Little Monkey Goes "Big Time" Tomorrow

[Kachina26]

Took Warren quite a while to get a pool. Seemed Downey HS had one forever. Downey also had Coach Schultz, swimming and water polo. Schultz also coached the US Olympic team in those days. After Schultz came Coach Sexton. Another excellent coach. Schultz had once coached Sexton when he was in HS. In those years Downey's big competition did come from the beach area. CDM and Newport in particular.

The city of Downey had many homes with pools. My parents had our's built in 1957. My buddies and I would spend many hours in that pool. Some of them went on to swim and play water polo at Downey HS. I went on to play in a moderately successful rock band. No time for HS swimming and WP.

What band?

 

[stephenkatsea]

What band?

Scandal, not Patty Smyth’s band. They did ask if we minded if they used the name.

 

[76 Hondo]

My introduction to wrestling was sophomore year in high school, I was paired off with the guy I fought twice in the last week of ninth grade. ( after school fights)
Coach paired us off because we were about the same size, took about 1 minute before it turned into a fight no more wrestling!
Thinking about it now, don’t know why we’re fighting

 

[Willie B]

Scandal, not Patty Smyth’s band. They did ask if we minded if they used the name.

… Anything on YouTube from your band… Scandal???…

 

[stephenkatsea]

… Anything on YouTube from your band… Scandal???…

Unfortunately no. I wish there was. We began as a Surf Band in high school, called the Sierras. Played school gigs all over the So Cal area. Worked our asses off, continued to improve. We opted to go the Vegas route. Began playing there at times as teenagers. That grew to the Sands Hotel Casino LV opposite Louis Prima. Bill Medley, of the Righteous Bros, became our producer. Great guy. We were the opener for Ike & Tina, Dionne Warwick, Little Richard etc. various showrooms in Vegas, Tahoe, Reno, Dallas, Miami, NYC etc were the venues. Very good money and mostly great times, for a bunch of young guys, before I was married. Fortunately my wife, long before we were married, got to see us play at the Sands in Vegas in the main showroom., with a full orchestra playing with us. Our band broke up largely because of drugs. We had become a 7 piece horn band. We played in the genre of B,S&T, Tower of Power, Chicago, with Beach Boy harmony at times. 4 of the guys did drugs, 3 of us didn’t. We were on a US, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii tour when our band broke up. 4 guys had become drug dependent to perform at the level we were playing, 3 of us were not doing any drugs. Very difficult times for a bunch of guys in their 20’s, making good money. While in AK 3 of us opted to quit Scandal and go back to college. Mostly, really great memories. I remain in contact with some of the guys.

 

[Willie B]

Unfortunately no. I wish there was. We began as a Surf Band in high school, called the Sierras. Played school gigs all over the So Cal area. Worked our asses off, continued to improve. We opted to go the Vegas route. Began playing there at times as teenagers. That grew to the Sands Hotel Casino LV opposite Louis Prima. Bill Medley, of the Righteous Bros, became our producer. Great guy. We were the opener for Ike & Tina, Dionne Warwick, Little Richard etc. various showrooms in Vegas, Tahoe, Reno, Dallas, Miami, NYC etc were the venues. Very good money and mostly great times, for a bunch of young guys, before I was married. Fortunately my wife, long before we were married, got to see us play at the Sands in Vegas in the main showroom., with a full orchestra playing with us. Our band broke up largely because of drugs. We had become a 7 piece horn band. We played in the genre of B,S&T, Tower of Power, Chicago, with Beach Boy harmony at times. 4 of the guys did drugs, 3 of us didn’t. We were on a US, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii tour when our band broke up. 4 guys had become drug dependent to perform at the level we were playing, 3 of us were not doing any drugs. Very difficult times for a bunch of guys in their 20’s, making good money. While in AK 3 of us opted to quit Scandal and go back to college. Mostly, really great memories. I remain in contact with some of the guys.

…So basically you had a really good time till drugs got in the way… I hear ya…I was in and around the rock ‘n’ roll business in the late 60s and early 70s… saw it all did it all.., was around Ike and Tina Turner quite a bit… As my friends in a band called Southwind we’re on Blue Thumb records as well as Ike and Tina Turner…
… Funny thing about drugs and band members back in those days… of the four members of Southwind only two are still alive, and those two were the ones that did the most drugs… a lot of psychedelics… And later angel dust…yikes… so I have no answer to any of that… the drummer is now a world famous PhD… realistically, he shouldn’t have any brain cells left. or maybe angel dust breeds strong brain cells…Dunno???…lol

… Thank you for the history of your musician days… great story and something you should really be proud of

 

[monkeyswrench]

Tournament update: He pretty much got pummeled...but, he did manage to lose to both the guy who won, and number three

I guess he talked to the winner after he lost to him for a bit. A senior from some school down south. The kid is "only" 6ft...280. My son said he was wide, not real "fluffy". They talked about weight training and things to work on.

