2-12-05

I wrestled a kid that took 1st in the Districts and Regions last year. I

lost 8-5. I had a horrible 1st period again, gave up 7 points in the 1st.

Otherwise I wrestled excellent…scoring two escapes, a takedown, and he goot

hit with stalling. I'm still disappointed with the loss. Going against

seniors makes me a little nervous.

2-15-05

We are in the State Sectionals. We are wrestling a very good team in the 1st

round, which we probably won't win. I was wrestling really good up to this

point - I shot in and came out the back door, as I shifted to take him down,

my knee popped. I finished the match wrestling basically on 1 leg and

pinned the kid with a bottom leg cradle, I thought I was done wrestling for

the season because everyone thought I tore my meniscus.

2-17-05

I went for an MRI today. They think it's an almost torn meniscus, water on

the knee, and a contusion to the patella. Things are not looking good, and

to make it worse my knee kept locking up. Sometime for hours it would stay

in the same position and I can't move it.

2-18-05

Today I went to the orthopedic for my knee. The orthopedic said that the MRI

was not correct at all. It was just a strain on the ligaments that hold the

kneecap in place, and that I should be able to return for Districts if my

knee is up to it and I can tolerate any discomfort. I was told to keep

putting ice on it and rest it for the entire weekend. On Monday I should

start light cardio on the bike. We talked to a Chiropractor we know and she

started me on these laser treatments for my knee and the surrounding areas

of my knee. She was like I can't 100% guarantee full recovery but she

thought it would be a lot better.

2-20-05

There was a party at my coach's house today. It was great. We played Madden

2005 and Fight night. Then we ate lots of food. He cooked everything

imaginable. We ate Twinkies and Tostitos with a hint of lime. They were

awesome. We got a 10-pound Crunchbar and between the 15 of us, we ate

about half of it. Then we went to the quarters and semis of the State

Sectionals. After that we went back to my coach's house and had the best

dessert, ice cream and fruit. My coach and teammates are so much fun to

hang out with we had the best time. I got home that night and my dad was

like get on the scale lets see the damage …so I did and it said 129.3…I

started out at 123.6. My dad freaked out and was like ""How do you think

you're going to lose this weight? You can't work out hard because of your

knee!" He was really upset because I can't work out like everyone else can

and loose it.

2-21-05

For the whole week I've been going for these "laser treatments" for my knee.

My friend who runs track, and gets shin splints it helps him be able to run

in the track meets. It definitely works because I started to feel better

after the 4th and 5th treatment.

2-22-05

Our whole team is getting really sick with a stomach flu. It started out

with our 125 pounder. Then our 103 pounder, and then it got to me. I left

practice feeling fine and 4 over. I got home and had a little salad, but I

couldn't finish it because my stomach wasn't feeling too good. I went to bed

and 20 minutes later I started to throw up. This went on till about 3:45 in

the morning. I threw up a grand total of 12 times. The only bright side to

this is the fact that I am 4 pounds under!!! My dad went out and got me

these Pedialyte pops and a 2.4-pound Pedialyte bottle. I was able to drink

all of that and 4 pops and I still stayed at 118. My dad kept teasing me

"there is a weight loss program for you".

2-25-05

D-Day!! I'm seeded 3rd and wrestle a kid I stuck in a dual match. My knee is

feeling great. I'm pumped and ready to go. I'm 2 under so this way I can eat

something tonight and I'll be fine for the next day's weigh-ins. Well, I

pinned the kid in the second period with a guillotine. Tomorrow, I wrestle

the kid that beat me in the dual match 8-5 and is last year's Districts and

Region champ.

3-8-05

I am just writing about 2-26-05 today. I pulled off one of the BIGGEST

upsets. I beat Schmidt 3-2. The match was 0-0 going into the second period.

He took down and I rode him out the whole period. We both got hit with

stalling once. 0-0 going into the 3rd. I take down and escape its 1-0 me. I

got hit with stalling and it was tied. I took him down with the

match-clinching take down with 30 seconds left. With 7 seconds left the ref

hits me with stalling. I won the match. It was the most amazing moments.

