PAGE 24, WHJTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY,ý NOVEUMER 9,.1988, O'Connor loses in SOMIE of the Whitby Skating Club members who will compete in the upcoming Eastern Ontario sectionals include, in photo abcvve, (from left to right) Dale Noble, Teri Ninacs, Maria McKinnon and Sarah Cook, and (back, from left) Steven Sears, Robin Baldwin, Heather Lawler and Lisa Fernlund. At left, Sears is shown in training. DYSSA playoffs BYADAM SIKORA The Denis O'Connor Chargers senior boys soccer team was eli- minatedl in Durham-York (DYSSA) quarter-final action last week. .O'Connor, Ontario finalists last year, lost 2-1 to a strong teain from Father Bressini of Woodbridge on an overtime Senalty kick. Chargers' lone mar- er was scored by Bill Heaney duringregulation play. Bressini went on to defeat Ajax 6-0 to capture the DYSSA cham- CMhrgeprs' coach Jim Boyd sa ys his team showed good all-around team effort and good goaltend- ing, but feels the team was a victim of bad breaks as tbey bit the opponent's crossbar and goal- posts on many occasions. Planning oagain assume the mantie o f coach next season, Boyd hopes to avenge this year's heartbreakingloss. Peewees win Scott MacDonneli scored thre goals, while Jason Bonneyman and Brian Mederios each* bad two as Widtby- downed Pickering 7-1 in major peewee action Nov. 1. Medeiros also had three assiéts for Whitby, sponsored by Elegance Hair Design. Sandy Cohen had three assists. Sept. 17- 1988.- I walked tbrough the tunnel emierging to an audience of two billion. My blood rusbed and beads of sweaty pride trickled down mny back. The world watched, paying tributs to tbe dedication of tbe 10,000 athletes assembled. The feeling was magnificent. The grandeur of the event was enough to spark thoughts of undeser- vingness. As the pageantry ended and the Cames began, so did the aniety. t seemed to manifest itself in creative new ways. I tried diligently to keep my mind and body relaxed; te, keep tension Wo a minimum. However, being 10 lbs overweigbt and knowing your opponents 10 days in advance does not make it easy. I watcbed videtapes of my main competition. For 10 days, my mind kept replaying that tape. I dreaint judo, I daydreamed judo. I saw hlm attack me with al bis artillery and I saw myseif defend bis every move. He was good. He was tbe world champion. Keeping loose was difficuit. One met- hod I used to relax was by getting into a routine. I practised, ate and lept at the saie times everyday. Everything became automatic, decisions were few. I rested my mind as I would rest my body. My cbeering contingent (family, fiends, coach) arrived two days before my competition. I went to visit them but spoke very little. My intensity made it difficult for me to sinile but they understood. Their presence was a great comfort. .Sept. 27,' 1988 - I lost tbe 10 lbs and made the weight. I felt less tense now because I knew that it would soon be over. I took advantage of the fact that I come from a judo faniily and met witb my brothers and sisters for some last minute strategy and "psyching up." After several hours my brother said, "Glenn, we can plan strategy aIl day but when you begin the match and grab each other it will be different. It wouldn't go as planned and your instincts will have to guide you." From thon on I worried no more because I rea]ized he was right. t had to be natural. Only one match at a time and 11,000 screaming spectators made for an exciting venue. My first two matches I won bandily, flnishing tbem before their allotted times.1 I felt great. My attacks were sharp and I was well focused. As I climbed the platform for my third match (with the GLENN BEAUCHAMP during Lis match with Mike Swain of the U.S. ini the 71-kg class at the Olympics. Swain, who would eventuafly finish third, defeated Beauchamp in a close conteet. world champion) my legs heavied and I burst with adrenaline.' I was so; focused for this fight I remember very little, only the odd split second, an attack, a pain and the crowd counting 4, 3, 2, 1 and it was over. I rose to look at the scoreboard...0-0, it was a draw. I awaited the judges' decision .... I lost. I left the mats disappointed and holding my.side. I began -preparing for the third place matches confident he would make the final. I had broken my ribs. Only then did I realize how ex.hausting the match was as my adrenaline receded and 1 saw the fiusbness and fatigue on bis face. These games have left me with two regrets regarding my competition. Firstly, that I exbausted him so much that he was unable to continue winning, thus eliminating me. Secondly, that I didn't follow my game plan. I had planned to keep the match even until the last minute then pick up the pace. However, I lost touch witb time. I bad tbe energy reserve but neyer gave it because before I knew it, tbe match was over. I bad concentrated too mucb on defence and forgot to watcb tbe cdock.. In contrast, the Gaines left me with great joy and persona] satisfaction. Family and friends numbering 10 paid their own ways to Seoul to support me. At our dinner the evening of the 27, 1 became moved as I saw each one of them hurt as I did, eacb of tbem laboring to absorb some of my disappointinent. Few words were needed for tbeir eyes and faces told ail. While tbanking them for tbeir support, tears of relief and finality streamed from my eyes. They weren't sad tears, tbey were the product~ of montbs of stress and tension that I had denied. And it felt good. The patrons watcbed as il Canadians teared. As for my performance, I feel satisfied. I fought the world's best even and experienced a great sensation. The sensation of being in the cocoon of competition, oblivious Wo everything (noise, pain, time) everything except him and, L An Olympie postscript by Glenn Beauchamp Glenn is a third-degree black belt in judo fromn Whitby who competed ini the Summner Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Il was satisfying L