I have a special request as well. I am really trying to get James, Christina and the family to come up this weekend for the state tournament. As most of you can realize it will be tough for them, tougher than any of us can imagine, but it would also be great for us and great for them.

There are more issues than some may realize . I am asking that if there are any rooms available, especially one that someone would be willing to donate for the family through a cancelation or something that you would consider doing this for the family. I also know that a lot is going on as you can imagine with finances for the family. However, if there is a way that we could have people come together and help with the expenses of the weekend, including travel, and with meals it would be great.

Realize they have not asked for any of this and don't even know if they are going to be able to be there, but these things would make it possible. While with them this evening I strongly encouraged that they try, and they are talking about it.

I agree with Gibby about the retirement of the shoes prior to tag team will be extremely emotional and you will want to have the hankies, but it will be an incredible reminder of the sacrifice it took to bring us all together. The celebration of what Tyler did, in part supporting a sport he loved, while having fun will be displayed in an awesome, and fun tag team match. I know, because I knew Tyler. He would have loved the tag team approach that he never got to see. I had someone tell me today that saw it at Derby, that it really does help symbolize that we can have our wrestlers wrestle hard and at the same time have fun.

Thanks again, today has been a rollercoaster. For those that saw me at the gym early on in Agusta, you know that I couldn't stay in the gym with the little kids very long. It don't help when people are walking up giving tons of hugs with tears in their eyes, and at the same time seeing little 8 & Under wrestlers going at it. Today I thanked God for Wrestling, but on more than a few ocassions I came close to breaking down, breaking down while talking to the many who were there telling me about what Tyler meant to them. How powerful has it been all been? While stopping at Dairy Queen on the way to Hutchinson some man I had never met comes up and hands me money to take to James and Christina. He thanks me for the family and wants the family to know that he was touched by Tyler. WOW! And this was only one of the many I had never met that said something to me today.

Jess, rest assured, I nor those touched by Tyler are going to let this die. I had another coach/dad from Buhler tell me tonight, that he hugged his kid when he went to wrestle today, said, "I love you and nothing else matters nearly as much as that." Said that in the 2 or 3 years he had been coaching his son that he had never done that, and now don't know if he will never not do it again. Thanks Tyler and Thanks God for blessing us with him. Thanks James, Christina, Amber, Patrick and the rest of the family, friends and Team Lightning for allowing your brother, friend, family member, and team mate to touch us.