We went to Sectionals at Byron High School with high hopes that Derek might have a chance to advance to State next weekend. Because he had a bye the first round, he only had to win two matches in order to advance.

The place was packed!

Wrestlers from each school were announced as they marched into the gym.

We were so excited to have five wrestlers competing from WA!

Clearly, everyone is in the zone.

The National Anthem was sung.

The first round of wrestling finished, then the boys warmed up for the second round.

Derek wrestled his first match.

And pinned his guy!

First victory.

The team spent the night in Rockford, while Jim and I drove home with the kids. The next day, we were filled with anticipation, hoping and praying for one more victory for Big D. His first match was against the guy who placed first at State last year.

He tried with all his strength to prevail,

but his youth and minimal experience could not match his opponent.

Now the pressure was on. The next match would decide whether his wrestling season would continue or not. The momentum began going his way in the second period, but he ran out of time and was never able to come back. He was pinned in the third period. And that was the bitter end.

He approached the weekend with the primary goal of advancing to state, but his ultimate goal was to glorify God and make Him look great. We couldn’t ask for a better team and better coaches.