SHANE CARBO, Professional Wrestling Shooter

By Jay French

SHANE CARBO takes you along on his journey beginning with the setbacks of trying to achieve entry into the secretive fraternity-like business of pro wrestling through the early days of wrestling in small towns in the south to catching his first break and headlining, to becoming a polished main event wrestler. Along the way SHANE CARBO encounters both real life and in the ring adventures that educate and mold him. Shane takes us on the inside when it comes to pro wrestling front office and backstage politics, life in the pro wrestling territory days, opposition promoters, groupies, kayfabe traditions, beer and blood galore, balancing girl friends with demanding travel schedules, and shoot wrestling matches you’ve never imagined.

SHANE CARBO is not your traditional 1978 pro wrestler. His titled amateur wrestling background, dedication to training and to the sport of wrestling provided him with a physical appearance superior to the beer belly performers of the era. His believability both in the ring and on the mic endears him to the fans. His background and ability to shoot wrestle not only got him in the door when others failed but allowed him to compete in the toughest shoot encounters.

Welcome to Shane Carbo’s world of pro wrestling. He relishes every minute of it and so will you.

“There is nothing more exciting to a real wrestling fan than creative storylines that engage, evolve and entertain. That is my goal with this book,” Jay French explained. “I believe this first book is ideal for any wrestling fan interested in the process of getting into the wrestling biz during the famous territory era and what happened after.”

Television viewing numbers and attendance at live pro wrestling events are well below the peak of a decade ago. Those numbers continue to decline today as smart wrestling fans increasingly complain about the lack of original creative product and poorly developed story lines that fail to portray reality and too frequently fail to provide attention to detail. This Shane Carbo book is ultra relevant during these times as it delivers an original alternative for wrestling fans with well thought out matches and feuds that readers don’t see coming, and the added bonus of insight into an exciting era that might be unfamiliar to some readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jay French
• Release date: Oct 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466037496

Jay French

I became hooked on professional wrestling at a young age and began going to the weekly matches in Miami Beach Auditorium when attendance was measured in the hundreds. I watched Championship Wrestling From Florida grow steadily under the vision of Eddie Graham until it morphed into weekly sell outs across the state. During that era of nonstop upward growth I observed the product transform from simple stories and lots of punches and stomps to believable promos focused on competing and winning titles, and an in ring product that featured “wrestling” like I never saw before of after. This was the style that I tried to emulate during my career. Yes, I did wrestle professionally and loved it. I went on to promote Central States Wrestling with the legendary former NWA president Bob Geigel. The business of pro wrestling is one you can never fully escape once it hooks you. That might be one of the reasons I created SHANE CARBO, Professional Wrestling Shooter. The series of fictional books I authored about SHANE CARBO and his life in professional wrestling take you from his early days as a fan all through his career, how ever long that lasts. And that is entirely up to you the readers. Today, in addition to writing more SHANE CARBO books, I own Ultimate Cruise & Vacation in the Kansas City area with my wife Carol, and plan fabulous all-inclusive vacations for our valued clients along side our son Justin. And I still follow pro wrestling.

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SHANE CARBO

Professional Wrestling Shooter

The Debut Novel

By Jay French

Copyright 2011 Jay French

Smashwords Edition

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Copyright © 2011 by Jay French

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to recognize those who inspired or supported me through the various chapters of my life, before, during and after my pro wrestling days.

To David Betancourt and Robert Rattee for turning me on to wrestling.

To Marie Palmer, Patty Bennett, Lee Weirick and Debbie Carbine, for so many great times while I strived to get into this captivating business.

To John Trembley for being the best Best Man and sharing many Wednesday nights with me.

To Steve Kyle Lawler for being at the beginning of this ride.

To the likes of Bobby Shane, Dick Murdoch, Boris Malenko, Johnny Valentine, Wahoo McDaniel, The Funk’s, and many others who inspired me to want to be part of the wrestling business.

To Rick and Rick; the word friend does not begin to do justice to our bond. Thanks for every moment of it all.

