The Super 32
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Brandon Grasty, Senior at Orange High School, competed in his 2nd State Championship tournament this past weekend and took home the Championship in the 4A 215 lb weight class after finishing 2nd in the tournament last year. It wasn't just a victory for Brandon but also for his grandfather, Gary Bateman, who he calls "Papa". Papa has always been more of a father to Brandon than a grandfather. He suffered a heart attack in 1997 when Brandon was beginning his high school wrestling career and was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 1999. In February 2000 he began chemotherapy treatments to slow down his cancer and finished them up in August 2000. He then suffered a second minor heart attack in December 2000. He's only missed a match when hospitalizations forced him to and often, against his family's wishes, he went to matches only one to two days after being discharged from the hospital because he didn't want to miss seeing Brandon wrestle. Needless to say, Brandon was always worried about Papa but continued his drive to have a successful wrestling career. This past weekend, in good health, Papa attended the State Championships to once again watch Brandon vie for the 4A 215 lb Championship. He along with everyone else knew Brandon had some tough competition ahead of him but Papa had confidence and knew he could achieve anything he wanted to achieve. The first day proved to be a memorable one as Brandon beat his first opponent with a pin and proceeded to defeat Patrick Lowry who was undefeated this season and whom Brandon had lost to earlier in the season. Brandon commented back home after the match, "I didn't think I could defeat Patrick until just before I walked out to the mat and then told myself I could". The semi-final match proved equally suspensful as Brandon was down in the 3rd period by 2 points and came back to defeat Matt Richardson 8-5 after losing to him twice earlier in the season. The championship match was also a memorable one for Brandon and his Papa. Wrestling Andy Radzicki for the first time, Brandon went onto the mat with more confidence than ever before. He knew what he had to do to win the championship and he did it. After winning and in the stands, congratulatory hugs abounded for the 4A 215 lb champion, but none was greater than the one he got from his Papa. As tears flowed and the two embraced, it was apparent that Brandon didn't just win the Championship for himself, he had won it for Papa. Prior to the award ceremonies for the 4A 215 lb weight class, Coach Bobby Shriner came and got Papa unbeknownst to Brandon and took him down to the arena floor where he presented Brandon with his Championship medal and bracket sheet. While neither Brandon or Papa are boastful people, we are not sure who carried more pride as they stood on the arena floor together. You see, Papa has unknowingly taught Brandon what it is to be a fighter, how to overcome adversity, and how to have hope when you don't think there is any hope. He has also taught him how to have a positive attitude and to never give up. Once you give up, you lose. For Brandon, the loss would have been a second State Championship. For Papa, the loss would be life and the chance to see his grandson win the State Championship. We would like to thank Coach Bobby Shriner for his dedication to Team Orange, Brandon's wrestling career and for allowing Papa to be a part of Team Orange. Most of all, we would like to thank him for giving Papa and Brandon that priceless moment in their lives when he placed the medal around Brandon's neck.
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