Post by ideamark on Mar 13, 2007 21:59:29 GMT -5
www.standard-journal.com/articles/2007/03/13/sports/sports03.txt
Sandel a true model for champions to come
Published: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:35 AM CDT
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Having trudged the edge of the Resilite mats at the PIAA Wrestling Championships for the last 10-or-so years, I’ve seen all manner of winning and losing.
I’ve seen tears after dreams were washed away. I’ve heard four-letter words screamed in the hallways of an aging Hersheypark Arena and the sparkling Giant Center. And I’ve watched as head gear sailed in a moment of anger. I’ve watched wrestlers, who are so eager to trumpet their successes after victories, storm past reporters after a loss.
I’ve witnessed exuberant back flips, observed arms raised, and watched welcome relief spread over a competitor after the dream of a gold medal had been realized.
But late Saturday afternoon, I watched one of the most unusual and, perhaps, ironic scenes just moments before the Class AA 152-pound wrestlers were to climb on the podium and accept their medals.
Athens’ Chad Sindoni, already a two-time place winner and the prohibitive favorite in the weight class, was just minutes removed from an unexpected 4-2 loss to Phil Sorrentino of South Allegheny in the championship bout at 152.
To his credit, the Wildcats’ senior hadn’t screamed or thrown any of his gear. But tears, well, there plenty of them. Sindoni had no coaches or teammates to lean on as he slumped against the wall behind the podium.
That’s when Milton’s Aaron Sandel stepped up like a true champion. Like Sindoni, the Black Panthers’ senior had ended his high school career a couple of hours earlier with bitter 8-7 loss in the consolation final. But after a few tears, Sandel had dealt with the disappointment and was ready to collect the second state medal of his 110-win career.
But before Sandel climbed on to the medal stand, he looped an arm around Sindoni’s neck, spoke encouraging words into his ear, and patted him on the chest.
Few of the 448 wrestlers who began the tournament on Thursday would have offered up that sort of gesture on the final day, especially toward someone who had hung heartbreaking losses on them in district and regional finals.
It was a distinguishing moment, not only for Sandel, but for his parents, Keith and Ruth, and the Milton program.
Sandel has always been a true ambassador for the sport of wrestling. But when he had his fourth place medal draped over his neck it wasn’t the high point of his career.
That occurred just moments earlier when he was there for Sindoni.
Sandel a true model for champions to come
Published: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:35 AM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page
Having trudged the edge of the Resilite mats at the PIAA Wrestling Championships for the last 10-or-so years, I’ve seen all manner of winning and losing.
I’ve seen tears after dreams were washed away. I’ve heard four-letter words screamed in the hallways of an aging Hersheypark Arena and the sparkling Giant Center. And I’ve watched as head gear sailed in a moment of anger. I’ve watched wrestlers, who are so eager to trumpet their successes after victories, storm past reporters after a loss.
I’ve witnessed exuberant back flips, observed arms raised, and watched welcome relief spread over a competitor after the dream of a gold medal had been realized.
But late Saturday afternoon, I watched one of the most unusual and, perhaps, ironic scenes just moments before the Class AA 152-pound wrestlers were to climb on the podium and accept their medals.
Athens’ Chad Sindoni, already a two-time place winner and the prohibitive favorite in the weight class, was just minutes removed from an unexpected 4-2 loss to Phil Sorrentino of South Allegheny in the championship bout at 152.
To his credit, the Wildcats’ senior hadn’t screamed or thrown any of his gear. But tears, well, there plenty of them. Sindoni had no coaches or teammates to lean on as he slumped against the wall behind the podium.
That’s when Milton’s Aaron Sandel stepped up like a true champion. Like Sindoni, the Black Panthers’ senior had ended his high school career a couple of hours earlier with bitter 8-7 loss in the consolation final. But after a few tears, Sandel had dealt with the disappointment and was ready to collect the second state medal of his 110-win career.
But before Sandel climbed on to the medal stand, he looped an arm around Sindoni’s neck, spoke encouraging words into his ear, and patted him on the chest.
Few of the 448 wrestlers who began the tournament on Thursday would have offered up that sort of gesture on the final day, especially toward someone who had hung heartbreaking losses on them in district and regional finals.
It was a distinguishing moment, not only for Sandel, but for his parents, Keith and Ruth, and the Milton program.
Sandel has always been a true ambassador for the sport of wrestling. But when he had his fourth place medal draped over his neck it wasn’t the high point of his career.
That occurred just moments earlier when he was there for Sindoni.