And especially to my wife Carol and our son Justin; you two are the motivation that drove me to invest so much pride into this project. Thanks for all your love and support.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

I. THE FIRST FALL:

So You Want To Be a Professional Wrestler

II. THE SECOND FALL:

Welcome To Professional Wrestling

III. THE THIRD FALL

Alabama and the First Push

IV. FIVE MORE MINUTES

Nashville Stardom, plus Christmas Revenge

PROLOGUE

Whether violence and torture or the fulfillment of a four-year quest await only time would tell. Within four hours, eighteen year-old Shane Carbo had left life as he knew it far behind in Miami, arriving in Orlando as instructed, at the precise time and location.

Shane felt confident that his ability and will would be supremely challenged today. The small stucco building with fading white paint, gave away its age, and appeared smaller than he imagined. While not much on appearance, Shane considered it rich in tradition. He envisioned the legendary names and historic events that had graced these walls.

By name, The Orlando Sports Arena sounded like quite the facility. In reality, it was owned by the local professional wrestling promotion and hosted no non-wrestling events. It served as headquarters for this illustrious promotion, and as Shane had come to know, it was the set for, All Star Wrestling From Florida, the 60 minute television show seen throughout the state each weekend.

This was 1978 and professional wrestling was hardly mainstream entertainment. Never-the-less this eighteen year-old was hooked and had devoted the past four years of his existence to training and acquiring the required weight, appearance and credentials to somehow become a professional wrestler.

But in this era you had to prove yourself in more ways than one to even be considered for admission to this exclusive fraternity. And there was no place on earth where this was more fact than in Florida.

It has been documented that the pro wrestling promotion in Florida occasionally arranged unadvertised try outs for pro wrestling wannabe’s. The usual results of these events make for horrific folklore.

Only the strongest candidates walked out standing unassisted on their own two legs. Only the most determined of the strongest candidates dared to venture back for an encore try out. And you can wager everything you own that only the cream of the crop culled from the strongest and most determined candidates, ever – ever entered the elusive fraternity known as professional wrestling.

Shane Carbo knew all of this and had not only been warned but discouraged from participating. Yet after much sacrifice and years of devotedly training to defy the odds he willingly dared to test his skills with those of the most highly trained shoot wrestlers in the business. These professionals were trained, instructed and intent to physically and psychologically destroy try out candidates in the name of respect for professional wrestling.

It was time for Shane Carbo to call on every bit of his skills as well as all the courage and determination he could muster just to walk out of here in one piece, let alone impress the powers to be enough to achieve his dream. Before he checked in to literally fight for his dream he recalled the long and demanding mountain he climbed just to allowed inside the door he was about to enter.

THE FIRST FALL

So You Want To Be a Professional Wrestler

1

The calendar for the spring of ‘78 was filling up quickly for young Shane Carbo. The Miami Coral Park High School senior was committed to winning his second consecutive state wrestling championship, a quest that would require winning a series of elimination matches at the sub-regional, regional, and finally the state tournament over the next three weekends. This was all business for Shane, a means to his final end goal. There goes March.

Two weeks later he would embark in competition to win the high school weightlifting title for the state of Florida. This was mostly pleasure, bragging rights. Cross April off.

Regardless of the current mission he would train by lifting incredible amounts of weight four nights a week at Miami Health Studio on Southwest 8th Street. And oh-by-the-way, he had better at least muddle his way through classes at school. A diploma would be nice too.

Today is like any other day at school. Wrestling practice began as usual at 4 pm sharp in the high school gym – the non air-conditioned gym. The routine has changed little over the last four months. Stretching at four, followed by calisthenics and running either in the gym or outside on the track for several minutes depending on the mood of Coach Evans. All of this before getting down to the business of wrestling.

When practice finally ends after six, there is still more running, up and down the bleachers until every last wrestler is ready to drop.

It is said that everyone has their strengths and weakness. For Coach Evans, the weakness is not having an abundance of technical wrestling knowledge. To compensate, he pushes his wrestlers to the point that they are usually in superior condition to their opponents.

Friday evening brings on the sub-regional tournament. But today is Wednesday and Wednesday means one thing to Shane, wrestling on Miami Beach. The professional wrestling circuit comes to town every Wednesday. And he would never miss the matches.

