((Raymond Dawson continued from Flaws))
Ray sometimes felt like he didn't even know school existed, that he flew on autopilot through the whole thing and that his life didn't start till he was back home, or in the gym like he was now. Damned if he remembered anything school-related, just enough apparently to grade high enough to keep his ma and stepdad happy.
Ray had skipped lunch to come to the gym. He wasn't hungry, and he felt like doing something productive. To Ray, 'something productive' was either tending to his sister or tending to his wrestling, one of the few things he did because he liked it.
He left the changing room clad in his favorite pair of black athletic shorts and white tank top, his wrestling shoes squeaking lightly on the gym floor. He headed over to where some of the mats were, grabbed one, and slid it out a little ways away from the wall.
Ray didn't have a plan in mind, just figured a little visualization and what the Bayview coach called "shadow grappling" would kill his lunch hour. He was alone for right now, not that he knew if other people came in like he did to knock off the break period.
Ray stepped onto the mat, bouncing for a second as he made sure his breathing was relaxed. In through the nose, out through the mouth. He pictured an opponent in front of him, posture low, ready to sprawl at a moment's notice.
He feinted, throwing his palm up as if pushing on his opponent's head, changed levels, and shot.
He pushed his lead knee to the ground, penetrating between and through his invisible opponent's hips. His hands shot up to knee level, miming sucking his opponent's legs into his chest. Ray imagined his foe's surprise as he stepped up on his outside leg, pretending to drive his head into his opponent's side and turning the corner to finish what would have been a hard double.
Ray stood back up, bounced for a second, exhaling, preparing to do it again. The whole action had taken 10 or 20 seconds. He had plenty of time, all the time in the world.
Relaxed, Ray shot again.
Wrestling with the clock
Open thread
((Stacy Hart, continued from Looking for Company))
Stacy loved wrestling. She was one of those rare girls on the varsity team. Most wrestlers looked at girls like they were seeing a magic show. Girls were loved for a few reasons; they filled weight classes that were a generally a little hard to find guys for, they generally worked harder to prove that they deserved their spot on the team, and...they were girls, what's not to love?
She'd originally slid into the gym to run for a little while. She'd had an apple, just to give her a little bit of energy. They'd had a few meetings at the beginning of the season on nutrition. The MSHSL had been looking more closely at athletic programs and was concerned with wrestling in particular after it came to their attention that some athletes had been dehydrating or starving themselves to make weight. So Stacy was good about making sure to eat well and nearly always carried a full water bottle with her. She'd managed to stay at a nearly constant 117 all year doing that. She used to fill the 112 slot, but she'd put on a bit of muscle and had to jump up a weight class. She dropped her shoulder bag in the bleachers and watched the boy practice shots for about a minute before shedding her hoodie and starting to run. If he weren't about 50 pounds heavier than her she might offer to practice with him, but the strength that came with the weight advantage would make it pretty one-sided. She was probably a little faster than he was, but that could only compensate for so much; when you didn't have the strength, you just didn't have it.
She looked up at the clock. She had half an hour. Plenty of time to get a few laps in. Didn't make her any faster on the mat, but it did help build endurance. Being able to outlast your opponent was always a good thing.
That's right Stacy...keep training hard and you'll be the champ this year...
Stacy loved wrestling. She was one of those rare girls on the varsity team. Most wrestlers looked at girls like they were seeing a magic show. Girls were loved for a few reasons; they filled weight classes that were a generally a little hard to find guys for, they generally worked harder to prove that they deserved their spot on the team, and...they were girls, what's not to love?
She'd originally slid into the gym to run for a little while. She'd had an apple, just to give her a little bit of energy. They'd had a few meetings at the beginning of the season on nutrition. The MSHSL had been looking more closely at athletic programs and was concerned with wrestling in particular after it came to their attention that some athletes had been dehydrating or starving themselves to make weight. So Stacy was good about making sure to eat well and nearly always carried a full water bottle with her. She'd managed to stay at a nearly constant 117 all year doing that. She used to fill the 112 slot, but she'd put on a bit of muscle and had to jump up a weight class. She dropped her shoulder bag in the bleachers and watched the boy practice shots for about a minute before shedding her hoodie and starting to run. If he weren't about 50 pounds heavier than her she might offer to practice with him, but the strength that came with the weight advantage would make it pretty one-sided. She was probably a little faster than he was, but that could only compensate for so much; when you didn't have the strength, you just didn't have it.