I've never felt this way after a wrestling match. Except for maybe winning

the Neptune Classic. It was such a good feeling. Joe Schmidt is such a

great kid he came up and was talking to me in the stands afterward. Now it

is time for Quinn of Southern. I feel like I can definitely beat him. I

wrestled Quinn amazingly. I took him down with 4 seconds left in the 1st

period. It was 2-0 me. I took down and escaped, 3-0 me. I got an amazing

bear hug on him and it was on the line but the ref didn't give me 2 even

though I had my toes in. Then 3rd period its still 3-0 me. The crowd was

going crazy. He takes down and after about 30 seconds I let him go because

I don't want to get hit with stalling. He shoots a shot and gets me over his

head and I get slammed to the mat and break both bones in my forearm. I just

remember screaming and all of the pain. I looked right at my trainer Steve

Rivera and up at my mom and Steve says "Matty sit down just sit down". I

remember the craziness in the gym and that's it. It was the most pain and

disappointment of my entire life. I was going to be a District 24 Champion.

At first I told my coach in the trainers room I am done I am never wrestling

again. Then I told Vinny Salek I was beating him, I was beating him. The

pain was so intense nothing like anything in my life. I was taken away in

an ambulance. My coach came and saw me at the hospital and that was the

best to see him there and some of my teammates. They had to cut my singlet

off of me in pieces. I was worried my coach would be upset but he was like

don't worry about it. I kept thinking in the hospital why did this happen

to me. I was really upset. The pain meds they gave me just took all of the

pain away in an IV. I had to have my arm set in the Operating room under

anesthesia and stay overnight on my birthday. But I can't tell you how

many people wished me well and were so supportive of me. Some of my

teammates and friends came by with bags of food for me. Subs, cake,

sweedish fish, cookie dough, candy, chips gatorade, etc. My moms friends

came by with stuff for ice cream sundaes and chips and cookies. One mom

made me chicken parm and shells and another brought me a banana split. That

was the only good part of what happened being able to eat anything and

everything. I said to my parents on Sunday night the reason this must have

happened is that I am a freshman and Schmidt and Quinn are seniors and it is

meant for them to go to AC. Even though I think this I am still so

disappointed because I was winning and would have had my name on the wall in

our school. People that I didn't even know kept coming up to me at

Regions. Everyone was signing my cast and wishing me a fast recovery.

Fourteen weeks is a long time of not being able to really do anything.

Eight weeks in the cast and six weeks of just therapy and being careful.

This obviously ended my freshman-wrestling season. Everyone really believed

I would have been wrestling in Atlantic City. I will be there but just to

watch. Mark Lee is the only one going from East and I wish him the best of

luck there he really deserves it. He was a great captain along with Jay. I

would like to thank the gentleman from Monmouthshore.com and Steve Rivera

for giving me the opportunity to write this journal this year. If you

haven't already guessed my name is Matt Frank. And I definitely will be

back next year.

2-2-05

We have a match today. It is against a team we should ramshackle. We are

trying to make State Sectionals; we are only 3 wins away. I am two under so

I am having breakfast and lunch. It wasn't an exciting day at school. One of

the fun things that I did though was after school, I went skateboarding with

my friends, something I haven't done in like a month and a half. I pinned

the kid in the first 25 seconds of the match with a double arm bar. Our team

shut their team out with a score of like 70-0 it was a very easy win.

2-3-05

Reports cards came out today. I did well except for Algebra, I got a D and

it sucks because normally I'm an A to B student. It is just taking me a

while to catch on. In Earth Science I went down from an A to a B. I have

always gotten A's in that class. My parents aren't extremely mad, but they

are more disappointed. I went out to my trainer for wrestling tonight and it

was a good workout.

2-4-05

Today I went to go talk to my math teacher to see if she could help me with

the Algebra. She went over my quiz with me and showed me what I did wrong,

and how it is only sign errors and that I understand the concept but am

making concentration errors. My Earth Science grade is around a 64 right now

and my parents are REALLY mad at me about that. I should have studied

instead of going out skateboarding yesterday. I guess I thought I knew it.

My mom emailed the science teacher today to find out why I went down in

science. She found out that I have a few missed homework assignments (one

of them I did but I let a friend borrow and he didn't come to school the

next day so I got a zero on that). And I have not done well on a few labs

and a test so far this marking period. So my mom called me up at school and

told me to go tell my coach that I am done and I can't wrestle anymore. I

was very upset and my coach called my mom telling her that that was not

going to help and that he would be on top of me and he would make sure that

I did all of my homework. He had a long talk with me and I am going to start

taking it seriously. I feel bad for upsetting everyone. I lost my

television, stereo, cell phone, and x-box. If I don't do my homework, they

said I cannot wrestle in districts. Tonight I spent 2 hours doing homework.

