PHS grappler loses match, notches win

PALMER — Contrary to the preaching of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi, winning isn’t always everything, a lesson Palmer High School wrestler Kris Don learned in defeat to a cross-town rival Saturday.

After six grueling minutes on the mat, Don found himself on the losing end of a 15-13 decision to Colony High grappler Trevor Burgoyne — and it was the most gratifying loss of his life.

That’s because the 170-pound sophomore wrestler could have finished off Burgoyne, who has Down syndrome, at any time.

But he didn’t.

He could’ve dominated and embarrassed the special-needs student-athlete.

But he didn’t.

He was instructed to keep Burgoyne in the mach, then pin him in the second period.

But he couldn’t.

“One of my coaches told me, like, to pin him halfway through the second, but when the time came, I just couldn’t do it,” Don said. “I just didn’t have the heart to do that.”

Instead, the Palmer junior varsity wrestler kept the match close, letting Burgoyne get a little bit of a lead, then reeling it back in. The result, Don said, was a competitive match and a win Burgoyne had to earn, like any other prep wrestler.

It was Burgoyne’s first career win, and one the Colony sophomore is proud to talk about.

“It was a good match, real fun, against Kris of Palmer,” Burgoyne said. “I beat him 15-13. It was really hard.”

Burgoyne said his approach to the competition was simple — go hard for the full six minutes.

“I attacked him,” he said, adding that after the match, “I shook their hands.”

Burgoyne also said that after the final whistle blew, he apologized to Don for beating him.

“I told him I’m sorry,” he said.

Don said the idea of Burgoyne winning began to take shape when he talked with members of the rival Colony team.

“When I talked to his teammates, they told me the last time (Burgoyne) wrestled that the guy just straight-out pinned him,” Don said. “He didn’t have a chance to wrestle that match. I think that’s when I made the decision.”

That decision is something that has meant the world to one special-needs student and his family, said Trevor’s mother, Trudy Burgoyne.

“We’re just really excited and thankful about it,” she said of Don’s actions. “We’re really proud of him.”

Most importantly, she said, is what the win has meant to Trevor.

“Trevor thought he was the man,” she said. “He was really proud. He’s going around and people are coming up to him and shaking his hand and telling him ‘good job.’ He loves wrestling and he likes everybody on his team.”

That the Palmer coaches had instructed Don to give Trevor a good match, and Don’s actions on the mat, came as a surprise to those in the stands at Saturday’s Colony Invitational, Trudy Burgoyne said — including the parents.

“We didn’t know,” she said. “I was just hoping Trevor had the endurance to make it through. He had some good moves and we were just excited about it. It meant the world to him. Nothing could’ve been better than that. It was the neatest experience and really special.”

Watching that act of sportsmanship was a moving experience for everyone in the gymnasium, said Mike Boyd, Colony High activities director.

“It’s probably the most unselfish act I’ve seen in sports, and I’ve been in sports a long time,” he said. “In (Trevor’s) mind, he won. It was one of those deals when a human being recognizes another human being needed success. It was awesome. It was a really neat thing. … I wouldn’t say there wasn’t a dry eye in the place, but there were definitely some tissues coming out and it touched me, I’ll tell you that.”

For Palmer High activities director Dale Ewart, Don’s sportsmanship touched him on a professional and personal level.

“I have a special needs son, and I don’t know if that played into (Don’s) decision, but I think the more kids are aware of those things is good. It definitely touches your emotions. I was getting calls and emails from people saying how much it meant to them to see that. Having a special needs son, I would feel really good knowing someone did that for my son.”

Along with practicing and competing with his teammates, Trevor said he enjoys the sport. And the hard work in the gym has paid off — he’s lost about 30 pounds since he started wrestling.

“My favorite move is to cross them on the takedown,” he said, explaining how he grabs the far arm of an opponent when in the down position. “It’s my best move and I guess it’s my favorite move.”

The best part of Saturday’s win was having his teammates and fans cheering for him, Trevor said.

“My teammates were like, ‘go Trevor!’ They cheered for me, everyone cheered for me,” he said.

Although Palmer and Colony are usually heated cross-town rivals, that they could rally around an athlete for a common goal is inspiring, Ewart said.

“This is one of those things that really trumps that stuff,” he said. “We have great kids here and it’s good for Palmer and good for the community. It’s a positive reflection on (Don’s) character and his personality, and it’s something we’ll probably talk about for years to come.”

That people are talking about it now is somewhat of a surprise for Don, who said he didn’t expect to get much attention for losing an exhibition match. In fact, he didn’t even tell his parents about the match until Tuesday, three days later.

“Well, I finally told them because they would’ve found out sooner or later,” he said. “Both my parents were really proud of me, especially my mom. I didn’t really think it would get this big. I was expecting it to be just a one-day thing. Now people are congratulating me. I just felt it was a good thing to do, the right thing to do.”

A fan of the WWE and professional wrestling, Trevor said winning Saturday felt like he imagines it would to win in the ring with his heroes.

“It’s really great,” he said, making a motion that signifies wearing a championship belt around his waist. “I’m the champ!”

Contact Greg Johnson at 352-2269 or greg.johnson@frontiersman.com.

“One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it.”

— Knute Rockne

“Show class, have pride and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.”

— Paul “Bear” Bryant

“Sometimes I think sportsmanship is a little bit forgotten in place of the individual attention.”

— Cal Ripken Jr.

“The will must be stronger than the skill.”

— Muhammad Ali

“If you win through bad sportsmanship, that’s no real victory.”

— Babe Didrikson Zaharias