Chapter 14

Dumphries drove into the high school parking lot and pulled into a space near the idling bus. Wrestlers were still emerging from nearby cars and walking towards the bus so they knew they weren’t late. Zach had his hands on his gym bag even before the car stopped moving so he would be ready for a quick exit.

“I want to get on the bus real quick,” he explained to Dumphries as he reached to open the car door. “I don’t want to parade through the bus looking like this. Once I sit down maybe I can clean myself up.”

“Okay,” Dumphries said as Zach left the car. He added “good luck,” but the car door slammed shut as he was saying it. Zach gave Dumphries a ‘thumbs-up’ before walking away. When he stepped onto the sidewalk he saw Coach Crisfield walking from the building toward the bus. He was talking with one of the team managers but Zach was pretty sure Crisfield was close enough to get a good look.

Bob Mendez appeared from the other direction at the bus door at the same time Zach did. Zach darted up the steps ahead of him, trying get out of Crisfield’s view. “What happened to you?” Mendez asked after following Zach into the aisle. “You look like you just got out of combat or something.”

“Must have been a wild party,” Easton said when he saw Zach from his customary seat in the front row. Zach burned with anger because he didn’t need any extra attention, but he looked down and kept moving.

“Holy cow,” Glen Elg said as Zach passed by. “What happened to you?” Zach didn’t stop until he found an empty seat near the back to flop into. Even before he unzipped his gym bag, Tim Betterton poked his head over the back of the seat. “You look pretty bad, Zach. What’s up?”

“Our car broke down, alright?” Zach said. “Give me a break. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“I can’t think of anything you don’t smell like,” Betterton said.

“I’ll be okay,” Zach said as he pulled his sweats from the bag. “Are you going to watch me change or what?”

“Nothing I haven’t seen before, Bro,” Betterton said. “Seriously, are you alright?”

Zach looked at him for a second without saying anything before turning to unlace his boots. He considered Betterton a friend but there was no use explaining what had happened. Neither he nor anybody else on that bus would understand.

Betterton figured out that he wasn’t going to get any more answers so he returned to his seat. Zach busied himself with getting cleaned up. Ignoring the snickers of the few wrestlers who knew what he was doing, Zach finished changing out of his filthy clothes and into fresh sweats. His feet looked as bad as they felt. There were blisters on both, and the top of his left foot was bleeding. He steeled himself for the pain and popped each of the blisters, wiping the clear fluid onto his sweat pants. That looks much better, he thought with relief as he gently put his sneakers on. Just then he saw Coach Crisfield walking towards the back of the bus. “Here comes the coach,” Zach said after turning to Betterton. “How do I look?”

“Beautiful,” Betterton said. “But you might want to wipe that grease off your forehead.”

Zach spat on his hand and wiped at his forehead. When Crisfield stopped in the aisle Zach had no idea what his face looked like. “You already changed clothes?” Crisfield asked. “You’re good, I’ll give you that.” He motioned for Zach to slide towards the window and then sat down.

“Zach, what’s going on?” he asked. “You look like you just got in from Woodstock. Are you okay? Can you wrestle?”

“I’m fine, Coach,” Zach said as he nodded his head.

“That’s it?” Crisfield asked. “That’s all you have to say?”

Ordinarily Zach would have lied, exaggerated or done whatever he needed to fend his coach off. This he time he knew not to. He was too tired to pull it off and he didn’t feel like Crisfield would buy it.

“Our car broke down last night,” he said. His voice was unexpectedly hoarse. “The plan was to get home early enough to get some sleep.”

“You didn’t get to bed at all?” Crisfield asked.

“No, Coach,” Zach said. “We pretty much got back just in time to catch this ride.”

“Sweet Jesus,” Crisfield said. “How on earth did you think you could stay out all night partying and then wrestle in the morning? Or maybe you just don’t care.”

“It wasn’t supposed to go this way,” Zach said. “The car broke down. And I wasn’t partying. I gave that up.”

Crisfield looked at Zach for a moment. “I believe you. Otherwise I’d stop the bus and throw you out the door. Did this have something to do with that band?”

“Yeah,” Zach said. “But I wasn’t supposed to be out so late,” he quickly added.