After a quick dinner at home, Shane began his Wednesday night ritual, first with a visit to Carnival Pizza Shop on Flagler Street for a large strawberry milk shake, to go. You see, Shane Carbo decided four years ago that he would become a professional wrestler. Ever since, he has been on a relentless quest to turn that dream into reality. And to accomplish this will be no easy task. Thus he was on a fanatical mission to gain weight.

As Shane left the city lights of Miami and crossed the causeway toward Miami Beach it was always as though he was leaving the world of high school regimentation and adolescent rules behind for the world he craved, the world of bright lights, a fantasy life style and unlimited potential glory – professional wrestling.

To Shane, the world of professional wrestling represented the perfect lifestyle. No early alarms for school or boring time clocks to punch. There would be plenty of time for working out and leisure time during the day. And then the evenings. Ah yes, the evenings. This is what it’s all about. When average Joe was done for the day, tired from his tedious job and stuck in front of the TV, the wrestler’s glamorous life was just beginning, stepping under the spotlight in front of thousands boisterous fans.

What could be better than this? he wondered. And soon, according to his plan, this would be his life.

Mentally, he believed he had the maturity to handle the demands. Ability wise, he had no doubts that he could be a better than average performer today. If he just had a chance to prove it.

Therein lays the problem. Who was going to give this undersized 18-year old a chance? After all, he still had a few months of high school remaining before graduation. And just look at him. Shane Carbo, at 183 pounds was a physical specimen. He appeared to be chiseled from stone, built to perfection. Athletic legs, a strong neck from hours of bridging exercises, wide shoulders, v-shaped back, a chest with seemingly perfect pectorals and picture perfect washboard abdominals.

However, he hardly defined the physical description of the typical pro wrestler in 1978. Shane looked too good, and weighed too little. And that was a source of his frustration. He knew it could take years to develop the required size. The average wrestler seemed to weigh about 230-240 pounds but 200 was the said minimum. And he wanted it today.

But Shane Carbo had a fierce inner drive. Just being at the matches motivated him. It inspired him to push harder to become a part of this; and quickly.

So off he went to the weekly wrestling card, faithfully. He used this opportunity to watch and learn. He observed every match as any good student would, learning the holds and the sequence of moves. He watched the wrestlers take their falls, and study how they reacted. He was learning this business inside out without any direct instruction.

Shane had been doing this for so long that he had a routine. He always bought his ticket a week in advance to ensure he got the perfect ringside seat. He wanted to be as close to the action as possible. His preferred section was E, which was unique. Though it was ringside, it was raised like a bleacher. The section was sandwiched between the ring and the auditorium stage. By sitting in this section, Shane had the proximity of being ringside, while enjoying the raised seating that would place him at eye level with the action in the ring. This section was also located between the two dressing room areas, good guys to the left and bad guys to his right.

Shane enjoyed over-hearing the pre-match conversation between fans. There was so much anticipation of the upcoming matches. Predictions of who would win, who would kick whose butt, and which wrestlers might bleed. Of course, these conversations would not be complete without speculation whether wrestling was real or not. Shane chuckled inside whenever he heard fans argue fiercely over wrestling, real or fake.

Shane had been making valuable contacts with many of the wrestlers, no easy task. Professional wrestlers were a protective breed. By the very nature of their business, they become brothers in a fraternity of sorts. Members of wrestling’s inner-circle are a close knit group, rarely letting outsiders in and certainly not allowing secrets to escape.

Typically, the wrestlers begin arriving at the building at least an hour before the start of the first match. They will usually not venture outside the dressing room until the first match is underway.

Once the first match has begun, and the house lights are dimmed, the wrestlers begin emerging from the dressing rooms, one by on, usually in various stages of dress, or undress. Even then they are often shielded from fans by barricades, security, curtains and police.

Only the lovely young women who make themselves available to wrestlers on a regular basis are permitted access to this area. Police and security easily recognize them, realize they pose no threat and in fact are known and welcomed by the boys.

After making acquaintances with wrestlers during the last couple of years Shane had gained access to this otherwise restricted area. He had noticed that the good guys area was seldom inhabited. As popular as they are, they can draw a huge crowd almost the instant they step into view. The security and police assigned to this area seemed over-worked and had little tolerance for the hounds of autograph seeking fans.

