an epic wrestling tournament

The following is a write-up of the tournament my brother went to this weekend. The coach's mom wrote this. In case you can't tell, I am very proud of my brother! :) He wrestled in memory of Grandad, who passed away just before Christopher's first match on Friday.


"This weeks battle of the mats have brought with it many complicated decisions. Very few times are we asked to choose between two tournaments, but that is exactly where the Patriots found themselves this month. Do we go to the JV tournament where we are sure to take home a medal at every weight class we competed in, or run with the Big Dogs at the Varsity Johnson County Classic and more than likely lose? The Classic guarantees one thing every year...competing against the best of the best.


Chris Mills began the day in a tough match, against Spring Hill junior Tyler Crabtree. Chris battled 3 hard fought rounds winning by decision, score 10 - 9, also earning Christ Prep 1 team point. Steven Maloy, the youngest Varsity wrestler, had his first match against the 4th seeded, state qualifying Spring Hill wrestler, Blake Hamton. Steven battled hard, but Hamton was declared the winner at the end of the first round with a technical fall (17-1) in the first round. Reese Wagner finished our first round of bouts with a nail-biting match losing in the 3rd period, 4 - 3.

The second round of pool matches saw Steven go up against the number 5 seed wrestling junior from Shawnee Mission South. Although Steven fought hard, he fell in the first round. Reese and Chris were able to rest up for their 3rd round matches.

Chris Mills slaughtered Saint James' Gianni Trook with a pin in 19 seconds. Reese and Steven were not quite as well prepared. Again Reese battled hard for 3 rounds losing in the end. Steven fell in the second round.

The fourth round of wrestling, brought defeats all around. Chris Mills battled valiantly against the number 2 seeded, State championship senior wrestler from St. Thomas Aquinas, CJ Ikenbury. Wrestling can be a very unforgiving sport in that one small slip in judgement, being a fraction of an inch out of position or or a fraction of an inch slow, can result in a loss, which is what happened to Chris in the second round. Reese again had to wrestle hard for 3 rounds. Most of his time was spend introducing his opponent to the mat, but in the end, a slight lapse in judgement and position left Reese spent and with a loss.

This being a 2 day tournament, round 5 pool matches and 8-man champions' brackets were held Saturday. Only the top 2 wrestlers in each pool advance to the bracketed rounds, and after 3 losses each, Reese and Steven had a difficult decision to make... weigh-in and come back tomorrow for one more match (Reese has a bye...no match), knowing that they would not be advancing, or giving up; return to compete in one more rigorous battle and encourage and support Chris in his bid for gold. The true test of any man hangs on the answers he gives in this situation. The question they were asked to help them make this decision is one the coaches ask them many times in the season...Why are you wrestling? If the answer is just to win, they have already lost. There will always be someone better and one day our bodies will fail. If the answer is to be strong, have fun, be the best...then what? What do you gain? As young christian men our wrestlers are reminded that "in all you do, work at it as if working for the Lord, not for men"-- Colossians 3:23. When our wrestler's win, they give all the glory to God in their humble, encouraging conduct; when they lose, God also receives the glory in the gracious smiles; appreciation and thanks given to the referees; and heartfelt congratulations Christ Prep wrestlers offer their opponents. Reese and Steven made the honorable (but difficult decision) to weigh-in and return Saturday.


Round 5 brough losses to both Steven and Chris. Steven's loss came by a technical fall, his opponent just could not pin him down. Chris's final match ended 3 rounds of regulation in a tie. Overtime is a sudden death match the win is given to the first one to score points, unfortunately it was not Chris.

Chris Mills went on to represent CPA in the championship brackets placing him in the top 8 wrestlers in Johnson County.

Coach Andy Maloy said it best when he said that Christ Preps' wrestlers are on the verge of greatness both on and off the mat, exemplifying the team verses for this year, from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

" 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. "


With the losses suffered this week, at least we know what we need to work on and improve."

Jeanettee Maloy

John 17:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration: but be of good cheer [take courage: be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

tree or no tree

I am currently in a heated argument with my roommate. Here’s the debate:

The over-worked, over-studied, old maid Grinch doesn’t want to put up a Christmas tree. She says “I don’t have time to put up a Christmas tree, it’s too much hassle, nobody else is going to see it anyway, and staring at my pathetic tree will only make me wish I was at my parents’ house.”

Little Miss Christmas-is-a-beautiful-time-of-year says “But it’s Christmas! It only comes once a year and I don’t want to turn into a Grinch. I have to celebrate the little things in life or I will lose heart!”

I hate arguing with myself. But I think Little Miss Christmas has the winning edge…However, if I am going to go through with this tree-decorating business, I will have to do it tomorrow because it looks like that is the last chance I will have to put up my tree. But Lauren, it only takes about 15 minutes to take it out of the box, set it on the entertainment center, hang ornaments, and wrap lights. Get over yourself.

I will let you know how this epic battle with myself turns out…

This made me laugh today: a telemarketer called for my boss who was out of the office at the time. I asked to take a message, but of course he didn't want to leave one. Instead, the conversation took a different turn when the guy said:

"So your boss leaves you there by yourself to do all the work, huh? Well, I hope I brightened your day by calling."

So I am thinking: What?? "Brighten my day..." You??

NO JOKE, he really said that!!! Never heard that line before. I didn't even know what to say in response and was trying hard not to burst out laughing at such an absurd statement, so there was an awkward pause and then the conversation got even more bizarre:

Creepy guy: What's your name?
Me: Lauren
Creepy guy: That's a nice name.
Me: Uh, thank you... (I think?)

Don't worry, I wasn't deceived by his attempts at flattery. Ugh. What did he think he would gain by that anyway?? Oh the nerve of some people...

But I have to admit, it did brighten my day because I was laughing about that for a while. :)