“I figured it was,” Crisfield said. “What do you mean ‘so late’? What you really mean is ‘all night.’”

“I’m sorry,” Zach said. “I really tried. I was thinking about the team and the match the whole time. I know I let everybody down.”

“Maybe this match doesn’t mean much to you,” Crisfield said. “But maybe it means a lot to your teammates, and to me. South Beach is in the Star Ledger Top Twenty, and they’re right in the mix for winning the Coast Conference. We really have a shot at them if everything goes right. I’ve never had a team in the Top Twenty.”

“I want to win it too,” Zach said. “It wasn’t supposed to work out this way.”

“I’ve had it with your band,” Crisfield said. “Remember when you asked me why I’m singling you out? This is why.”

“Got it, Coach,” Zach said.

“Darn right you got it,” Crisfield snapped. “This is it. I don’t have a choice for today. I have to let you wrestle. I won’t penalize the rest of the team for your nonsense. But after today, you choose between this team and that band. You’ve shown me you can’t do both. Now that you’re on varsity I need a total commitment.” He got up and walked back to the front of the bus, which was already chugging north on the new Jersey Turnpike. That was fine with Zach. He was just upset as his coach was and there was nothing left to say.

~~~

“The place is packed,” Kevin Salisbury yelled to the rest of the team, which was lined up behind him and Mark Easton at the gym door. “Don’t get spooked, guys. Just ignore them.” When the team ran into the gym and onto the mat for warm-ups Zach saw the crowd for himself. The bleachers were completely full, including some of the aisles. Coach Crisfield had told them to expect that. Immediately after they wrestled Chapel Forge at ten-thirty, South Beach was taking on bitter rival Sandy Hook in an important Coastal Conference match.

The match started out well for Chapel Forge, with a victory at 103. That quieted the crowd, but after the home team won the next three matches, including two by pin, the South Beach fans got louder than ever. Going into the 130 pound match South Beach held a 15-3 lead, and prospects for victory looked good for them.

Chapel Forge came up with a narrow victory by decision at 130. At 135 Tim Betterton won easily. He skillfully tacked on two takedowns late in the third period to upgrade his win to a major decision, earning a fourth team point. That tightened the team score to 15-10. South Beach responded with victories at 140 and 145, widening the lead to 21-10. The loss at 145 was painful for Coach Crisfield, who had to watch as Dan Frederick gave up a 3-2 lead when he was reversed in the final seconds.

When Louis Deahle went out on the mat to wrestle the 152 pound match Zach got up and walked behind the match. He was stiff and tired, and thought he could use the extra time stretching out and warming up. When he got there he saw Easton, who was sitting on the warm-up mat reaching for his toes. This wasn’t the time for bickering. Zach plopped down across the mat from Easton without a word, hoping Easton would go along with the truce.

“If Louis wins we can still win this match,” Easton said. “You and I both have to win, though. Our heavies are just as good as theirs, but we have to catch up before we get there.”

Zach nodded, trying not to look surprised that Easton was being so civil. “I’m ready,” Zach said. “What do you know about the guy I’m wrestling?”

“Nothing,” Easton said. “But that’s probably good. You’re not getting a two-time state champ or anything.”

“Yeah,” Zach said. “What about your guy?”

“Same thing,” Easton said. “I’ve never heard of him.”

“Maybe we can do it,” Zach said.

“If you’re not too tired,” Easton shot back.

“I’m fine,” Zach said. “It’s only six minutes.”

“Tell me that after you walk off the mat,” Easton said. “Look out for the switch when you’re on top. This team always goes for the switch. If he goes for it, do a limp-arm if you can’t step over it. Do you know a limp-arm?”

“No,” Zach admitted.

Easton crawled over to Zach. “Get in referee’s position and hit a switch,” he ordered Zach. “But stop after you sit through.” Zach did as Easton had said.

“Okay, now, you’ve still got your arm around my waist, right?” Easton asked. “It isn’t doing you any good anymore. But it’s helping me. I’m using it for leverage, right? That’s how I’ll swing behind you. All you have to do is let go, and turn your arm the other way so I can’t use it to swing around on.”

Zach tried it. It was hard to tell if it worked or not. “Like that?” he asked.

“Yup,” Easton said. “It doesn’t look like much but it works. If you can do it in time he’ll have to bail on his switch. Just try stepping over again, or if you have to, let him escape.” Zach noticed over Easton’s shoulder that Coach Crisfield was looking back from the bench at them. He nodded when he saw that Zach was looking back.

The 152 pound match had progressed to the second period at that point, so Easton got up and began removing his warm-ups. Zach stayed on the floor where he resumed stretching. When it was almost time for Easton to wrestle Zach stood up and walked over to him. “Do it, man,” he said. “Then I will.” Easton nodded as he snapped his headgear into place. Deahle had won a close match at 152, making the team score 21-13. The dual meet was turning out to be closer than anybody had expected.

Zach kept an eye on Easton’s match while he prepared for his own. It didn’t look like Easton was going to have much trouble. He nearly pinned his opponent in the first period, and ended the second period with an 8-1 lead. Coach Hancock came back to see Zach as the third period began. “Go get him at the whistle, Zach, do you hear me?” he said. “We’re still in this thing. Don’t go out there and wrestle tired. You can rest after the match.”

“I don’t feel tired,” Zach said.

“Good,” Hancock said. He looked like he wanted to say more but they were interrupted by the slap of the referee’s hand on the mat. They looked up in time to see Easton stand up and pump a fist through the air celebrating his pin. With the team score now at 21-19, Chapel Forge was within striking distance going into Zach’s match at 171.