On the other hand, the bad guys area seemed far more accessible. Few, if any fans wanted autographs from bad guys. Police securing this area were much more lax in their attitudes. Not to mention, these wrestlers spent much more time outside their dressing rooms watching the matches.

It only seemed logical to Shane that this should be where he would begin meeting wrestlers. There was so much he needed to learn. Things like, how much do you have to weigh to start? How old do you have to be? Who does the training? When could he get trained? How much would it cost? Where would be the best place to begin wrestling? He had many questions.

Little by little, over the past three years, Shane had acquired most of the answers. Now it was simply a matter of making conversation with wrestlers he had come to know, and meeting new wrestlers as they entered the territory. Along the way Shane developed affinity for the bad guys and decided he would be one too. That style seemed more intriguing.

Most of the wrestlers knew Shane by name and he had even driven many of them to the airport after the matches. The police were usually regulars as well, never questioning his presence. Even the promoter often spoke to Shane, occasionally asking him if he was ready to get in the ring, though jokingly.

Many of the wrestlers were intrigued by Shane’s amateur wrestling accomplishments and often asked him about his matches. But it was their matches that Shane was interested in. He always inquired about any weight training they did since he was open to new ideas that would help him bulk up, and quickly.

As the wrestlers began to emerge from the dressing rooms, he made his way over to them. After the usual greetings and small talk, Shane approached Tank Grunhardt, a main event wrestler he had known longer than most. Grunhardt is a physically imposing Mississippian with a noticeable southern draw and known for his toughness. Shane presented his dilemma to Grunhardt.

Tank, I’ve got a problem. I’m having a hard time gaining weight with having wrestling practice every day and now I have tournaments, hopefully for the next three weekends if I make it to state. And then I have the weightlifting tournament. How am I ever going to gain weight?

Hell boy, it’ll happen. Grunhardt laughed. Don’t you get out of school for good soon?

Yeah, but not for three more months, Shane replied.

What are you planning to do then?

Eat, lift weights and gain as much weight as I can as fast as I can.

I can probably help you out but I want to give some motivation first. Finish what you started and win state like I know you can. Then come see me. I’ll let you in on the secret I learned back when I was a skinny shit. It will work, Grunhardt assured Shane.

Cool, Shane responded.

Cool is right, Grunhardt said. Now get your butt back to school tomorrow and win state.

I will, said Shane. I will.

2

It’s 5:45 the following morning. The radio bursts through the silence with the sounds of Led Zeppelin. Shane rolls over to turn the radio alarm off. Lying in bed on his back he opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling. Just seconds later he moves from under the covers. Standing beside his bed, clad only in a pair of red briefs, he begins to stretch.

Pulling on a pair of shorts, socks and his running shoes, he’s off. Once he closes the front door behind him he takes off through the yard and down the street at a pace somewhere between a jog and an all out sprint. Shane runs at this pace until he reaches his old junior high school, approximately one mile from home.

After he runs through the gate into the big athletic field he pauses for a few seconds and looks up toward the sky to see the earliest moments of dawn. Inhaling in a couple of deep breaths, he takes off in a full all out sprint. Shane completes six – 50 yard sprints, back to back without rest between them.

After completing six uninterrupted sprints he’s winded but continues to walk, hand on hips. He has been trained to keep walking after running, so he does so. He’s walking in circles impatiently. Because that is exactly what he is, impatient. Shane wants to catch his breath so he can get on with his regiment.

Before he regains a normal breathing pattern he lunges into the pushup position. Without delay he begins pumping out push-up after push-up. He will do as many as he possibly can without keeping count. When he can’t do another one he rolls on his back. Again without delay he begins forcing out sit-up after sit-up. He continues this exercise until he’s unable to sit-up anymore. Shane is laboring to breathe but has entered the zone. He’s on a mission and has made up his mind that nothing and no one will stop him from achieving his goals.

Shane begins to walk away, but skips into a jog after a few steps. He returns home in a steady jog until he’s about a block away before he accelerates into a full sprint. Finished, he assumes no other high school wrestler in the state has done what he did this morning and believes therefore that no future opponent can match his conditioning or determination. Another nod to his well earned confidence.

