Mishawaka couldn't pull out the Sectional win this year and it has brought Tyler's season to an end sooner than anticipated. He did well though. Up till now I have been somewhat discreet on my postings because of Tyler's well being but I know word has been out about him being hurt. I honestly can't say that many knew how badly he was though. Tyler found out he had a labrum tear in his good shoulder (the one not operated on last year) right before the Penn dual meet this year. They talk about the tear in "clock" terms since the labrum is round. He has two tears but could be considered one big one from 11:00 to 7:00. That is well over half of his labrum and any tear would require surgical repair. Tyler was forced to make a decision. Stick it out with the team or get surgery immediately. Ben and Tyler met with Darrick right after the word from the doctor. After talking, Tyler decided to go ahead and stick it out...only wrestling when he was really needed (mainly big team matches).
Week after week we watched Tyler wrestle. Some he was on and off the mat within twenty seconds (the way we like it!) while others I sat and cringed watching the opponent crank on his shoulder. There has even been a few times where I have sat and watched Tyler cry in pain. It has NOT been easy.
Then, last week...against Clay as we won our NIC title...Tyler had to injury default. Not because of his shoulder...his knee popped during the match and could barely move it. The trainer thought it could have been blown completely until she saw him the next day. Conclusion for her...strained lcl, possibly tear in the hamstring. So, this week Tyler has practiced with his knee completely taped, trying to get ready for Sectionals. We knew it would not be easy the way the brackets were set up. Penn could beat us (with the help of other teams) quite easily if we didn't wrestle lights out.
Tyler was seeded 4th. He had Sunny Windhorft from Laville first. I thought it would be fast, but it ended up being a longer match...Tyler pinned him in the third period. This gave the Laville kid plenty of time to work on the injuries Tyler already had without even knowing it. I was concerned after the match when Tyler went straight to the trainer's room to get ice and re taped. Tyler said the knee had popped out again but they had taped it tighter.
Next up was the first seeded kid (Nate Coddens from Riley) who has looked solid all year so far. Snyder and Tyler talked out a plan but I think Coddens was just too strong for Tyler at this point. Tyler got teched but was glad to not give up a fall.
By this point the team knew Penn had edged ahead of Mishawaka because we had lost nearly half our wrestlers in the second round while Penn had advanced. I was very curious as to what Tyler would do. They had a team meeting and Tyler shared with us that he went to Darrick and said, "Coach, would you be so kind to coach my last high school wrestling matches today?" Snyder replied, "Absolutley, Tyler. It has been my pleasure to coach you and I appreciate you sticking it out for us." I knew Tyler was going to be done. Even though the top four advance to Individual Regionals (and he could make it), Tyler had no intention on moving ahead individually. This had been about "team" for him and it was almost over. He did, however, want to go out on a good note so he had planned to wrestle lights out his last two matches.
Edar Gallegos from Adams was his next match and Tyler won this match to go on to wrestle for 3rd or 4th place. This meant he could advance to Individual Regionals next Saturday.
His match was against Zach Johnson from Clay...the kid who actually was wrestling Tyler when his knee got hurt and had to injury default. It was touching to see Tyler walk to the corner with Coach Snyder one last time. This time he had his dad with him to film and "Millhouse" along with Coach to be there and watch him in his last match of his career. Tyler won 3-0 placing 3rd in Sectionals.
We are so proud of him for sticking this thing out. For wrestling all these years even being hurt so much! And Coach Snyder. What an awesome guy. We will forever be grateful for his confidence he has instilled in our boys. He took the time to work with Tyler after he broke his leg (going into the 9th grade) - to beat the fright of getting back on the mat. And this was before we even were enrolled at Mishawaka. Coach Snyder's love of the boys who love the sport has shown through by his time he puts in. We will forever love this coaching staff...Coach Darrick Snyder, Coach Fabian Chavez, Coach Mike Strycker, Coach Mike Lehman...these men make a difference. Great coaches.
I can honestly say we have a great bunch of boys this year. Watching Penn win this year was hard for us because we knew the potential we had if all our boys were healthy. It definitely would have been different. But these boys didn't cry about it and we didn't make it publicly known...we worked harder and tried different techniques to work around the injuries as best we could. We have a young team that only looks to be tougher next year...much to accomplish and they will. I know they will.
But for now...our high school wrestling is over and it is sad. The brotherhood...the bonds...the families. Will all be missed. Proud of Tyler today. You have been a REAL class act. What a way to go out...at Mishawaka...with his dad, Millhouse and Coach Snyder beside him...under the lights....a win :)