My boy said the difference between JV heavyweight and varsity is the speed. Some are stronger, but all are faster than you'd think. He did manage to also draw a match against a kid that had to cut! 300lbs is the max...and apparently the 299lb guy managed to carry my 200lb boy across the mat, slam him and then land on him

Picked him up from school at 10pm. He's still asleep, and has a hell of a cold now. So, the plague has come for the holidays.

 

[Willie B]

Tournament update: He pretty much got pummeled...but, he did manage to lose to both the guy who won, and number three

I guess he talked to the winner after he lost to him for a bit. A senior from some school down south. The kid is "only" 6ft...280. My son said he was wide, not real "fluffy". They talked about weight training and things to work on.

My boy said the difference between JV heavyweight and varsity is the speed. Some are stronger, but all are faster than you'd think. He did manage to also draw a match against a kid that had to cut! 300lbs is the max...and apparently the 299lb guy managed to carry my 200lb boy across the mat, slam him and then land on him

Picked him up from school at 10pm. He's still asleep, and has a hell of a cold now. So, the plague has come for the holidays.

… He may have gotten pummeled in competition, but he received a lifes experience that few others will ever have the courage to receive…
.., big hats off to your son…

 

[stephenkatsea]

…So basically you had a really good time till drugs got in the way… I hear ya…I was in and around the rock ‘n’ roll business in the late 60s and early 70s… saw it all did it all.., was around Ike and Tina Turner quite a bit… As my friends in a band called Southwind we’re on Blue Thumb records as well as Ike and Tina Turner…
… Funny thing about drugs and band members back in those days… of the four members of Southwind only two are still alive, and those two were the ones that did the most drugs… a lot of psychedelics… And later angel dust…yikes… so I have no answer to any of that… the drummer is now a world famous PhD… realistically, he shouldn’t have any brain cells left. or maybe angel dust breeds strong brain cells…Dunno???…lol

… Thank you for the history of your musician days… great story and something you should really be proud of

We began working with Ike & Tina a lot at the LB Cinnamon Cinder. No backstage dressing room, just a large lounge area shared by all of us. Saw Tina come in a number of times all bruised up. She used extensive body make up to hide the bruising. Undoubtedly Ike was the cause of those bruises. Fast forward a few years and we're working an extended 3 week gig at a hotel in Miami with them. We, along with their band and the Ikettes, stayed at the same extended stay motel/apartment. Spent a lot of time with them. Got to know Soko, their drummer RIP. Great guy. One day in Miami we were laying around in the sun by the pool drinking beer and Soko walked over. He said, I'm not too big on laying in the sun, but I can drink some beer. And he did, then went and bought some more. It was Soko who put together Tina's famous version/arrangement cover of Proud Mary. Tina & Ike were always fighting. One night in particular, Ike refused to go onstage. Tina and the rest did their show that night without Ike. They were outstanding, never sounded better.

FWIW - Some of our guys continued to play after our band broke up. Elvis, Ray Charles and Andrea Crouch are some of the bands they played in. Many have passed. Our keyboard guy continues to perform today.

Now that I've totally thread bombed MW's original post. Major props to his HS wrestling son. No one here will remember he got 'pummeled'. He wrestled up and did great. MW must be a very proud Dad.

 

[rivermobster]

Tournament update: He pretty much got pummeled...but, he did manage to lose to both the guy who won, and number three

I guess he talked to the winner after he lost to him for a bit. A senior from some school down south. The kid is "only" 6ft...280. My son said he was wide, not real "fluffy". They talked about weight training and things to work on.

My boy said the difference between JV heavyweight and varsity is the speed. Some are stronger, but all are faster than you'd think. He did manage to also draw a match against a kid that had to cut! 300lbs is the max...and apparently the 299lb guy managed to carry my 200lb boy across the mat, slam him and then land on him

Picked him up from school at 10pm. He's still asleep, and has a hell of a cold now. So, the plague has come for the holidays.

Congrats to him. I know he made You proud.

