Two opponents battled for victory.

People may have been glued to the television awaiting the election results Tuesday night to find out who won, but the results from the wrestling meet held earlier in the day between Central, Patton and West Junior High schools were definitive with no recount necessary.

Before West eighth-grader Jerrid Cadue stepped onto the mat last Tuesday, he tugged on his knee and ear pads.

He walked in a circle as he prepared for his match against his opponent from Patton.

When the match began, the two wrestlers fought for position.

Arms grabbed, knees buckled and grunts were heard as the wrestlers drove each other into the mat.

The Patton wrestler was quicker, but Cadue was bigger and stronger. The match was not an easy one for Cadue, but he used a series of holds, takedowns and pins to emerge victorious.

His aunt, Lisa Poeverlein, was concerned early on in the match that Cadue may not come out on top. But she was relieved when Cadue finally won.

“I’m really proud of him,” Poeverlein said. “He stuck with it and came out a winner.”

Cadue said the key to winning was through the effort he put into each match.

“Giving it all you got,” Cadue said.

He added that he liked everything about wrestling and that his favorite wrestling move wasn’t a headlock. It was a single leg takedown.

Cadue has wrestled and practiced such moves for four years. His father, Steven Cadue, said Jerrid got his start in wrestling through his family.

“His cousin wrestled for Lawrence High,” Steven said. “And his aunt and uncle encouraged him.”

Both Steven and Lisa, who have been regulars at Jerrid’s wrestling matches over the years, have watched Jerrid take some hard falls onto the mat.

Although Jerrid has not been injured, they both agreed that injuries were a threat that just came with being a wrestler.

“It’s all part of the sport,” Steven said. “If you’re afraid to get hurt, you might as well not participate.”

Poeverlein added, “You always have that concern. That’s the risk that everyone’s taking.”