After taking a cool shower, Shane pushes a couple of pop tarts in the toaster. While the pop tarts toast, he fills a blender with two eggs including the shells, a banana, cereal, assorted fruit, two heaping table spoons of gain weight protein powder and fills the remainder of the blender with milk. After scarfing the pop tarts and guzzling the entire contents of the blender concoction he allows himself a couple loud belches. Then he’s off to school.

Shane had a special feeling as he walked down the halls at school. According to his plan, he was going to be a professional wrestler by this time next year. How many other high school kids could say that?

And how many high school kids could say they experienced what Shane did last night, a motivational-type talk with a main event wrestler like Tank Grunhardt.

Shane is aware of how many talented wrestlers compete in his weight class. But he has developed the utmost confidence that he can hold his own with anybody. However, he strives to set himself from the pack by excelling in two areas he deems irreplaceable - physical conditioning and mental fortitude.

While the tournaments proceed, Shane will push himself to the absolute peak of physical condition. He will force himself to run faster and further, drive himself to gut out more sit ups, more pushups and wrestle longer and harder each time he takes to the mat. In the end, he will have created a competitor who will refuse to allow defeat.

Shane will envision every upcoming match, from the setting to the opponent. He visualizes the match in detail. First he envisions the match going his way, and what he needs to do to accomplish victory. Then he reverses his vision. He sees the match going against him, visualizing himself making mistakes. Then he replays it in his mind and determines what he needs to do to prevent the any possibility of loosing.

By doing this, Shane believes he sees nearly every possibility played out before the match begins. To him, this reduces the number of surprise situations that can occur and prepares him for almost anything.

Friday has finally arrived and that means the first day of the two day session for the sub regional tournament. The first round of matches will take place in the afternoon, followed by a second round in the evening.

Shane is highly successful in his first round match, scoring a pin fall. Coral Park performed well overall as a team, losing only two matches. Shane was pressed a little more during the evening round by a tough opponent. He wrestles into the third period, but scored a pin fall for the victory. Coral Park suffered three more losses during the evening round.

Saturday Shane is pumped up. This is the day he has been waiting for. If he and Julio Cortez are both successful in their first match today, they will meet tonight for the championship. Cortez is the only blemish on his record this season and he gloated unabashedly after his narrow victory. No match has ever meant more to Shane.

Shane knows the importance of not overlooking his first opponent today. To prevent this from happening, and to maintain as much energy as possible for his potential showdown with Cortez, Shane devised a game plan. He intends to set up his opponent and hope he goes for the bait. Shane will purposely leave his left leg out further in front than usual hoping to bait his opponent into shooting for it. Assuming the bait is taken, Shane will let him get to the leg and nearly gain control before he goes in for his own kill and hopefully a quick pin.

As the match unfolds the plan works to near perfection. After nearly losing two points to a takedown Shane is able to cut off the leg dive attempt and work around the opponent for his own takedown. This opponent is stubborn and initially refuses to be pinned. With some second effort on his part, Shane is successful in putting him away with a pin in the first period, capturing his third consecutive victory by pin.

All that remained for Shane was having Julio Cortez win his match. Cortez was not as successful with his opponent. He struggled in a well contested match before taking the decision after going the full three periods. With the Cortez victory, the stage was set for the Julio versus Shane rematch.

As soon as Julio’s match concluded Shane rose from his seat and left the building. The two would not meet for several hours. It was going to be a long wait and Shane wanted to stay focused on Cortez. Therefore, he avoided friends and supporters, not allowing anything to distract from his match.

To Shane this had become much more than just a wrestling match. This was a personal challenge. And Shane feasted on challenges like kids feast on candy. He reminded himself how hard he worked for this match, all the sacrifices he had made. All of this would be wasted with a loss. After all, he reasoned, wrestling was his life.

He thought about the conversation he had with Tank Grunhardt. Shane wanted to enter the pro wrestling ranks as a winner – a reigning state champion. He needed to win here, today.

Shane completed his pre match magic. He was psyched to the limit. As he walked onto the mat for this revenge rematch he peered hard into Cortez’s eyes as if he was measuring his soul. Shane was determined but confident.

