Proud PA Papa

[mojo]

Brothers and sisters,
Please forgive me for using this forum as a podium for bragging (calling it what it is )! My son Desmond Johnson just took second place in the PA jr. state scholastic championships ;D !
states.pawrsl.com/PJW/ (click on 105 lbs, 10 & under)
Not bad for a boy who has only been wrestling for less than 2 years! Of course the 5 years of judo helped (in the quarter-finals, Des was behind 3-0 with 40 seconds left when he hit the kid with a SWEET hip throw for 4 to win 4-3!) In my 30+ years of wrestling and coaching at all levels of our sport, I have never been as nervous or as proud as I am of my little man this weekend! Just wanted to share my swollen heart with my wrestling family ;D

[Spider]

No need to apologize. Your bragging is appropriate and welcome.
Frankly, considering his heritage, I'm not at all surprised.

Thank you for sharing this precious experience, and keep us posted of future successes. Bask in your pride and accept my congratulations to you both.

[tpay]

Congrats Brother Mojo, please pass on congrats to Desmond and keep up the continued good work.

[Avallone]

That is AWSOME!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work little man

[sgallan]

Congratulations Desmond and Brother MoJo!!!

;D ;D

[mojo]

Thanks Guys! And feel free to call Desmond "Brother Des" from now on. He's one of us!

[pm01]

Brother Morris,

Wow, congratulations are in order for Brother Des and you! Thanks for letting us know. At 5-3 it must have been a very interesting match. Was hard on you? Will he be FS/GR'ing?

[mojo]

pm01 said:

Brother Morris,

Wow, congratulations are in order for Brother Des and you! Thanks for letting us know. At 5-3 it must have been a very interesting match. Was hard on you? Will he be FS/GR'ing?

Brother PM1,
Thank you my friend. Yeah, that finals match was a real gut-churner! Des was tied 2-2 at the end of the 2nd. The kid chose down and we told Des to cut him as we were pretty sure he could take him down, and since Des is a thrower, perhaps even take him down to his back. Both boys had 1 stall warning and we figured that he couldn't just ride him because of the warning. I gave Des the signal to cut and he looked back at me and shook his head! He then proceeded to ride him for the next 30 seconds, nearly tilting him, but mainly eating up time. He finally cut the kid loose, tried an arm throw and missed, giving up two with about 25 seconds left! He quickly got the escape and took a nice shot. Kid was on his butt, but was holding on to Des's foot. Des got the foot free and spun behind just as the buzzer went off! Refs conferred but decided time was up and my boy was a silver medalist! He came over to me sobbing and we went to the side of the mat where I just held him for a few minutes before I asked the enevitable question: "Why didn't you cut him at the beginning of the period?" Through his tears, he tried to explain that he was pretty sure he could turn the kid, and even if he couldn't, he was sure he could ride him out and go into overtime. "I never lose in overtime Dad, I'm in better shape" he moaned! Just broke my heart. Even though I was not real pleased that he ignored his coaches, I liked the fact that he was really thinking about match strategy out there, and not just closing his eyes and hoping for the best. I gave him another hug and kiss, told him how proud I am and sent him over to shake his other coach's hand. Des apolgized for ignoring his direction and his coach told him we would work on it Tuesday at practice, but now he should go get his medal and get ready for a steak dinner. We sent Des off to the holding room and the next time I see him, he is on the podium wearing a big silver medal and a bigger smile, cracking jokes with the other boys on the stand. Thats when my tears started! Man, I love this sport!

[pm01]

Brother Des has the best of all worlds, great parents, and great coaching...in that order. I hope you update us with his progress every now and then. Please pass my congratulations along to him.

[oc]

Brother Mojo, Congrats to young Brother Des! As an aside daddy's do not "brag" (which is a pergorative) about their children, they merely state the truth regarding their many accomplishments! All parents do this, including me! Let me tell you about my kids.....

[RYou]

Thanks Mojo. I get a kick out of reading about the exploits of the kids of posters here. Mine are out and done. I really miss the churning stomach of a tight bout while in the stands. A Dad couldn't be prouder than watching his kid perform at his / her best.

Cherish the years ahead. (yea right, like you wouldn't) The time flies and next you know...he'll be wearing that tassel with possibly a completed career.

There were some days when I took a bundle of heat from the bossman for skipping out early to make it to an afternoon dual. I'm still working, but I have the memories - -something I wouldn't have had I played by the rulebook.

Please keep us tuned in. It's okay to brag about your son, you've earned that right as a dedicated father.

Same goes for all of the others Avallone, Scotty, Mike - let's hear about those medals.

[mrichardson]

Brother Morris - What a great story! Thank you for sharing it. It looks like I am at the end of my kid's wrestling carreer - she has decided to not wrestling in college next year. I have had a WONDERFUL! time watching her, with some sweet regrets at not having had the opportunity to follow her in college as closely as I would have wished. I envy you the years ahead of you with your son. It sounds like the two of you have some great times ahead.