Most athletes never get a second chance to live their dreams. Twenty-five years after his last wrestling match Jay LaWalt was able to make that happen in front of his friends, family and a crowd of adoring young fans he’s been coaching for years. He won bronze medals in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman style wrestling at the World Police and Fire Games.
Horace “Jay” LaWalt is a detective with the Fairfax County Police. He lives with his wife Maria and two sons in Herndon. He was a wrestler in high school and college. Like many athletes, his sports dreams were absorbed by the realities of everyday life. LaWalt stayed engaged in wrestling through the years and began coaching when his sons were old enough to wrestle. He has stayed on as a coach for the Herndon Reston Rattlers to teach children even when his own boys weren't participating because of his passion for the sport.
OVER SEVERAL DAYS LaWalt won two bronze medals during the games. One for freestyle wrestling and one for Greco-Roman style wrestling. While LaWalt is pleased with the medals he brought home, he doesn't hide his disappointment that they weren't silver or gold. “I'm disappointed but I'm not angry about that. It's paid off,” said LaWalt. “I tell these guys all the time that when you outwork the other guy, typically, you win.”
Sportsmanship is as important to LaWalt as accolades. One of the things he's most proud of is being able to live that message for the kids he coaches who turned out to watch him wrestle. “I showed them it's not the worst thing in the world to lose. It's how you handle it. You have to lose graciously. Trust me, on the inside there were all these feelings but I knew they were there and they were watching me like a hawk,” said LaWalt.
The Commissioner for the Herndon Reston Rattlers, Tess Rollins said, “We are so fortunate [the Games] are in our backyard. A lot of kids came out and their parents came out on their lunch breaks. Kids were very anxious they weren't going to get back from camp in time to see coach Jay compete. They just thought it was the coolest thing ever. Here their coach was competing on a world stage and they were thrilled.” Many police and fireman initially signed up to compete in the games but as the months wore on and the grinding regiment of training became reality, only those with true dedication stayed the course.
Matt Sanders was LaWalts sparring partner for seven months. Sanders first thought LaWalt was joking when he said he was going to compete in the games and asked to help him train. “When I realized he was serious, I started sparring with him and we started working out three to four times a week.” LaWalt dropped 35 pounds during training and got into prime shape to wrestle. Sanders was there for the matches and says, “He left it all on the mat and put in 200 percent effort.Two bronze medals is an outstanding accomplishment.”
AS MUCH AS others credit LaWalts efforts, he insists it’s other people that enabled him to participate in the games. “Matt committed himself to me completely and dedicated as much time as I did. I can't say enough about him. My wife and family also supported me the whole time, through months of this. I could not have asked for more support than I got from home,” said LaWalt. “You know, I had some unfinished business as an athlete. This was the first time, athletically, I have put a plan in place and worked it. It was a process but it paid off,” said LaWalt. He and Sanders have become close friends and are working on a plan for the next games scheduled to be held in Montreal. They're going for the gold.