Kiefer forced to forfeit!

State wrestling tournament started yesterday @ Tanana Middle School. The bus left the school at 8am and they wrestled until 9pm. Kiefer won his 1st match, lost his 2nd, and won his 3rd. So we left last night knowing he would be fighting for 3rd place in State today. So I took him to the school to catch the bus at 615 this morning. I knew he would have a long morning with getting situated and all the kids weighing in. I came home, slept for a bit, then Darin and I headed into town to catch todays matches. We walked in to the gym and headed toward the mats looking for him. I looked and looked and asked a teammate where Kief was. Kief was "on the mat" but talking to refs and his friends and coaches and I have NEVER seen his face so red. I knew he either lost or something was really wrong and my stomach just instantly fell to the floor. I wanted to be a crazy mom and run across the damn floor....but I knew that would make it worse. That's the only thing that stopped me! I asked the teammate if we missed the match and he said "no...something happened with his mouth." I looked up and Kief was getting dressed. He started toward us and I asked what happened and he said he had to forfeit the match (giving up any more chance at winning a place in State) because his lip was stuck to his braces and he couldn't wrestle without his mouthguard in. Apparently his opponent had knocked him in the face and his mouthguard shifted and the injury happened!!! Sure enough, his upper lip was totally stuck and wires were poking right in and sticking there. I felt and still feel so bad for him. But he has handled it well. He has decided to continue even though the season is over. There is a Team Icemen here that is Freestyle wrestling so he can keep up on his strength and skills a bit longer this season. He is already looking forward to HS Wrestling next year. So here are a few pics of his weekend....

Crazy Wrestler's Mom!!!!


Get him Kief!!!!!!





And the lip is stuck on the wire :(



My baby is hurting!!!



I took him to Dr. Sutley's and we had to numb him so we could get the wire out of his lip!



So anyway....that has been our weekend so far! The coaches and Kief say he was winning the match but it just wasn't going to happen this year. We told him he will take them all by storm next year as an "Awesome Unknown" that nobody is expecting to get their butt beat by him so they better watch out!!!

Wrestling Regionals

So here are a few pictures of Regionals last weekend. Kiefer placed 3rd for his weight class of 110#. He has done fantastic for a wrestler who missed most of the season with a broken toe! :)

We are in the process of the State Tournament this weekend!!!

Kiefer is cleared to wrestle!

OK...so Kiefer has gotten the go ahead from Dr. Wade, his toe surgeon, to continue activity without restrictions. This includes wrestling and he was so very happy to hear that news! So he used last week to get used to shoes again on both feet and to stretch a few times a day. He started wrestling practice again this week, and had 2 meets already with wins. He has a big conference meet this Saturday that will be an all day thing.
Dr. Wade had one request, and asked Kiefer to bring a signed picture to the office...winning of course....so it can be hung in the office since he has yet to "get a wrestler on the wall." :)
So thought I would put up new pictures of his healed toe...since the last one made some of you ill!