2-5-05

We wrestled two matches today. We weighed in at the 1st school then wrestled

a match. Then got back on the bus, and went to another school then wrestled

again. I pinned both kids in the 1st period. After that my dad and I went to

the Shore Conference at Southern.

Went home and did a lot more studying and homework. Study Study Study.

2-6-05

Today I did homework from the time I got up till about 2:30. I had 4

subjects of homework. Then I went to my pop-pop's surprise 65th birthday

party. He is a big fan of mine coming to almost all of my matches. It was

fun, my relatives were there and I ate. I had Buffalo Chicken wraps, sweet

potato french-fries, a slice of cake, and a lot of water with lemon.

Overall, it was a really fun day.

2-7-05

Today I started a Boating Safety Course. I don't see the point in it because

I can't get my license for another year, and I don't own a boat. Then I

stayed after with my Algebra teacher for extra help to try to help me pass

the Algebra quiz. My wrestling coach went to set up these study sessions to

make sure I don't fail. It went good and I didn't miss any of the running or

practice. I did a lot of homework, then went to watch my friend wrestle in a

team match. He was mad that he didn't technical fall the kid, he missed it

by 2 points. I'm the same exact way.

2-8-05

I need to cut down on water for today because we have a match tomorrow and

I'm about 3 ½ over. My wrestling coach checks my homework every morning now

to make sure it all gets done right. I had my Algebra quiz today and I think

I did well on it. School went by pretty fast today. Practice was fun we

played dodge ball for the first half-hour. I went to my trainer's wrestling

gym tonight and wrestled good, except for when my legs cramped up due to me

not drinking.

2-9-05

Today we have the match; it is a good hour drive. The team is pretty good,

but our coach feels we can beat them. We get up there and I weigh in, and my

dad got lost and couldn't get me my food. I was really mad at that point

because I skipped lunch and everyone else is sitting around eating all their

food and drinks. Finally, my food got there and it was bbq chicken, potatoes

and vegetables. I also ate pineapple chunks, and a Powerbar. My coach bumped

me up a weight and I major decisioned the kid. Our team won by a lot. And

the bus ride home was fun. We watched UFC on one of the kid's portable dvd

players, and ate.

2-10-05

I got back the Algebra quiz today and was disappointed. I got a 42 and what

is really sad is the fact that it wasn't the lowest score in the class. I

called my mom and told her about it and she said that I needed to be lowered

down from Honors to College Prep. I felt that people wouldn't think I was as

smart being lowered down. I then went to practice and talked to my coach

about it. He said that I need to do what I need to do. Then while everyone

was playing dodge ball against the shot put team, I went and got layered up

and went on the stair master for a good 35 minutes. I lost a total of 6 ½

pounds that practice. I then went back out to my trainer with a good hour of

homework left to do. I also met the guy who created Monmouthshore.com. He

thanked me for doing the journal. I went home, showered, then finished the

homework and went to bed.

2-11-05

I got my Boating license today; the test was very easy. I met with my

guidance counselor today about being moved down from Honors to College Prep

Algebra I. The switch was made and I replaced 2nd period Phys. Ed. with 7th

period Algebra. I had good grades this week in the rest of my classes,

receiving A's and B's. Hopefully Monday is a fresh start with Algebra. We

practiced today and it was nice and easy. We just drilled for an hour and a

half. Then I went home and showered, and skated with my friends for about 2

hours. I went back up to the high-school to check my weight, 3 tenths under.

Then worked out for a little bit with one of my coaches. I left a pound

under and drank a 16 oz. seltzer water and am going to bed; ready for my big

match tomorrow against a Senior which will yet again, determine my seeding

in Districts.

1-27-05

School is going good. I received a B in Spanish; the class I was pretty much

failing in the beginning of the year. I also got another A in World

Civilization. The other teachers didn't give out my grades. I will finally

be able to get to my trainers tonight. I haven't been there for a couple of

weeks because of make weight practices at night. We have no match on

Saturday, so now I do not have to make weight this weekend†(EATING TIME!!)

1-28-05

We found out today that we have a match on Saturday, but the good thing is

I'm going up a weight class, so I do not have to cut the 3-4 pounds it would

have been. I have been hanging out with one of my old friends from 6th grade

again. She came to watch my match the other night. She is in my gym and

she broke up with her boyfriend today. After gym she gave me a hug and a

kiss, and my wrestling coach, who is my gym teacher stared at me, and said,

"Girls ruin wrestling champions." It was really funny. I worked with one

of my coaches from the youth club tonight and he helped me with a move that

the refs keep calling potentially dangerous against me. I am going to try

this move again tomorrow.