When Zach walked onto the mat he knew he should be tired but all he could feel was the nervous excitement of competition. For the first half of the initial period he and his opponent, Rob Dade, circled each other looking for an opening. Then Dade reached for a tie up and appeared to be looking for a headlock. “Get out of there Zach!” shouted Crisfield. Zach tried but couldn’t. If this guy’s a headlock freak, somebody should have told me earlier, he thought. Sure enough, Dade tightened his grip and threw the headlock. Zach felt himself roll onto his back. The referee started counting back points. Zach’s movement across his back had slowed but didn’t completely stop. He sensed that Dade had gone too hard, and was able to continue rolling through onto his stomach. It had been a quick count, Zach thought, but the referee awarded two back points to Dade to go along with the two for the takedown. The first period ended with Zach on the short end of a 4-0 score.

Zach was on top for the second period. Dade stood up when the whistle blew and immediately pivoted in an attempted standing switch. Instead of fighting it off Zach chose to let Dade escape. Then he shot immediately and swept up one of Dade’s legs. Dade had no choice but to turn away and fall to the mat as Zach lifted the leg higher and higher. That cut the deficit to 5-2.

As the two continued to battle on the mat Zach heard Easton yelling “Watch the switch!” from the bench. Dade instead tried another standup. Zach held tight at his waist and pulled him back down to the mat. Then Dade did go to the switch. Just when it seemed that he would slip behind for two Zach tried the limp-arm counter that Easton had shown him. It stopped Dade right where he was, in a sitting position, because Zach’s arm no longer provided any leverage for whipping behind. Seeing an opportunity, Zach lunged at Dade. He over hooked the close arm and under hooked the far arm, then drove Dade onto his back. Zach was able to hold Dade down long enough for three back points, tying the match up at 5 apiece.

Seconds later Dade had worked off his back and into the base position. Zach wasn’t surprised that he went to the switch again, but wasn’t able to stop it this time. When the period ended Zach still trailed, but only by 7-5.

Between periods Zach was breathing hard. After walking as slowly as he could back to the center of the mat, trying to gain as many extra breaths as possible, he settled into the bottom position. “Up and out, Zach,” Crisfield called. “You’ve got to get out!”

Before Zach could do anything Dade grabbed his ankle and drove him to his stomach. Next he put in a simple half nelson and came out to the side. Zach fought hard but Dade slowly turned him onto his back. Zach never felt he was in danger of being pinned but he panicked when he heard the referee start counting off. Like he had in the first period, he suddenly rolled hard across his own back and back to his stomach. Dade was awarded two more back points but Zach was relieved, knowing it could have been worse.

He looked at the clock and saw that there were fifty seconds left. By then he was gassed, but he could tell Dade was tired too. Aware that he was down by four points, he moved quickly up to his hands and knees and took Dade’s wrist. He sat out and turned in, looking for a Peterson roll that could earn him four or five points. It wasn’t there. Knowing what Zach was looking for, Dade decided to play it safe and let Zach go, surrendering one point. With thirty seconds left Zach was behind 9-6.

Dade took his time moving back to the center of the mat, trying to run off as many seconds as possible. Zach decided to go for the takedown he had always felt most comfortable with, the fireman’s carry. He faked a tie up but kept Dade’s arm. Wondering if there was enough time left, he lowered his level and threw his other arm into Dade’s crotch. So far, so good, he thought. He followed through, pulling Dade down to the mat on his side. The noise level in the gym escalated drastically when the referee awarded a takedown that cut Dade’s lead to 9-8.

Zach could see that Dade was in a vulnerable position lying on his side. Retaining the arm, he quickly moved up and converted his grip into an arm bar. The hold Zach had in place felt dangerously loose but there wasn’t enough time to make everything perfect. He was vaguely aware of the roar of the crowd exhorting their wrestler to hold on. “Run it! Run it!” yelled Crisfield and everybody else on the Chapel Forge bench. Zach came out the side and drove across as hard as he could. He could feel his wrestling shoes digging into South Beach’s spongy mat. Dade fought hard but couldn’t stop himself from being cranked onto his back. Zach heard the referee counting. “One,” he barked. After what seemed like far longer than a second had passed he heard “Two”. He heard “Three,” a split second before the buzzer sounded. As Zach yanked his arm out and stood up the referee signaled for two back points. He had been behind for the entire match but had come back to beat Dade by a score of 10-9. That put Chapel Forge in the lead by a slim 22-21 margin.

Zach threw his fists in the air. When he looked at his teammates they were all clapping and celebrating wildly. He shook hands with Dade and walked back to the bench, stumbling on the edge of the mat, which had curled up off the floor. “That’s the way Zach!” Crisfield said loudly before turning to coach the 189 pound match. For the next thirty seconds Zach was backslapped, hugged and high-fived. He knew instantly that it was one of the greatest moments of his life.

Two of the remaining Chapel Forge wrestlers won, and when the dual meet was over Chapel Forge had upset South Beach by a score of 28-24. Zach knew his coach was still disappointed in him, but at least he hadn’t let the team down. He felt good about what had happened between him and Easton, too. Maybe the other wrestlers would stop treating him like an outsider, he thought. Even after Easton yelled “How about that Burnout!” in front of everybody in the locker room, Zach found a way to keep feeling good about how it had turned out.