Now that you brought up that cold thing, I remember the Real reason my son quit wrestling...

He got ringworm on his face.

That was the last straw for him!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Well, part two:
This weekend is the Mile High Invitational. It's here locally, 45-50 schools from around the state. My boy has started to "bulk" a bit, because he'd been trying to stay near his 190 class. Well, he figured at this point he's been wrestling HW, so bulking into 215 would be ok. He's tipping the scales at 204 now.

This weekend, actually the day after Christmas, coach texted him to see if he wanted the HW position again. "Sure!". This event was 2 losses, you're out. He figured he'd be blasted today in two matches...He wrestled his first, and was about to be "tech-falled" (mercy ruled in wrestling). He wrapped and was throwing to pin, would have won, and the guy "jammed three of his sausage fingers in my mouth!"
So, lost, was pissed, but came back to his next match pumped. Last guy had technicalled him for points, but hadn't pinned him...so he was feeling good. He won the next match by points, which put him in the third match he didn't think he'd have. He won his third.

He has a minimum of one match tomorrow. Either way he's in the top 20, so he's pretty stoked. If he wins, he'll be closer to top 10.
Either way, I'm pretty damn proud. He's not backing down or letting a loss slow him down. Every match he's had in competition has been with seniors, and 1 or 2 weight classes above him.

 

[SBMech]

Go Monkey Jr Gorilla!

 

[Willie B]

Well, part two:
This weekend is the Mile High Invitational. It's here locally, 45-50 schools from around the state. My boy has started to "bulk" a bit, because he'd been trying to stay near his 190 class. Well, he figured at this point he's been wrestling HW, so bulking into 215 would be ok. He's tipping the scales at 204 now.

This weekend, actually the day after Christmas, coach texted him to see if he wanted the HW position again. "Sure!". This event was 2 losses, you're out. He figured he'd be blasted today in two matches...He wrestled his first, and was about to be "tech-falled" (mercy ruled in wrestling). He wrapped and was throwing to pin, would have won, and the guy "jammed three of his sausage fingers in my mouth!"
So, lost, was pissed, but came back to his next match pumped. Last guy had technicalled him for points, but hadn't pinned him...so he was feeling good. He won the next match by points, which put him in the third match he didn't think he'd have. He won his third.

He has a minimum of one match tomorrow. Either way he's in the top 20, so he's pretty stoked. If he wins, he'll be closer to top 10.
Either way, I'm pretty damn proud. He's not backing down or letting a loss slow him down. Every match he's had in competition has been with seniors, and 1 or 2 weight classes above him.

… Does your son know that he has a fan base of a bunch of old dudes… who may have wrestled a time or two???…

 

[4Waters]

… Does your son know that he has a fan base of a bunch of old dudes… who may have wrestled a time or two???…

I've wrestled a few girls and I always end up pinned on my back with them sitting on my fa... I may have let them win

 

[Willie B]

I've wrestled a few girls and I always end up pinned on my back with them sitting on my fa... I may have let them win

… Cowgirls were the best…

 

[HNL2LHC]

What great news Kevin. Waiting to see how he does today. Yell a bit for all of use here at RDP.

 

[monkeyswrench]

What great news Kevin. Waiting to see how he does today. Yell a bit for all of use here at RDP.

Sadly, I'm still coughing up a lung from the crap he brought home from the last tournament. I've gotten to watch video, but that's it. Thought I'd dodged a bullet, but couldn't fight it off. The way the thing is run, there's no set time for his weight class, and the arena is packed.

With everything else going on, I've had to miss a lot this year. Didn't miss any last year. The unfortunate tradeoffs that have had to be made...different chapters in the parenting playbook I must have missed.

 

[JFMFG]

Congrats to him. He will kick some ass at the next one too. Id bet better than top 10 sounds like kid has heart.

 

[rivermobster]

 

[monkeyswrench]

Congrats to him. He will kick some ass at the next one too. Id bet better than top 10 sounds like kid has heart.

He does, he just had to get his hand raised once, and now he's pushing. Not a lot of tall kids in HW, so he's learning what works, and feeling better about progress.

On a side note, he met a "midget" yesterday, a senior from Tucson area. 4'9" 158#...yoked! My son said they were discussing different moves that they have depending on the opponents. They have opposite weaknesses and strengths, but could share how their strategies could help the other defend. Pretty cool stuff.

