Throwback [Paperback]

Dave Conifer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2004

It's been a year now, and the pain Ben Pietrak feels over the way his high school wrestling career ended just won't go away. During an aimless year in college he has an idea; what's to stop him from finding his way back into a high school lineup to atone for his mistake?

First he must overcome an ethical dilemma. After some moral acrobatics he deludes himself into believing he was cheated out of an extra season on the varsity.

Once back in high school he realizes that he has returned to a place of missed opportunities. He resists the self-imposed rigid social order and is rewarded in ways he never expected. Eventually he meets Judy, a student who he would never have had anything to do with the first time in high school. His success on the mat is tempered by a growing realization that his rationalization was flawed, but by then it's too late to turn back.

Ben's moral and romantic difficulties converge with his struggle for wrestling vindication in Atlantic City at the New Jersey Wrestling Championships.

How can he end up with everything he wants: redemption, integrity, and the girl?

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"What just happened?" I’m thinking with horror. I can hear my coaches shouting, the sound of their voices overpowered by the sound of my labored breathing. "Did I just blow it?" I can’t remember anything that happened since my last peek at the scoreboard, which indicated that I was ahead 4-2 with 39 seconds left in the match. Now I’m on my back looking at the ceiling lights, and the referee is counting back points. I realize with dread that my plan of stalling out the last half-minute has failed. I fight with all the strength I can muster, and somehow manage to flip onto my stomach. I look at the scoreboard again and see that the score is tied. There are now 11 seconds left in regulation time. A lot has happened in 28 seconds.

Unless something changes, this match is heading to overtime. I’m gripped with an intense fear because I am completely spent. My panic is compounded by a feeling that my opponent getting stronger and more confident even as I wither. I know he is relishing the thought of wrestling into overtime just as I am cowering from it.

The seconds seem like years. Now there are just 8 seconds left in regulation time. Although I’m no longer on my back, I’m still wrapped up tightly in my opponent’s cradle. I know there is no way I can end the match by scoring the tie-breaking points myself. His hold is too tight and the time remaining is too short, even if I somehow find the resolve to try.

Another second ticks by. Soon it will be too late to avoid overtime. But I can’t go on. I think of all the hard work and sacrifices I’ve made over the past 3 years to get to this point. I have an opportunity to go further than anybody thought I could, especially my own teammates. If I lose this match, nobody will ever remember that I’d come within 39 seconds of making it to the state tournament. But none of that matters. I just can’t go on. I thought I had what it takes but now I realize I don’t.

There is only one alternative to overtime. It’s unthinkable, but in my state of despair the unthinkable has become reasonable.

I look at the clock again and see that there are now only 7 seconds remaining. It has to be now, or time will run out with no change in scoring, sending the match into overtime. I know I can’t score, and the only way my opponent can score to break the tie is to put me on my back again. But it has to be now.

About the Author

Dave Conifer lives in Southern New Jersey with his wife and 3 kids. He has been around the sport of wrestling for most of his life in various capacities. This experience has enabled him to write a story that is technically realistic. Throwback is his first novel.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (December 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595340067
• ISBN-13: 978-0595340064
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,470,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book About a Great Sport, December 2, 2005

By 

Coach Powers - See all my reviews

This review is from: Throwback (Paperback)

It's great to see some new wrestling books coming out, because there aren't enough stories about our sport. "Throwback" contains some of the most realistic and gripping wrestling scenes ever written. Any wrestler or fan will instantly recognize and enjoy these. On top of that, there are some intriguing subplots that involve peer pressure, moral choices, and tolerance by high school students of others who are in different social circles. This is a fantastic new book about a great old sport.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even Has Hoobastank, December 12, 2005

By 

L.W (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Throwback (Paperback)

What a great book. I started and finished it all in the same night. It even has some Hoobastank songs in it. I didn't know much about wrestling. Now I have a new respect for the wrestlers I know.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Wrestling Story, February 17, 2005

By 

Mike P. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Throwback (Paperback)

The wrestling details are the best I have ever read. Wrestlers, their girlfriends and parents will love this book.

As a former high school wrestling standout I can honestly say that this is one of the greatest books that I have ever read. I would love to see a second edition to further tell the story and see if Ben and Judy end up meeting again. Also, how did she find out who he really was? Once again, an absolutely amazing piece of work that I would love to hear more about.