As the much anticipated match began, the boys circled each other cautiously, legs bent deeply to guard against a leg dive attempt, arms extended slightly. They appeared ready to pounce on one another at any second. Cortez made the first aggressive move. Shane pulled away. They continued to circle each other. This time Shane made a sweeping dive for Cortez’s legs. Cortez moved from harms way and Shane sprang back to his feet.

Both boys used cat-like quickness to prevent the other from gaining an advantage. They worked quickly, attempting one takedown maneuver after another, hoping to catch the other off guard. This match meant too much for either to make a crucial mistake, so both attacked cautiously. Subsequently neither was able to gain an advantage.

As the first period grew shorter, both competitors became more aggressive. Though it appeared that one or the other might gain an advantage, neither was willing to submit to a takedown. With time running out, they tied up in a hard tussle of collar and elbow pushing each other around to the point of being on their knees without breaking the tie up. The period ended with them locked in this position. After one period they had battled to a scoreless tie.

Shane began the second period in the on top position. He was a little stronger in the down position however. He sensed Cortez was giving it all he had. This was definitely going to be a tough match and Shane wanted to keep Cortez in the down position. He needed to keep him there if he hoped to pin him.

When the second period began Shane battled to break Cortez down into a pinning predicament. Cortez fought off these attempts and was attempting everything he knew, trying to escape. The two battled, exerting tremendous energy, fighting for pride and victory.

Finally, Cortez was able to make it to his feet, but with Shane still in control of his upper body. Both boys used their legs, but in different ways. Shane used his to try and trip Cortez, to break him back down to the mat. Cortez was pushing his butt into Shane to keep him away, while at the same time, keeping his bent legs extended as far as he could.

Unable to control Cortez’s legs, Shane found it difficult to maintain control. Shane fought to break him back down, but in the end was not able to maintain the advantage he had. Cortez was able to escape. 1–0, Cortez.

So once again, the competitors were right back where they started, on their feet in the referee’s position. There was less than a minute remaining in the period. Both appeared less cautious than they were during the opening period. Each wanted a takedown since a takedown here would turn the tide for either of them. For Shane, it would mean taking a 2–1 lead into the final period. For Cortez, it would mean a 3–0 and probably an insurmountable lead.

The clash continued until the period ended without any further scoring. Cortez maintained his 1–0 advantage. What a match this had been so far. During the short break, coaches barked instructions, teammate’s yelled encouragement, and supporters of both wrestlers hollered from the bleachers. It’s unlikely that either wrestler heard anything. Each was tuned in exclusively to their own world, their own thoughts.

It was crunch time. Who wanted it more? Who was willing to dig deep enough inside themselves to pull out whatever was required to win? There were no time outs. No substitute players to come off the bench. This was wrestling, a one on one sport. Winner takes all. Perhaps this is why so many call wrestling the king of sports.

Shane would start the final period in the bottom position. This was actually preferable to both wrestlers. For Cortez it was simple. He was starting in the control position. All he had to do was maintain that control and he would win. He didn’t need any more points. However, if he could turn this advantage position into a pin, he would win instantly.

For Shane the advantage was mental. He always felt more pressure when he was in the bottom position. Consequently, he had become exceptional at escaping or reversing this predicament. Score either one of these and he would no longer be behind. Both competitors knew what they had to do. They also knew what the other needed to do.

At the referee’s instruction to start, Shane exploded into a long sit out in front of Cortez. He decided to place the outcome of this match in the hands of his conditioning. He believed that if he sat out like a madman, non-stop, Cortez would eventually fail to keep up. But Cortez held on to the first long sit out. So Shane sat out again. Then again. He continued to sit out relentlessly.

Cortez was doing a magnificent job of keeping up with Shane, which was difficult to do. Could he keep it up? If he could, he would win. Eventually the sit outs stopped, Cortez had hung on. He felt relieved. He had weathered the storm.

But almost immediately Shane sprung hard again. First to the left, twice. Then once to the right. It didn’t work. Not to be denied, Shane executed three more, hard short sit outs to the left, making Cortez labor to keep up. Then the clincher came. One hard, long sit out to the right. Shane’s hunch had paid off. Cortez was gassed and unable to hold on for the last sit out.