 

[JFMFG]

He does, he just had to get his hand raised once, and now he's pushing. Not a lot of tall kids in HW, so he's learning what works, and feeling better about progress.

On a side note, he met a "midget" yesterday, a senior from Tucson area. 4'9" 158#...yoked! My son said they were discussing different moves that they have depending on the opponents. They have opposite weaknesses and strengths, but could share how their strategies could help the other defend. Pretty cool stuff.

Pretty badass. I’m sure those are some proud dad moments

 

[monkeyswrench]

Well, he lost his first match today, so it ended his weekend. I asked how it went, "Long!" He said it felt like a 30 minute battle. All around the mat, both just trying to grapple and not get pinned. Final tally was 18-20...both had multiple reversals and escapes. He was a bit bummed, but laughed when I told him he nearly got as many points in that one match as he got last year

Now, it's funny how you remember the types. The varsity quarterback is on the wrestling team. He and my son almost got into it at end of football season. He's a senior, and wrestling in 178 I think. They've had some "spirited" matches in practice. Well, today the QB won his first match, lost his second. It meant he was out for top five in his class. So, instead of going for top ten, the little dork grabbed his bag and left. He told the other wrestlers if he wasn't top five he didn't want it. The coach didn't find out until an hour after he left! That little F'r bailed on points for the team. I asked about the rest of the varsity guys, and they all stayed after being eliminated to cheer on those still in it.

 

[rrrr]

Well, he lost his first match today, so it ended his weekend. I asked how it went, "Long!" He said it felt like a 30 minute battle. All around the mat, both just trying to grapple and not get pinned. Final tally was 18-20...both had multiple reversals and escapes. He was a bit bummed, but laughed when I told him he nearly got as many points in that one match as he got last year

Now, it's funny how you remember the types. The varsity quarterback is on the wrestling team. He and my son almost got into it at end of football season. He's a senior, and wrestling in 178 I think. They've had some "spirited" matches in practice. Well, today the QB won his first match, lost his second. It meant he was out for top five in his class. So, instead of going for top ten, the little dork grabbed his bag and left. He told the other wrestlers if he wasn't top five he didn't want it. The coach didn't find out until an hour after he left! That little F'r bailed on points for the team. I asked about the rest of the varsity guys, and they all stayed after being eliminated to cheer on those still in it.

Good he kept at it. That'll win some matches.

As for the prima donna, he's learning how to be an unreliable shitbag teammate at an early age. I'm astounded by this.

If he was on any team which I participated on back in the stone age, my coaches would have ended his wrestling career that evening.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Revisiting...little monkey was at a wrestling meet today. He's currently 225lbs...one of the lightest heavyweight kids. This was an all in deal, for points by team. Like a bunch of dual meets. 4 matches, but one was a bi as they had no heavies. 2 were "fluffy", and one close to my son's build.

The last pic, he was getting a reversal by tossing a kid that had to be every bit of 280lbs. He went 3 and 0 today. He and another kid, a senior, are real close on who will get the main varsity heavy weight spot. They've been back and forth a bunch already. He had to miss today, and my son has to miss next Saturday for daughter's graduation. He's a bit bummed about that, but in good spirits about how he's doing. 3 matches and 3 pins in the second period. He's seeing some payoffs now!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Posted some in another thread. Last week was the Mile High invitational. Big event, kids from all over the southwest. This was the event my son wrestled HW last year only weighing 200 or so. This year his second match was with a beast. The HW from Sahuarita down south. This kid is the state Greco-Roman champ, and a national type...had been in Reno the week before, and the Midwest this summer. First period I think he was surprised with my son...and my son survived the period. About 30 seconds into the second, kid grabbed my boy's arm with both hands, kicked up both feet, and threw 6'4" 225lb junior mint over his head! It was F'n spectacular...even my son afterwards was impressed. So, that ended that.

The course of the week was odd. The Senior HW that my son had been wrestling against for the spot came in and practiced Monday, then quit Tuesday. Kind of sucks, my son feels bad. Then Wednesday we're wrestle-offs for HW...my son had to fend of two guys trying for his spot. Not too bad my son said.
Now, in practices, you lose, you do burpees. My son had previously told me that he has let them each win at times, because he doesn't feel it's fair. He thinks everyone should do conditioning, and them not getting a break only makes it less likely they'll win the next. He kind of has a point.
Now, come Thursday, one of the guys wanted another try. Coach was all for it. The kid asked my son if he was ok with it...once a week was the rule. When I dropped him off for school, I told him to treat it like a match with another school. Go in hard, and make it decisive. Don't let anyone, athlete or coach, second guess you as the choice for the spot.
He did, and I think that helped him for yesterday.