She looked up at the clock. She had half an hour. Plenty of time to get a few laps in. Didn't make her any faster on the mat, but it did help build endurance. Being able to outlast your opponent was always a good thing.
That's right Stacy...keep training hard and you'll be the champ this year...
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Ray had moved on to miming takedowns from the clinch now, and he almost didn't notice the girl come in as he worked. His back had been to her when he came in, and when he had finished practicing shrugging off an opponent's collar tie to drop for a single, he saw her out of the corner of his eye.
He stopped for a second, and noticed it as Stacy Hart, one of the only female wrestlers at Bayview. He never really trained with her because he was a couple weight classes above (granted he was still small walking around at 165), but he remembered admiring how fast she was on the mat. He always had great respect for any girl that grappled, as he could count on one hand the amount of them that were actually on one of his wrestling teams.
He went back to work for a minute, dropping again and pretending to grab and secure a high crotch. Every time he went for this, he wished he was allowed to go for throws of grand amplitude. There'd be one or two times during meets where he was sure he could dump his opponent and win a full match, if only scholastic wrestling allowed it.
He looked over at Stacy again. It looked like she about to start running. Sounded like a good idea, but Ray wasn't sure if he wanted to work his cardio today. Still, he gave her a greeting nod. He turned back to his imaginary opponent, then stopped again. It'd be nice to have a partner to work with, whether or not he outweighed them by over 30 pounds.
Ray looked back over to Stacy. "Gimme a hand?"
He stopped for a second, and noticed it as Stacy Hart, one of the only female wrestlers at Bayview. He never really trained with her because he was a couple weight classes above (granted he was still small walking around at 165), but he remembered admiring how fast she was on the mat. He always had great respect for any girl that grappled, as he could count on one hand the amount of them that were actually on one of his wrestling teams.
He went back to work for a minute, dropping again and pretending to grab and secure a high crotch. Every time he went for this, he wished he was allowed to go for throws of grand amplitude. There'd be one or two times during meets where he was sure he could dump his opponent and win a full match, if only scholastic wrestling allowed it.
He looked over at Stacy again. It looked like she about to start running. Sounded like a good idea, but Ray wasn't sure if he wanted to work his cardio today. Still, he gave her a greeting nod. He turned back to his imaginary opponent, then stopped again. It'd be nice to have a partner to work with, whether or not he outweighed them by over 30 pounds.
Ray looked back over to Stacy. "Gimme a hand?"
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((Kevin Harding continued from The Calm))
Walking and reading was not the best way to enjoy a book, but it was the only choice that came to mind as he slowly flipped through The Art of War. His attention had been captured by it, nearly causing a few accidents as he came close to bumping into walls or students that thought he'd step aside for them. Eventually, he walked into the gym wing, only looking up when he came close to smashing his face into a locker. That would have been embarassing if he wasn't more annoyed by the incident interrupting his trancelike state.
With a sigh, he closed the book. He wasn't really in the mood for reading anymore. Maybe sitting down and watching people go about their business could keep him free from the chains of boredom. If not, then it'd be easier for him to take a nap afterwards. He opened the gym door, seeing two people in the room. Kevin knew that they were wrestlers, but he only had a faint idea of what their names were. He looked down at his clothes. He was out of place here, but it didn't really matter. He was just there to observe.
He stepped into the gym, walking towards the bleachers at a steady pace. As he walked, he had to keep thoughts of jumping in and participating out of his head. If he didn't, things would probably get out of hand.
Walking and reading was not the best way to enjoy a book, but it was the only choice that came to mind as he slowly flipped through The Art of War. His attention had been captured by it, nearly causing a few accidents as he came close to bumping into walls or students that thought he'd step aside for them. Eventually, he walked into the gym wing, only looking up when he came close to smashing his face into a locker. That would have been embarassing if he wasn't more annoyed by the incident interrupting his trancelike state.
With a sigh, he closed the book. He wasn't really in the mood for reading anymore. Maybe sitting down and watching people go about their business could keep him free from the chains of boredom. If not, then it'd be easier for him to take a nap afterwards. He opened the gym door, seeing two people in the room. Kevin knew that they were wrestlers, but he only had a faint idea of what their names were. He looked down at his clothes. He was out of place here, but it didn't really matter. He was just there to observe.
He stepped into the gym, walking towards the bleachers at a steady pace. As he walked, he had to keep thoughts of jumping in and participating out of his head. If he didn't, things would probably get out of hand.