1-29-05

Today we had two easy teams. We blew them out with only one kid loosing

twice. I pinned the first and major decisioned the second. I worked the

move twice and got back points both times. No pin though. I had to also

keep my weight down for weigh-ins for a tournament on Sunday. On the bus

ride back from the meet, I ate my lunch, a sandwich and then I ate some

doughnuts. I got home and relaxed for about an hour or so, then drove out to

my friend's house because he was taking me to the weigh-in. After I got on

the scale I went back to get dressed and my money was missing. I started

flipping out, only to find out that my friend took it from me to buy a

pretzel. I had a big fight with my parents over the way I acted when I

thought the money was gone, and feel really bad for the way things turned

out. Things got better by the end of the night.

1-30-05

We drove to the tournament today. There were 3 kids in the bracket including

me. I just wanted to forfeit the match, take 2nd, and pay my advancement fee

and go home. The director would not let me do this until the medals were

being handed out. Then after about 4 hours of waiting he moved the matches

ahead. I finally wrestled my match and took 1st and went home. I started

studying for a test that I have on Wednesday and then went to bed.

1-31-05

School went well today. I got a B+ on my English test from last week, I'm

starting out 3rd quarter really good, for a change. Practice was fun because

we changed up our conditioning by doing "rail-roads", leap frog, and

crawling around the room. I left practice being 1 pound over, so my weight

is really good for Wednesday's match.(Thanks to the 2 pound allowance)

I worked out with one of my trainers tonight for about an hour. We had a

good time we drilled, worked on shots and live wrestled for a while. He

said that it was one of the best workouts we have had in a while. I think

it is because I'm not as focused on the weight issue. I went home and did

Math homework, read 2 chapters in the book To Kill a Mockingbird for

English, and went to bed.

2-1-05

Today is the best day of my life right now. We finally have the two-pound

allowance. Now I will never really have to worry about my weight again. I

got an A on my Spanish test, so I'm starting off the 3rd marking period

really good in two classes right now. Everything with school is finally

coming around. The girl from gym and I are still flirting back and forth.

After HS practice I went to practice at a club. I had a good practice at

the gym tonight, but I was getting frustrated with myself because I was

wrestling kids that were 140 pounds. Overall a good day.

I am currently a Junior, wrestling Varsity in high school. I have been on

Varsity for the past three years and have definitely noticed an improvement

in my abilities. My freshman year I started out with a Varsity

record of 2-3 and now my junior year I’m presently 14-4 with 13

pins.

I started wrestling in the 7th grade where I won all of my matches

but 2 and I made it to the Middle School States but did not place. In 8th

grade I had the same record, also made it to the States and placed 9th/10th,

and qualified to go to the nationals but I did not attend. I'm at

a high school that has enhanced my skills and level unbelievably, if I

had not made the decsiion to go here I would never be where I am now and I am grateful

for it. My freshman year was a great success in my mind. Although my

record wasn’t much, what I had accomplished out on the mat showed that I

give 110% and never give up. And it all starts in your practice room. I

recommend to all freshmen reading this that in the practice room you should

partner up with someone who is more advanced then you. Yeah you might get

your but kicked around but it will prepare you for your following years, and

you’ll develop your skills better by wrestling someone of higher

capability. So that’s what I did and it helped me a lot.

Sophomore year was a great leap in my high school wrestling career. I had a record of 18-8

and placed 4th in districts. Over the summer I had attended the J Robinson

Technique Camp, and I recommend it highly to those who need to brush up on

their technique and for those looking to better themselves. It was an

excellent Camp. This year I had quit playing soccer and decided to focus

all my attention on wrestling. Once I get my license in March I plan to

join either Shore Thing or Edge wrestling clubs and keep myself wrestling

yearlong.

Someone once said that wrestling is 10% physical, 10% technique, and 80%

mental, and that’s the absolute truth. If your mind is not cleared of your

daily problems and you have something on your shoulders, wrestling that day

is going to be tough for you. Also during a match, if you convince yourself

that you will win the match, chances are that you will be the one getting

your hand raised at the end. During the six minutes I am out on the mat I

tell myself that I am going to win numerous amounts of times. Wrestling to

me, however, is more then just a sport. It is truly a lifestyle. It

extends beyond just your average sport. Your teammates are not just your

friends; they become somewhat of your family. I guarantee you this

atmosphere of closeness is not felt by other sports. Wrestlers push each

other to succeed not just physically but mentally as well. Whether it’s

about dieting, loosing weight, or just a pat on the back before a match, you

know that they are going through the same thing. Wrestlers sweat and bleed

together, that’s a bond that you cannot break. For me, balancing wrestling

between school, homework, band, my social life, and proper dieting is not

easy. I’m sure no one else can understand it except for you fellow

wrestlers but it definitely sucks. The only thing I ever regret about

wrestling is not starting at an earlier age. And when I was in middle

school, I didn’t do anything really to better myself and that really took a

toll on me I think. I wish I could of changed that, I would have really

been better faster and more experienced to wrestle at Varsity and not have

to wait till my Sophomore year to get completely comfortable like I did.

