In his first season of wrestling, C.H. Flowers junior Michael Spriggs has an 11-9 record. He has held his spot in the starting lineup by consistently beating an experienced teammate. Those are solid accomplishments for a rookie. But they are much more significant considering Spriggs is blind.
After losing his sight at age 13, Spriggs’ athletic endeavors had been limited to goal ball, a sport specifically designed for the visually impaired. But this year, after transferring from Baltimore’s Maryland School for the Blind, Spriggs told his geometry teacher he wanted to try wrestling. At the time, Spriggs didn’t know he also was talking to the coach.
“I gave him directions to the room where the wrestling coach was. I told him go out the room, take a left … ,” said Odist Felder. “I was basically sending Michael in a big circle. But he knows his way around the school better than anyone, so it didn’t take him long to figure it out. He thought for a minute and said, ‘Hey Felder, you’re the coach, huh?’”
With that, a deal was struck and Spriggs, who wrestles at 189 pounds, quickly won over his teammates, who are instructed never to leave Spriggs alone. Early in the season, Felder passed out blindfolds, giving his wrestlers a sense of what Spriggs faces.
During matches, a teammate will escort Spriggs to the scorer’s table, then to the center of the mat where his matches begin with a “touch start.” According to a National Federation rule modification, opponents facing a blind wrestler must maintain contact when in the neutral position. If contact is broken, the referee stops the action places the wrestlers back in contact.
To begin a match, Spriggs extends his hands, feeling for those of his opponent. Spriggs says he can sense where his opponent’s legs are and doesn’t hesitate to go for a “shot” – wrestling parlance for diving low and grabbing an opponent’s leg.
There’s little doubt concerning the high point for Flowers (8-6) this season. It came in the Jaguars’ opener when Spriggs pinned his opponent from Wise.
“The thing that stands out most to me is not any win or loss, it’s just being on the team,” said Spriggs. “There’s never been a time when I felt uncomfortable, like my teammates had to ‘handle’ me.”
Acceptance has come, in part, because of Spriggs’ work ethic.
“From the moment he came out, it was obvious he was here to wrestle,” said assistant coach Jamal Jeter. “His motivation is extraordinary. He’s the first one here, first one dressed. He’s ready to learn and work hard.”
This weekend, when Flowers hosts the Prince George’s County tournament, Spriggs will take a lot from the experience, win or lose.
“I have 11 wins, 11 smiles to look back on, but nine losses of disappointment,” said Spriggs. “It’s easy to win, but it’s hard to lose. You take everything from losing. That’s the most important thing to me.”
By the book
Rule 6, Section 2, Article 4 of the National Federation Rules provides for blind wrestlers: “In matches involving a visually handicapped wrestler, initial contact shall be maintained from the front using the finger touch method in the neutral position. Contact must be maintained throughout the match.”