Yesterday was the Tiger Open.

Due to some issues at home, I couldn't make it. It was down in Litchfield area. Not as big an event as Mile High, but still a huge win for him. I'm really proud of him. He's not super aggressive, and really feels bad if others get hurt...against him or others really. He's still a "lightweight" in his group, but doing pretty good!

 

[HNL2LHC]

thanks for the updates. Always great to hear of our kid’s success. Nice job!!!

 

[rrrr]

Way cool. That first medal is a treasure.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Monkey had to be at school at 4am, tournament down south of Phoenix. So, been up since 3...got to bed around 1. Seemed a lot easier when I was younger, and there was booze involved and a miserable job to go to. Dropped him off, and drove to Cottonwood, about 50 miles away. Have an inspection at 8, but didn't want to go home and possibly wake up wife and other son.

Wrestling was odd this week. My boy is wrestling 215. He cut quite a bit over the past couple weeks, almost 10 pounds. Their 215 got thumped at the last tournament, and decided he wanted to save himself for football. (Puss lost, ego popped I think) so, they needed a replacement. I asked my son why he did it. "We don't have a JV 215 to pull up. We have 2 JV heavyweights, TJ would've had to cut 15 pounds, and it would've been really hard." TJ is a sophomore, timid, and new to the school this year. He and his mom live with his grandparents. I think it's the effect of a recent divorce. This gives him a boost, being Varsity, and getting to go to more events and getting mat time. My son can be a butthead, has some academic struggles, but he has a good heart. Him trading out his spot, is an odd thing for a father to be proud of, but I am.

Adding to the oddity of this week, yesterday's practice. Apparently records came up. My son's record isn't great. Points wise he does pretty decent, but win/loss is hovering around .500. The JV 150 decided to mouth off to my son. He bragged about his record being a freshman, and my son's record being a Junior. My son told him "Try wrestling varsity heavyweight." Well, the kid was in my son's face, and said it's no different.
"Really?" Son then gave him a "shove"...
Luckily it was on the mats. Team laughed, coach missed it.

Kid apologized to my son during practice, and my son to him. On the way home, son says "I think wrestlers are bipolar" I agreed, and said it's one of few sports you go all out physically to beat someone, and at the whistle you'll help each other to your feet, shake hands and usually laugh and talk about the match.

 

[RichL]

Monkey had to be at school at 4am, tournament down south of Phoenix. So, been up since 3...got to bed around 1. Seemed a lot easier when I was younger, and there was booze involved and a miserable job to go to. Dropped him off, and drove to Cottonwood, about 50 miles away. Have an inspection at 8, but didn't want to go home and possibly wake up wife and other son.

Wrestling was odd this week. My boy is wrestling 215. He cut quite a bit over the past couple weeks, almost 10 pounds. Their 215 got thumped at the last tournament, and decided he wanted to save himself for football. (Puss lost, ego popped I think) so, they needed a replacement. I asked my son why he did it. "We don't have a JV 215 to pull up. We have 2 JV heavyweights, TJ would've had to cut 15 pounds, and it would've been really hard." TJ is a sophomore, timid, and new to the school this year. He and his mom live with his grandparents. I think it's the effect of a recent divorce. This gives him a boost, being Varsity, and getting to go to more events and getting mat time. My son can be a butthead, has some academic struggles, but he has a good heart. Him trading out his spot, is an odd thing for a father to be proud of, but I am.

Adding to the oddity of this week, yesterday's practice. Apparently records came up. My son's record isn't great. Points wise he does pretty decent, but win/loss is hovering around .500. The JV 150 decided to mouth off to my son. He bragged about his record being a freshman, and my son's record being a Junior. My son told him "Try wrestling varsity heavyweight." Well, the kid was in my son's face, and said it's no different.
"Really?" Son then gave him a "shove"...
Luckily it was on the mats. Team laughed, coach missed it.

Kid apologized to my son during practice, and my son to him. On the way home, son says "I think wrestlers are bipolar" I agreed, and said it's one of few sports you go all out physically to beat someone, and at the whistle you'll help each other to your feet, shake hands and usually laugh and talk about the match.

Sounds like you and the Mama are raising some pretty good kids.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Sounds like you and the Mama are raising some pretty good kids.

Thank you...I hope so.