Cutting weight is not one of my favorite things in the world. It was never

really a problem for me until this year. It’s not that bad though I usually

only have to drop 6-8 pounds. My advice to weight cutters: wear a decent

amount of clothes for when u run at practice but when u wrestle don’t go to

heavy on the clothing otherwise you wont be able to finish the practice.

When you get home, a glass of Gatorade and a little salad with some chicken

works. Also fruits like apples and bananas are good stuff to have. Just

don’t go overboard with the eating. You can even take a jog after u eat if

u still feel heavy. However, since the two-pound allowance has gone into

effect, I have been eating like non-stop. It’s a beautiful thing.

Though the season is in full swing I have been asked to keep a weekly journal. This is my life:

1-26-05

Tonight’s match was heartbreaking. We wrestled a team that hadn’t beaten us

in over ten years. The intensity in the gym was sky high as we took the mat

to warm up. And just like at every other school we wrestled at we were

disrespected. But tonight was different. Their entire crowd booed us as we

warmed up. The first time this year that I heard the opposing crowd boo us.

And this fired me up; I was extremely pumped and angered at the same time.

The starting match was the weight class right after mine, which meant I

would have to go last and the match was going to most likely come down to

me. Well long story short it came down to the fact where the kid before me

had to pin to bring us within 3 points and then I would have to pin, tech,

or major to win the match. Well the kid got pinned which sealed the match

for them. Frustrated I went out and blew the kid away pinning him in 1:30.

I was so ticked off; I threw the kid around like a rag doll. We ended up

off the mat a few times before I put him to his back. Anyway, my favorite

part about the night was going to Chili’s after the match because I had

calmed down over the Buffalo wings.

1-27-05

Recovery from the night before, coach had decided to take it easy on us. We

were able to put the loss behind us though and started focusing for our next

match. The day went over pretty well; we had finals in school so a half-day

is always good. After practice I went over my friends house and we jammed.

I play bass and we just messed around. I did one thing however that I

should not have done. I ate about 6 slices of pizza.

1-28-05

Today was Friday; tomorrow is going to be one of my biggest matches of the

season. I was overweight and wanted to work off a few pounds, so

the 112 pounder and I ran for two hours before practice. After the run I weighed in and had lost five pounds, like I said before wear cloths when u run it works. Then during practice I had a very technical day to get me ready for tomorrow, I feel highly confident

that I will win.

1-29-05

Well turns out today that I wont be getting my chance against the kid. This

got me pretty angry considering it was a district match. I’m still in

wonder as to why I had that match taken away for me. I had been preparing

for weeks just for this one match. Well at least I got to see his wrestling

style as he tore up the other kid they put out there instead of me. And by

watching him I realized that I could beat him. In my match, I pinned

the kid in the second, once again I took out my anger out on my opponent

but that’s ok, ill get my match in the Districts. After the match we

all got together and went to Big Ed’s BBQ fo r their all-you-can-eat ribs.

Nothing is better then treating yourself after a win. And

the best part was our next match isn’t until next Saturday and the two-pound

allowance goes into effect in three days. Then after Big Ed’s… more eating,

I ate an entire pizza pie. Then my girlfriend and I went and watched my

neighbor’s band play at a bar in Rumson. Nothing comforts me better when I’

m agitated then music. Especially live music.

1-30-05

More eating, living up that two-pound allowance, today was my brother’s

birthday. Everyone knows what that means…today was the first day I ate cake

in months, thanks to the allowance.

1-31-05

Monday is always the worst day of the week, but this Monday was bad

especially. I hate my new classes with a passion. I’m not happy at all with them and

this definitely showed today at wrestling. This however scared me during

school cause I had a wrestle off today. I ended up winning anyway though

A weekly Journal of what its like to be a Shore conference wrestler:

1-21-05

1-22-05

1-24-05

I am only going to be able to eat a little bit of salad.

1-25-05