Coach shouted. “Think about what he’s doing to you.” Donald squirmed and strained, but Tavo easily forced his shoulders to the mat for a pin. It was the same move the Jersey City wrestler had used to pin him the day before. A few feet away, Mario was being pinned via that same half-nelson move by Jesse Nadel. “The half nelson is the most likely pinning move you’re going to be up against,” Coach said. “Both of you guys”—he pointed to Mario, then Donald—“lost that way yesterday. So let’s work on some counter moves. Learn how to get out of it.” Coach had Jesse get Tavo in the half nelson. “Like this,” he said. “Let’s say Jesse has just taken Tavo down. So Tavo’s on his side, with his arms out.” Jesse hooked his left arm under Tavo’s left, then gripped the back of Tavo’s head with it. From there he had plenty of leverage to force Tavo over and toward the mat. “Now, what should Tavo do to counter that?” Coach asked Donald. Donald shrugged. “Push back as hard as he can?”
