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 Poole, only a fifth-grade 10-year-old, is in
the 122-pound weight class. Although Koning is at 85 pounds, the two
seemed evenly matched as they worked out.
Poole has the bulk, Koning has the experience
and they wrestled hard in Poole's last practice Thursday night as coach Walt Landers watched and relayed advice.
Although the youngsters are in a sport that is
one-on-one, they always remain friends and never forget that
friendship as they grapple on the mats. Both said they never get mad
at each other in the heat of battle.
When asked, Poole quickly says Koning is the better
wrestler, and he knows that wrestling a more seasoned wrestler will
only make him better. Coach Landers says all the practice and effort
is paying off for Poole: "In the last few months his technique has
come a long way."
Jarrett, like most young boys, loves sports, but
he says immediately his favorite is wrestling.
His dad, Troy, said that a while back his son
told him he wanted to do summer wrestling rather than play baseball
this year, and his dad said that was up to his son.
"I just want him
to be active," Troy said. "I don't want him to just sit at home and stare at a
computer screen all day. He loves wrestling, so that's fine with
me."
Jarrett will continue to play youth football in
the fall and loves that sport as well, but not as much as wrestling.
Landers said that Jarrett has come a long
way in the four years he has been with the Lincoln Youth Wrestling
program.
"Jarrett has never missed a practice and he has
attended every tournament," the coach said.
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Landers says Jarrett probably has the best record of any kid who has
been in the program. This season alone Poole will have competed in
40 matches.
His dad says Jarrett deserves
recognition for never giving up, especially after the way his
wrestling career started.
"In Jarrett's first seven tournaments he
didn't win a match," Troy said. "I think he was 0-21."
Then his mom,
who had recently had a baby, Zack, was able to come, and Jarrett won his
first match.
Now the Poole family makes the weekend treks to
watch Jarrett compete and offer him support.
Troy and Jennifer, along with sister Ashley and
brother Zack, will be heading to Danville tomorrow to cheer Jarrett
on.
Although Jarrett has forsaken playing baseball,
both he and dad quickly say that doesn't mean they are any less St.
Louis Cardinal fans than before.
But right now Jarrett has his sights set on the
future, and it doesn't include baseball, or being a scientist or
lawyer for that matter.
Troy said, "If you ask Jarrett what he wants to
be, he will tell you he wants to be a Railer. Not a junior Railer. A
real Railer."
If the youngster keeps growing, and maintaining
his dedication to being as good as he can be, both the Railer
wrestling and football teams will have a great new addition in a few
years.
[By
MIKE FAK]
Related article from
March 2009
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