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She had just barely caught what he said. When she was running she didn't notice things sometimes. Once she registered what he said she jogged over to him. She had planned on just running, but since he'd asked she felt a little obligated. It would be good practice. She was already dressed somewhat appropriately. She had Advanced PE after lunch so she'd changed into her wrestling warm-ups. All she was missing were her wrestling shoes. Since she hadn't planned on hitting the mat she was just wearing a pair of Chucks done in school colors. She smiled a little at Ray.
"Sure I could use the practice. Wanna keep running take downs or did you have something else in mind?" Stacy could go with just about anything. As long as he didn't want to run power moves, Stacy would be able to keep up pretty well. 119's were made for speed and technique. Power moves were something that they weren't so good at resisting or throwing ordinarily, that's why a little strength training went a long way at that weight class.
"I'm ready when you are Ray."
((Sorry about the delay, exam time you know))
"Sure I could use the practice. Wanna keep running take downs or did you have something else in mind?" Stacy could go with just about anything. As long as he didn't want to run power moves, Stacy would be able to keep up pretty well. 119's were made for speed and technique. Power moves were something that they weren't so good at resisting or throwing ordinarily, that's why a little strength training went a long way at that weight class.
"I'm ready when you are Ray."
((Sorry about the delay, exam time you know))
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Ray rubbed the back of his neck as Stacy jogged over. He couldn't just work takedowns on her, at least not straight. If he did, all he'd be learning was how it felt to use muscle to compensate for a lack of technique. Unless she could tell him when he was fucking up.
"Yeah, takedowns. Just resist, defend, stuff me. If at any time it feels like I'm trying to muscle you instead of use the technique, tell me and I'll stop." He'd watched her a few times before, figured she had good defense. The little guys were always good at not getting caught.
Ray shook his hands out and opened and closed his fingers a few times real quick to loosen them up, and dropped low, his hips primed.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yeah, takedowns. Just resist, defend, stuff me. If at any time it feels like I'm trying to muscle you instead of use the technique, tell me and I'll stop." He'd watched her a few times before, figured she had good defense. The little guys were always good at not getting caught.
Ray shook his hands out and opened and closed his fingers a few times real quick to loosen them up, and dropped low, his hips primed.
"Alright, let's go."
She grinned and nodded. "Alright, you gotta catch me before you get to use those muscles on me." She stretched her arms and legs before assuming the neutral position. Right now she'd work on not getting caught by his attempts, and then she could work on sprawling and attempting to break his takedowns. She had a little bit of muscle, so she wasn't totally useless against a bigger guy.
Stacy shifted her weight back and forth, watching his body to see what he would do first. She would be ready for whatever he threw at her. She'd wrestled enough matches to know just about everything that might be used on her. Guys her weight liked the legs, the heavier ones liked upper body. The mid-weights liked to switch it up, so she was never quite sure what they might do; she just had to keep watching them. The only question on her mind right now though was: what would Ray do?
Stacy shifted her weight back and forth, watching his body to see what he would do first. She would be ready for whatever he threw at her. She'd wrestled enough matches to know just about everything that might be used on her. Guys her weight liked the legs, the heavier ones liked upper body. The mid-weights liked to switch it up, so she was never quite sure what they might do; she just had to keep watching them. The only question on her mind right now though was: what would Ray do?
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(Tom Guthrie continued from The Limits of Human Endurance)
Weeellllllllll! What do we have here, huh?
Walking into the gym in his shorts and carrying his tennis gear, Tom was surprised to find that the gym already had somebody in it. Well, he didn't need the whole space, anyway, just a wall to bounce tennis balls off of. However, now he ran the risk of accidentally hitting these people out in the middle of the gym, who appeared to be wrestling with one another. A girl wrestling with a guy seemed sort of odd to Tom, but considering how much he knew about the sport, perhaps it was legal anyway. All the same, it was sort of a waste to have a boy on girl battle. Girl on girl would have been much hotter to watch.
Pulling himself back into the real world, Tom walked over to the nearest wall. After bouncing a ball off the ground a few times with his racket, he waited until it was about waist level and gave it a light lob against the wall. The ball returned, and he answered with another lob, and another, and another. As the ball careened off the wall and came back down towards him, he got a little daring, and decided to smash it. Not too surprisingly, it flew off the wall and came flying backwards, zooming between his legs and straight on towards the unfortunate wrestlers.
Oh....flip.
