As Time Expires

As Time Runs Out
By Eric Fogle

There was no time left on the clock as Eric Fogle looked up to see the score knotted at six, and a tie in wrestling meant overtime. How had he come to this moment? Several memories flooded him: the loss of his grandmother the day before, his brutal opponent, and the physical and mental drain he felt because of the trauma. Where there was normally steeled determination; emptiness had soaked his soul leaving him drained by the six minute wrestling match.

“You need to move son,” encouraged Centennial High Wrestling Coach Tom Dyer; his hands clapping in the common gesture that every coach used to inspire his athlete to go on.

Eric did not know if he could go on though. To go undefeated in a season was a rarity among his weight class, where he was not a physical specimen in comparison to the men he faced. However, he had always endured by using his mind and his deceptive explosiveness to exploit the inherent weakness in every man he faced. Other men had seen his muscular ferocity and gazed past him. It had led to him being 29-0 on the season. It had led him to being the best.

The screaming of his father brought time speeding up to the moment where both exhausted men now squared off in sudden death combat. To make a mistake meant to lose. To lose meant to have failed. Eric’s eyes blurred at the sudden thought of failing his fallen grand mother; to fail now would be to give up on her memory. To give up on the promise that was made as she passed away in his arms. To win!!

Whistle blows!

Time slowed.

“You gotta move son!!” screamed his father.

“Come on Eric,” his younger siblings clenched each other tears streaming down their faces.

The opposite wrestler closed the distance and tried grappling. Eric could tell the young man was as tired as himself, but only one winner could leave the mat with his head high. It was in that instant that Eric lowered his guard, a feint that opened his legs to a single-leg attack. The other wrestler had him. Time froze as the young man had shot in and would easily control the takedown. Everyone in the crowd went crazy as Eric allowed himself to be driven backwards looking out of control. It was a deft tactic; at the last moment he shifted his weight and rolled his hips.

Memory faded as he jumped up victorious. Tears flooded down his face. The crowd, those that knew him cried as well.

As time ran its course, only a champion remained.