Buddy's Victory

It was a wrestling match, and the other team had one stud.  The 165- pounder was a state champion and looked it.  He had enough muscles for a heavyweight, but slimmed down for each match.  Our coach shrewdly juggled our line up to win other individual matches but surrendered the 165-pound match by putting Buddy who usually wrestled in the 145-pound class in as The Stud’s opponent. Buddy was a strong boy but was smaller and less-experienced;  no one expected him to last beyond the first two-minute period.

 The scores were even from the earlier matches as Buddy and The Stud stepped out on the mat.  The Stud was larger in height and breadth and quickly lifted Buddy off his feet flipping him on his back to pin his shoulders to the mat. He had miscalculated the massive strength Buddy had in his neck as the smaller wrestler arched into a bridge spinning quickly off his back and out of the hold. The Stud was stunned. He grabbed Buddy again, threw him on his back leaning in for the pin before Buddy arched and twisted free again.  The stud was baffled. By the end of the first period, he was ahead by 12 points awarded for near pins, but Buddy kept escaping earning a point each time.

 By the end of the second two-minute period The Stud had scored four more near pins, but both teams and the raucous fans were realizing that if Buddy survived without being pinned, he would win more than the match. The crowd started cheering for him. Everyone knew the Stud was the superior wrestler, but his opponent was showing a resilient obstinance that defied skill and training. The crowd held its breath, then screamed at each miraculous escape.

 The third and final period thundered with cheers, but Buddy was tiring. The much larger Stud was wearing him down. How much longer could he stay off his back? The clock slowly ran down… 30 seconds, 15 seconds….  The Stud was desperate as he bore down on Buddy who strained to hold his shoulders just off the mat. The referee was on his knees watching carefully to make the call. The yelling was so loud, the crowd almost missed hearing the period buzzer signal the end of the match.  Buddy had survived.  No pin.  Everyone yelled even louder.

  Who cares who technically won that match?