Post by Jay Stevens on Oct 26, 2020 18:25:51 GMT -5
Back inside the South Chicago warehouse turned gym, Jay Stevens and his team are taking part in a grueling training session. Stevens and another young man trade reversals in one half of the ring while two young women battle for dominant position on the other. Loud commands and coaching boom from the mustachioed man standing on the ring apron.
Stevens briefly gains the upper hand and rolls his opponent to his back with a deep half-nelson sweep when a whistle rings out and the man yells out “Time!”, causing all four combatants to separate and roll to the corners.
“Good work so far kids…”
The man speaking to the group is Davis Avery, “The Wrecker”, well known in the grappling world for his aggressive style on the mat that led him to a silver medal in freestyle wrestling. His active days in the rearview, he now acts as the head trainer of this small group of disciples.
“Get changed out, we’re going harder in the next session.”
Stevens rolls out to the floor and peels the dripping grey tee shirt from his torso, tossing it into the pile in the corner that he and his teammates have soaked this evening. Toweling off and grabbing a fresh shirt, Jay takes a moment to himself as he surveys his surroundings.
I still can’t believe this is real. We’re doing this. This team and this gym is happening.
Jay looks to the four walls and is humbled by the reality that he is a part of something that is being built from the ground up. With a desire to be forged and sharpened by adversity, away from a life of shelter and privilege, he and his partners have chosen to follow their own path.
All driven by hard work and the thirst for greatness, the four young competitors are very different from one another. Jenna Hex is a striking young woman with sharp features and swept back black hair. She has joined Jay on this adventure as not only a training partner, but his current paramour. A woman who will try to choke you into unconsciousness by day and share a romantic dinner by night, she challenges Jay as a peer.
Jenna impresses me every day. I am forever humbled that she trusted me to take this step into the abyss and make our own history. We have each other to lean on when the days get hard and can share the successes all the same.
Standing beside Hex is Jay’s long-time training and tag partner, the young blonde spitfire, Nicole Anderson. Dubbed “Kid Dynamite” by her mentors due to her explosive and contagious energy, Anderson bounces from foot to foot, waiting for the next round of grueling exercise. She shoots a smile and wink at Jay, forcing him to crack a smile.
Thank God for Nicki. We’ve been at this together for almost our entire careers. I don’t know how she stays so freaking upbeat during these sessions, but she’s always been like that. I think that’s why she grew on my dad so much back in the day, she just brings the room up with her smile and she can kick some ass at the same time.
Rounding out the team is the heavyweight from Georgia, Jordan Neal. An All-American his junior year at Nebraska, Jordan was brought to the team by Davis Avery when Neal chose to go pro after finishing college. The bulky young black man isn’t overly muscular as much as he is a massive specimen of pure strength and determination.
Jordan is a beast. I see what Davis sees in his future. He’s more determined than anyone I’ve ever met and he definitely keeps me honest on the mat, there’s no escaping him. Even when you get the advantage, he just monsters straight out. We’re learning a lot from each other.
Jay finishes his water as Davis Avery returns to the ring. The whistle blows and he commands the attention of the room.
“Alright everyone, back in the ring. Let’s get some time in on defending against the ropes, Jay has the battle royal coming up. We’re going eighty percent this time, no live rounds. I’m looking at you, Anderson!”
Nicole shoots a “finger gun” at Avery and cracks off a “You got it, Coach, American wimp style rounds,” causing the rest of the group to titter and snicker. Avery blows the whistle and Jay Stevens immediately finds himself swarmed against the ropes, clinging to safety and having the time of his liffe.
Stevens briefly gains the upper hand and rolls his opponent to his back with a deep half-nelson sweep when a whistle rings out and the man yells out “Time!”, causing all four combatants to separate and roll to the corners.
“Good work so far kids…”
The man speaking to the group is Davis Avery, “The Wrecker”, well known in the grappling world for his aggressive style on the mat that led him to a silver medal in freestyle wrestling. His active days in the rearview, he now acts as the head trainer of this small group of disciples.
“Get changed out, we’re going harder in the next session.”
Stevens rolls out to the floor and peels the dripping grey tee shirt from his torso, tossing it into the pile in the corner that he and his teammates have soaked this evening. Toweling off and grabbing a fresh shirt, Jay takes a moment to himself as he surveys his surroundings.
I still can’t believe this is real. We’re doing this. This team and this gym is happening.
Jay looks to the four walls and is humbled by the reality that he is a part of something that is being built from the ground up. With a desire to be forged and sharpened by adversity, away from a life of shelter and privilege, he and his partners have chosen to follow their own path.
All driven by hard work and the thirst for greatness, the four young competitors are very different from one another. Jenna Hex is a striking young woman with sharp features and swept back black hair. She has joined Jay on this adventure as not only a training partner, but his current paramour. A woman who will try to choke you into unconsciousness by day and share a romantic dinner by night, she challenges Jay as a peer.
Jenna impresses me every day. I am forever humbled that she trusted me to take this step into the abyss and make our own history. We have each other to lean on when the days get hard and can share the successes all the same.
Standing beside Hex is Jay’s long-time training and tag partner, the young blonde spitfire, Nicole Anderson. Dubbed “Kid Dynamite” by her mentors due to her explosive and contagious energy, Anderson bounces from foot to foot, waiting for the next round of grueling exercise. She shoots a smile and wink at Jay, forcing him to crack a smile.
Thank God for Nicki. We’ve been at this together for almost our entire careers. I don’t know how she stays so freaking upbeat during these sessions, but she’s always been like that. I think that’s why she grew on my dad so much back in the day, she just brings the room up with her smile and she can kick some ass at the same time.
Rounding out the team is the heavyweight from Georgia, Jordan Neal. An All-American his junior year at Nebraska, Jordan was brought to the team by Davis Avery when Neal chose to go pro after finishing college. The bulky young black man isn’t overly muscular as much as he is a massive specimen of pure strength and determination.
Jordan is a beast. I see what Davis sees in his future. He’s more determined than anyone I’ve ever met and he definitely keeps me honest on the mat, there’s no escaping him. Even when you get the advantage, he just monsters straight out. We’re learning a lot from each other.
Jay finishes his water as Davis Avery returns to the ring. The whistle blows and he commands the attention of the room.
“Alright everyone, back in the ring. Let’s get some time in on defending against the ropes, Jay has the battle royal coming up. We’re going eighty percent this time, no live rounds. I’m looking at you, Anderson!”
Nicole shoots a “finger gun” at Avery and cracks off a “You got it, Coach, American wimp style rounds,” causing the rest of the group to titter and snicker. Avery blows the whistle and Jay Stevens immediately finds himself swarmed against the ropes, clinging to safety and having the time of his liffe.