~~~

On the ride home Crisfield found Zach, who was sitting alone staring out the window. The fatigue had finally caught up to him. “Zach, that was a smart match. I know how tired you must have been but you found a way. I’m proud of what you did.”

His coach had made all sound so simple, and Zach wasn’t in any mood to complicate things. “Thanks Coach. There’s no way I was going to let the team down, especially after I screwed up so bad.”

“I meant what I said before, Zach,” Crisfield said. “You have to make a choice. I’m sorry to lean on you but I’ve got to do what’s right for the team.”

“I’ll figure something out,” Zach said.

“Zach, the band will always be there,” Crisfield said. “But this is the only time you’ll ever get to be a high school wrestler. You’ve got the potential to be a darn good one. I really hope you decide to stay with us.” He smacked Zach on the thigh and stood up. “I’d really like to talk with your mom and dad about it.”

“My dad?” Zach spat back. “You want to talk to my dad?” The bliss of victory was now completely gone. “I haven’t seen him in years. Good luck finding him.”

Crisfield looked startled. “Oh,” he said. “I apologize, Zach. I should have known that.”

“You’re welcome to talk with my mom,” Zach said. “I’m sure she’d love the company.”

“Okay Zach,” Crisfield said. “Nice job out there today. Maybe we’ll be ranked after this one, huh?” he said with a smile before walking back to whatever seat he’d come from. Zach watched the scenery for about another minute before he fell asleep.