The old adage:" Old soldiers never die they just fade away" must hold true for wrestlers! I am the Wrestling Alumni Coordinator at Island Trees High School in Levittown, Long Island, and it is my job to locate former grapplers and bring them together once again for this special evening. The wrestlers bond once more and share old war stories. As I have made contact with them, the same question always comes up..."will we be wrestling at this alumni match?" The question is asked with both trepidation and hopefulness. Most proceed to say that though they are no longer in wrestling shape, they wouldn't mind training one more time and trying their skills out once more for old times sake! When I explain to them that they will not have to wrestle, but will be honored that night, I can sense an element of relief, but also disappointment. What is an organizer to do?
Any Athletic Directors nightmare is to have a bunch of out of shape , mature men, recapturing their youth and then getting hurt! I explain to the old warriors that though wrestling on the mat that night may not be possible, that I have never known a wrestler to need a formal setting nor a wrestling mat in order to wrestle!! You know what I mean, matches break out anywhere and anytime! This summer I introduced my brother Carl, a former County champ, to a friend of mine that has competed internationally and still competes today (most recently in the over 40 division, at the Las Vegas Nationals). I watched my brother , as he stood next to my friend, start to get that urge. He was moving in closer and closer, one hand just by instinct started to grab the guys shoulder...he was itchin'. Before long , I found the two of them in stance , shooting takedowns on my front lawn. Aah compulsion, instinct what? From what I have seen, the urge to grapple may get buried under years of responsibilities and other things to do..but lies in wait , just below the surface for a lifetime!
Like any other addiction, it waits for its time to resurface from its dormancy! Men who are total strangers may hold casual conversations, but two men, who are strangers, but know they have both spent time on the mat, do not remain so long! As an objective observer, I have sensed the energy start to flow between old warriors, and then a restlessness as the tension builds , before you know it..bam ..the match begins!! Now IF the two matmen were old friends and meet again, regardless of age, after a separation of months, or years, the energy is instantaneous.After a very mature nod, whether dressed casually or in a suit, it doesn't matter, the match will commence! Peter Pan in headgear... these men have grown up , hold down jobs, many with great responsibilities, have lived through trials and tribulations, but in the lock of a gaze, for just one moment, time has stood still, the circle appears in the minds eye, and like the bull eyeing the red cape,or a moth to a flame, they are contenders again! Its something that once it gets in the blood, never dies! So here's my dilemma, I know this year will be our biggest turnout ever for an Alumni match, the age of computers has made that possible...but how do I please the AD, and make some former grapplers very happy? Well guys, all I can say is, after the formalities, somehow, and somewhere, that mat will appear in the minds eye, and then Mr. AD, look out, cause nothing is going to stop Peter Pan in Headgear ! !