Watching the ball go, Tom considered that it probably wouldn't hurt either of them (seeing as it was just a tennis ball), but it could disrupt their concentration in the middle of what was essentially a game of competitive Twister. Things could get messy. As he ran after his ball, he already began making his apology speech up, in the bare hopes that by doing so, he could avoid getting sued.
(Tom Guthrie continued in Let the Dance Begin!)
Weeellllllllll! What do we have here, huh?
Walking into the gym in his shorts and carrying his tennis gear, Tom was surprised to find that the gym already had somebody in it. Well, he didn't need the whole space, anyway, just a wall to bounce tennis balls off of. However, now he ran the risk of accidentally hitting these people out in the middle of the gym, who appeared to be wrestling with one another. A girl wrestling with a guy seemed sort of odd to Tom, but considering how much he knew about the sport, perhaps it was legal anyway. All the same, it was sort of a waste to have a boy on girl battle. Girl on girl would have been much hotter to watch.
Pulling himself back into the real world, Tom walked over to the nearest wall. After bouncing a ball off the ground a few times with his racket, he waited until it was about waist level and gave it a light lob against the wall. The ball returned, and he answered with another lob, and another, and another. As the ball careened off the wall and came back down towards him, he got a little daring, and decided to smash it. Not too surprisingly, it flew off the wall and came flying backwards, zooming between his legs and straight on towards the unfortunate wrestlers.
Oh....flip.
Watching the ball go, Tom considered that it probably wouldn't hurt either of them (seeing as it was just a tennis ball), but it could disrupt their concentration in the middle of what was essentially a game of competitive Twister. Things could get messy. As he ran after his ball, he already began making his apology speech up, in the bare hopes that by doing so, he could avoid getting sued.
(Tom Guthrie continued in Let the Dance Begin!)
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ET.Requiem†
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Kevin sat down at the bleachers and watched the two prepare to wrestle. It was interesting to watch, although the sight of the two made him a bit jealous. He didn't have any formal training at all. The amateurish way he fought was embarassing to him. Although it worked against the type of people he usually fought, facing against somebody who knew his stuff well would only result in a horrendous defeat on his part. Even if it was just for sport, the skill those two displayed was something that he didn't have.
As he subdued his impatient thoughts and kept an eye on the two wrestlers, he noticed a third person walk into his field of vision. The man was holding a tennis racket and chasing after the ball that had rolled towards them. He smiled in anticipation of the events to come.
As he subdued his impatient thoughts and kept an eye on the two wrestlers, he noticed a third person walk into his field of vision. The man was holding a tennis racket and chasing after the ball that had rolled towards them. He smiled in anticipation of the events to come.
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Ray was about to start reaching a hand out to gauge Stacy's reaction when something hit him in the ribs, not nearly hard enough to hurt, but enough to distract him for a second. He looked down, and saw he he'd been tapped by a tennis ball. He looked up and saw the owner coming towards him. He'd been so focused on Stacy he hadn't noticed the two other people that had come into the gym.
Ray bent over and picked up the tennis ball, rolling it over in his palm as he did so. He looked at it, then to the guy running over, raising his eyebrows as if to ask him if it was his. He held it out at arms length, momentarily distracted.
Ray bent over and picked up the tennis ball, rolling it over in his palm as he did so. He looked at it, then to the guy running over, raising his eyebrows as if to ask him if it was his. He held it out at arms length, momentarily distracted.
Stacy giggled quietly, realizing that she could take complete advantage of her distracted teammate. Part of her wanted to do it because it'd be hilarious, but the rest of her thought it'd be kind of mean. These two parts clashed quickly in her mind before she smirked and lurched forward for a shot. She aimed for the nearest leg to her and tried to get both hands behind his knee. If they'd been in practice she'd have waited until he was ready, because she liked to play fair...but this was too good.
She should have said something witty when she dove for him, both to warn him so he had a chance to dodge, and for the satisfaction of tossing of a cool one-liner as she attacked. Nothing came to her though, so she shot in silence, with an amused looking grin on her face.
Ray is going to hate tennis for the rest of his life.
She should have said something witty when she dove for him, both to warn him so he had a chance to dodge, and for the satisfaction of tossing of a cool one-liner as she attacked. Nothing came to her though, so she shot in silence, with an amused looking grin on her face.
Ray is going to hate tennis for the rest of his life.
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Ray was, of course distracted when Stacy took her shot. He was, of course, not entirely ready.
He was also, of course, pissed.
Oh hell, HELL no.