Escape! One point for Shane. He had just evened the score, 1–1. Once he had escaped, Shane bounced to his feet ready to assume the referee’s position. Cortez however had yet to rise to his feet. Perhaps the plan was working even better than Shane had expected.

Shane seized the opportunity he had hoped for. With Cortez a tad slow to get up Shane shot around Cortez’s left side. Using his momentum and Cortez’s unstable balance, Shane drove Cortez back to the mat face first. Takedown. Two point for Shane and a 3 -1 lead.

While securing the takedown, Shane grapevined Cortez’s left leg. With Cortez still down on the mat, Shane began sinking a half nelson through Cortez’s left shoulder and around the left side of his neck. Continuing his efforts, he forced his right arm under Cortez’s chest and up toward the far side of Cortez’s neck. When Shane was able to lock his hands together around Cortez’s neck, the 3/4 nelson was in place. Shane pulled with everything he had bringing Cortez’s head down, tucking it into his torso toward his legs. Cortez looked like a pretzel. The referee checked Cortez’s shoulders. Seeing that both shoulder blades were firmly planted on the mat, he slapped the mat with his palm for the pin. The match was over and Shane was the winner.

Shane immediately released the hold, took a couple of steps toward the center of the mat and stopped. He raised both arms high, clinching his fists. While just staring ahead, he held this pose, savoring the moment. Occasionally he pumped his arms. Yes, Shane could now celebrate. He avenged his only defeat of the season. Tonight he was triumphant!

The two stood on either side of the referee as he held each of their wrists, as is tradition at the conclusion of each match, then he raised Shane’s hand above his head while he maintained a grip on Cortez’s wrist, which remained by his side. Upon the referee’s release, the two grapplers shook hands quickly without speaking. There wasn’t anything else to say. Cortez had said more than enough after their last meeting. For Shane, his actions tonight spoke volumes. Shane would advance, Cortez was done.

After the top three finishers had received their medals they remained on the podium for picture taking. Shane swelled with pride at this moment. He had worked incredibly hard to avenge the earlier defeat. As he stood there, he was overcome with a warm satisfied feeling of accomplishment. He thrived on the competition, and he simply loved the feeling that winning provided. There was nothing else like it in the world.

On his way out of the gym that night, Shane noticed a group of cheerleaders from Miami Senior High. Before Shane entered high school he had a choice of attending either Coral Park or Miami High based on his address. Some of his friends had gone to Miami High, and some of those he had never seen again.

One of the cheerleaders caught Shane’s attention. She seemed to be staring at him. He did a double take, thinking he recognized her he was attempting to place her. The cheerleader approached him saying, You’re Shane Carbo aren’t you? I don’t know if you remember me. I’m…

Interrupting her, Shane finished her sentence, Rene Marino. Sure I remember you. How have you been?

Rene said she had been fine. As they made small talk, Shane got the impression that Rene was a little nervous. The blushing gave her away. Shane tried to get her to talk about herself so she might relax.

What a reversal of roles, Shane thought. It was he who had a crush on her in seventh and eighth grades. He was always nervous when he was near her. She, on the other hand never gave him the time of day even though she knew he liked her. But that was kids stuff and they had gone on to different high schools.

It had been several years since they had seen one another and their present day situations were very different. It might have been easy for Shane to rekindle those fond feelings. She did look cute in her Miami High cheerleading outfit. And maybe Rene would even return his feelings now, she seemed interested. But Rene was probably looking for a steady boyfriend or even a potential husband.

Shane clearly had another agenda. He concluded their pleasant conversation by saying, I hope I see you again. Of course he had no way of knowing if or when that might ever occur.

3

For the next two weeks Shane devoted all of his thoughts and energies to winning the state wrestling title. Without deviation, he lived each day as the day before. He began his days before dawn by jogging, running sprints, doing pushups and sit-ups. After school he consumed a well thought out lunch. Before wrestling practice he ran forward and backward on the school track.

At wrestling practice Shane was all business. Sure, he was tiring of the constant and demanding up tempo wrestling practices, but he wanted to complete this