In response to Karl E. Moyer’s letter that appeared in the January 11th edition of the Independent — “battle” defined as a verb means to fight or struggle tenaciously to achieve or resist something. Battle is a perfect word to describe a wrestling match.

In his letter, Mr. Moyer takes issue with the word battle being used to describe a wrestling match. This suggests to me that Mr. Moyer has never attended one. As someone who has attended hundreds of wrestling matches during my son’s career from 2nd through 12th grades, I can say without doubt, that the majority of matches are battles. One-on-one competition where the goal is to make your opponent bend to your will is not playing. The majority of wrestling matches are hard-fought, and while the victor may smile as their hand is raised, anyone who witnessed that match does not have the sense that the wrestlers were “playing.” They fought, or battled in this case, for every point and every pin earned or denied on that mat. 

While Mr. Moyer suggests that the writer demeaned wrestlers and the sport by using the term battle, I’d counter that the writer showed nothing but respect for both. This isn’t to suggest that wrestlers don’t have playful moments on that mat — practices usually incorporate some fun, as do warm-ups, but to suggest that wrestlers are playing during a match is disrespectful and just wrong. To further suggest that by describing a match as a battle, the writer implies a subtle hint as to why society is the way it is, shows that Mr. Moyer has no understanding of what wrestling is all about. Respect is taught from the second a wrestler steps on the mat during their very first practice and is expected to show respect on and off the mat throughout their career. It’s in the handshake at the start and end of the match between opponents, as well as when the wrestler shakes the opposing coach’s hand — and sometimes the ref’s hand as well — after the match. Respect becomes ingrained in the wrestler as they navigate life — on and off the mat.

Please don’t think that I’m suggesting that any other sport is less than a battle, but since Mr. Moyer specifically mentioned wrestling, that’s what I’ve addressed it here. Every athlete battles, whether they’re on the mat, the court, the track or the field, and deserves respect.

A proud (former) wrestling mom,

Kris Pearsall

Bristol