The tennis ball went flying out of his hands as the little female wrestler drove into him. He didn't have time to sprawl or get his hands down to check her shoulders. Anyone else who hadn't been wrestling as long as he had might have just gone down, but this was his thing.
Acting on muscle memory and instinct bred by years of repetition, Ray drove his hips forward, hoping to bump Stacy and stop her advance a little. As soon as her hands closed around his knee he was digging for the overhook to get a whizzer; he was almost too late, and he didn't get it nearly as tight as he would have liked. The hand on the opposite side started pushing on her head. Normally he'd be able to hop on his free leg and start getting his foot to the outside, but Stacy was too deep for that.
Stacy was damn fast, so fast he didn't know it would work on her, but he tried anyway, swinging the leg Stacy had grabbed for the single and tried to pull her over his center for a hip throw. If she didn't see what was going on, she was going for a ride.
Never gonna live this one down. Fucking tennis.
He was also, of course, pissed.
Oh hell, HELL no.
The tennis ball went flying out of his hands as the little female wrestler drove into him. He didn't have time to sprawl or get his hands down to check her shoulders. Anyone else who hadn't been wrestling as long as he had might have just gone down, but this was his thing.
Acting on muscle memory and instinct bred by years of repetition, Ray drove his hips forward, hoping to bump Stacy and stop her advance a little. As soon as her hands closed around his knee he was digging for the overhook to get a whizzer; he was almost too late, and he didn't get it nearly as tight as he would have liked. The hand on the opposite side started pushing on her head. Normally he'd be able to hop on his free leg and start getting his foot to the outside, but Stacy was too deep for that.
Stacy was damn fast, so fast he didn't know it would work on her, but he tried anyway, swinging the leg Stacy had grabbed for the single and tried to pull her over his center for a hip throw. If she didn't see what was going on, she was going for a ride.
Never gonna live this one down. Fucking tennis.
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ET.Requiem†
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Kevin covered his mouth with his hand, trying his best not to laugh too loudly and distract them. That tennis ball had made things so entertaining. What was going to happen now? It look like the guy was going to throw his sparring partner, although he doubted that it would work. She had shown herself to be too fast to be taken down easily.
He leaned forward in his seat, eager to see what would happen next. Would his attack succeed? Or would he be the one that would eat dirt? It was going to be something exciting to watch, and he couldn't miss out on it. Personally, he thought that the girl would see his attack and counter it.
But hey, miracles do happen. Maybe that guy could pull it off.
He leaned forward in his seat, eager to see what would happen next. Would his attack succeed? Or would he be the one that would eat dirt? It was going to be something exciting to watch, and he couldn't miss out on it. Personally, he thought that the girl would see his attack and counter it.
But hey, miracles do happen. Maybe that guy could pull it off.
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Ray almost surprised her with his reaction time. He didn't have the time to counter quite the way they were all taught to, but he did about the best that anybody could expect when somebody was that deep. It dawned her almost immediately what he was trying to do. It wasn't a move that got used on her terribly often, due to the fact that the type of boys she wrestled didn't typically have the muscle mass to attempt a move like that and expect to get anywhere. But Ray was strong. Being deprived of the privilege of thought, she started to rely on instinct, which had taught her to try to let go and slip away, hoping his force would throw him off balance.
She released the leg and pulled away hard and fast, hoping that she could pull this off.
She released the leg and pulled away hard and fast, hoping that she could pull this off.
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Ray's eyes widened. He probably should have expected Stacy would bail on the hip toss, but he'd been acting on instinct so he hadn't quite been acting coolly at the moment. If he'd had the whizzer tight that would've been all she wrote and Stacy would've gone mat-down, but she had plenty of room to slip out.
His pivot and swing gained momentum as he lost the added weight of Stacy being loaded onto his hip. Rather than try and fight it and fuck up his balance worse, Ray tucked into it and rolled out, going over his shoulder and then pushing back up to all fours and then back to his feet immediately.
He came up grinning, something he didn't do too often. Stacy was making this fun. He nodded approval at her, and dropped back into his wrestling stance, the tennis player forgotten in the heat of grappling.
His pivot and swing gained momentum as he lost the added weight of Stacy being loaded onto his hip. Rather than try and fight it and fuck up his balance worse, Ray tucked into it and rolled out, going over his shoulder and then pushing back up to all fours and then back to his feet immediately.
He came up grinning, something he didn't do too often. Stacy was making this fun. He nodded approval at her, and dropped back into his wrestling stance, the tennis player forgotten in the heat of grappling.