wrestling. They continued to say that the sport of wrestling wasn't for Cody. I remember my husband expressed his thoughts to me later as he was tempted to back off, but then realized, "No. Cody can't afford for me to back off, I know this is not the time." My husband looked at this person and said something to this effect, "The moment I back off is the moment Cody gives up." Tim knew his son. He knew that wrestling was a 'lifeline' for Cody to remain focused.

Last night every drop of sweat and tears, temptations of giving up, lack of confidence all came to a head when the sounds of the crowd in the stands roared. The roaring sounds cresendoed when Cody stepped onto the mat. The voices of many shouting, "Cody! Go Cody! Go Iowa!" "Come on Cody!" The sounds of many feet stomping on the bleachers as the sound permeated so powerfully throughout the gymnasium.

The wrestlers got onto the middle of the mat. Cody and his opponent shook hands. The referee blew the whistle and the match began. From the moment the whistle blew to hearing the slap on the mat, the crowd stood up and cheered as Cody, undefeated, was able to place another victory under his 'belt'.

I remember at that moment tears welled up in my eyes as I saw Cody walk off the mat after shaking both coaches hands. Cody was headed towards his biggest fan, his life coach, his dad. Tim stood there with open arms as they embraced seeing that the voices of 'back off' couldn't stand a chance. It was the moment that all those other small moments were all about. It was about persevering.

The most rewarding moment? Seeing Cody all through the night encouraging his other wrestling teammates; a true reflection of his life coach, his dad.

As I saw the years prior leading up to last night; I was amazed to see the reflection of his dad. The encouraged Cody became the encourager. The coached Cody became the coach. The one who had his neck embraced was now embracing others.

It leads me to ask myself this one question. Am I a reflection of the Father God? I have been encouraged, am I now encouraging? I have been taught, am I going to start teaching what I have learned, not only with what I say, but with what I do? I have been lavishly and lovingly embraced, am I now embracing others, no matter what or where they are in their lives? Cody's victory on that mat last night was a moment I will not forget. The mat of life, we have the victory, will we obtain it by not giving up? Or will we quit, because someone said to 'back off'?

Don't let the losses tell you that you're defeated. Don't let the wins tell you that you can't learn more.

(Excerpt from 'Triumphant Victorious Reminders'... www.triumphantvictoriousreminders.blogspot.com)

December 11, 2009, "Ellison High Dual Tournament.

Our Leander High School Varsity Wrestlers are 9-0 for the season!!!!!!
Awesome guys...great job...we are so proud of our young men.

I saw a quote today that summed up the sport of wrestling and the character of a 'true' wrestler!
"A wrestler's only companion is the hours of sweat and pain spent preparing for this moment."
~ Senior from LHS from a few years ago.

The schools featured at this dual:
Pool A:
Cove
Killeen
Ellison A
Vista Ridge A
Travis
The team that won in Pool A was Vista Ridge.

Pool B:
Leander
Shoemaker
Ellison B
Vista Ridge B
Harkin High
The team that won in Pool B was Leander.

The two teams decided to have their dual meet on Thursday, December 17th..we will let you know how they do!!!

Cody won every match...all pins! Great job Cody...we are so proud of you...you're doing great in school and on and off the mat! Great job!

December 5, 2009, Team Video