by Laura Shovan
They set up again. Coach Billy crosses his arms in an X. He wants Mickey to take neutral. She’s got to get the first shot, the first takedown, if she’s going to tie the score. Nick goes for the double leg, but he’s too high. Then they’re both on their knees, with Nick’s arms clasped behind Mickey’s hips, and his head in her belly.
“Get out of that!” Cody yells.
Mickey’s left arm pops up to break the hold. She’s got him by the shoulder. Her free hand comes across and grabs Nick’s hip.
Evan looks back at me. “Cement mixer,” he says.
She steps up and shifts her upper body so fast, Nick turns onto his butt and then on his back.
She’s already got the takedown, but Mickey’s going for a pin. The ref is on his stomach, counting. Nick slips out of the hold, but it’s too late. Mickey’s got enough back points. He’ll need more than an escape to beat her.
The final buzzer sounds. I look up. The ref raises his hand with the green cuff and touches three fingers to his shoulder. The score machine flashes: 4 to 7.
Evan, Cody, Kenna, Isaiah—we’re all jumping up and down in the stands like a bunch of kangaroos. Mickey’s grin is huge when she goes to shake hands with a red-faced Dr. Spence. Then she leans down and shakes hands with Nick’s sister too.
“I’m going to cry,” Kenna says.
“Me too,” says Cody. I think he’s joking.
Mrs. Delgado comes over to me. She has tears in her eyes. “Thank you for being such a good friend to Mikayla.” She gives me the kind of hug you only get from a mom.
When Mickey finally makes it into the stands, she faces me with her hands on her hips.
“Your idea?”
I shrug.
She wraps an arm around my shoulders and gives me a noogie. “You’re a good partner, Lev Sofer.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so.”
* * *
Mickey ends up winning fourth place, good enough for a trophy. It’s a boy trophy, of course, which surprises no one. I’m surrounded by a scrum of Delgados. Evan, Cody, and Mickey beg and plead with their mom and dad, insisting that Mickey has earned all the donuts she can eat. Kenna and I look at each other and laugh.
“You’ll get used to them,” Kenna says. “It’s a Delgado thing.”
“I know a great donut place five minutes from here,” Mr. Delgado says. “You’re all coming. My treat.”
Before we leave the arena, I look for Spence. If his dad is still busy coaching, he’ll be able to talk. Finally, I see Nick and his sister sitting in the upper tier of seats. It’s hard to miss their matching blue hair.
Mickey follows my eyes. “I’ll go with you,” she says. “Can you wait for us, Kenna?”
When we’re nearly at the top, Mickey can’t help herself. She has to say it, one last time. “Nice view, Sofer.”
“Nice view,” I agree.
Nick and I clasp hands. “Not what I expected,” he says, “but at least we got to wrestle. Good match, Delgado.”
Mickey nods. “You too. I hope you get to wrestle someday, little Spence,” she says to Nick’s sister. Mickey reaches into her wrestling bag. “Here. They’re a little big, and you’d better wash them, but promise me you’ll wear these on the mat someday.” She hands Nick’s sister her pink hedgehog knee socks.
When Nick’s sister smiles, I can see she’s missing at least four teeth.
“Pink shoes, can’t lose,” she tells Mickey.
“Was that you cheering for me this morning?” Mickey asks. She grabs the little girl around the neck and ties up with her, grappling right there in the seats.
“We’d better go,” I tell Mickey. “Donut time. See you at school, Spence.”
“See you, Sofer,” he says.
* * *
It feels good, sitting with my friends in the donut shop at the end of a long day of wrestling. For once, I’m not in my sweaty singlet, hair crunchy and flattened from wearing headgear all day. Mickey’s parents and her brothers sit at the counter. Mickey, Kenna, and I have a booth to ourselves. There’s a box of donuts and three big glasses of milk sitting in the middle of the table.
Kenna points to Mickey’s trophy. “Did you have to bring that in here?”
“Trophy Boy wants donuts too,” Mickey says.
I pick up the trophy. “He’s a worthy partner for Trophy Girl. Does Kenna know about the prank?”
Mickey nods. She holds up her glass of milk. “Partners.”
Kenna holds up her milk. “And friends.”
We clink our glasses together. This is what I’ll write about in my notebook tonight, so I’ll always remember sitting in a donut shop with my friends, a trophy from States gleaming on the table. Even if I never step on the mat again, this has been my best season.
My son had been wrestling for several years when I began taking my writing notebook to practices and competitions. The sport was such a big part of our family’s life, I knew I’d tell a wrestling story someday.
This book would not exist without the support of the wrestling community. Coaches Brian Dykstra and Will Land were mentors during my son’s early years in the sport. Thank you to the dedicated parents and coaches of Howard County Vipers Wrestling.
In relearning the rules, vocabulary, and strategies of wrestling, Jay LaValley, 2012–2016 chairman of the Maryland State Wrestling Association (MSWA), was my go-to resource. I value his assistance and his friendship. Jay and Jani Palmer, MSWA Women’s Director, 2014–2016, have been instrumental in making the sport available to young athletes of all genders. Author Denise Wilcox and her husband, National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Steve Wilcox, were kind enough to review my manuscript and make sure I had the wrestling scenes right.
As research for this book, I conducted interviews with athletes, parents, and coaches. Jason Dickson, Tina Gordon, Mary Holmes, Jay LaValley, Jani Palmer, and Tony Patelunas were generous with their time and their stories.
I’m lucky to have a team of friends and critique partners whose feedback I value: Veronica Bartles, Margaret Dilloway, Karina Glaser, Mike Grosso, Jennifer Lewis, Casey Lyall, Joy McCullough, Lee Gjertsen Malone, Ki-Wing Merlin, Naomi Milliner, Stacey Riedmiller, Amie Rose Rotruck, Shari Schwarz, Michelle Warshauer Smith, and Timanda Wertz. The members of the Sweet 16s author group have been colleagues and champions, especially Melanie Conklin, who always has an encouraging word when I need one, or several. Lev’s name was a gift from my aunt, Jonine Sofer.
My editor, Wendy Lamb, and assistant editor, Dana Carey, must have been surprised when I first pitched a wrestling book. I appreciate their faith in me and their help in nurturing Lev and Mikayla’s story. Stephen Barbara may not be a wrestler, but he deserves a trophy for Most Encouraging Agent. I am grateful to the wonderful team at Random House Children’s Books for their work on Takedown.
If being supportive of your spouse were an Olympic event, my husband would have brought home a gold medal long ago. We loved watching our children compete in sports when they were young. Though they’ve moved on to other interests, I consider Robbie and Julia honorary Gladiators.
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