Rising Waters

There's a mutual respect between D.J. and Danny Waters that's found only among fierce foes and loyal friends. As teenage brothers who have wrestled for a decade, Danny and D.J. know a thing or two about being both. Fierce competitors on the wrestling mat, 16-year-old D.J. approaches opponents aggressively, while Danny, 15, says he takes a calmer, more strategic approach. "D.J. is a goofy wrestler, I'm a technique wrestler," says Danny, the jokester. "He goes all out and gets mean. I rely on strength over aggression." Joking or not, it's clear that both siblings unwittingly admire their brother. "We look up to each other," says the elder D.J, a junior at Greenwood Community High School. "He's better at some stuff; it just depends on the situation." The brothers do have something in common - their modesty. Well, sort of. "That's pretty cool, he's never told me that," says Danny, a sophomore, when told D.J. looks up to him as a wrestler. But as he continues, he can't help but take a jab at his older brother. "I do know a lot more skills, on the mat I tell him what to do." He's only half-joking. Because wrestling matches allow each brother to watch the other's duels, coaching tendencies are hard to hold back. It's essentially like having an extra coach on the floor, they say. "Actually, he tells me what to do and I do the same," Danny admits. It's a responsibility both brothers take very seriously. Big brother D.J. takes his duty a step further though. Making sure Danny makes weight and "does what he's supposed to" is the toughest thing about having a brother on the team, he says. But the benefits far outweigh the negatives. One of the most obvious: a live-in wrestling partner. Although at 189 pounds, D.J. has a slight edge over 140-pound Danny. "When we're showing moves though," says D.J., "he holds his own." With two years more experience (D.J. took a break from wrestling for a few years in elementary school) Danny has the tactical edge in wrestling, says the elder "But," says Danny, "if he wants to, he could beat me." That's been the story for nearly 10 years around the Waters home. The brothers have been wrestling since they were 5 and 6 years old. They picked up the sport after seeing a cousin wrestle and it quickly became a family passion. "My mom is a little bit more into it than our dad," says D.J. "She doesn't let us stop if we want to give up." The family tradition may continue, if D.J. and Danny have their way. "We're trying to get our younger sister to wrestle, she's turning four," he said. That kind of teamwork - whether it's convincing a sister to wrestle or helping each other on moves - has also brought a bit of camaraderie between the brothers and somewhat indirectly rubbed off on the entire Greenwood team. According to Greenwood coach Mike Smitson, the team has gelled together well this year. Several teammates - including the brothers, he says - have been spending more time hanging out after meets. "Danny and I have definitely gotten closer," says D.J. "We don't fight as much and we coach each other a lot more." D.J. even uses his brother's performance to fuel his own. "I get really nervous before a match, but I usually warm up after my brother's match -that's when I wake up. After screaming for him, I get pumped up." Whether it's firing each other up, going cosmic bowling or wrestling at home, whatever they're doing is working. D.J. is the defending sectional champion and boasts a 20-plus win record. He had only four losses through mid-January. Danny, with six losses, also qualified to wrestle at the IHSAA regional last year, and plans to make semistate this year. Hopefully state, of course. But their wrestling season won't end there. When they're not on the mat for the Woodmen, the two participate in USA wrestling. Last year, D.J. won Indy Nationals and placed second at state. In addition to being year-round grapplers, the Waters boys are also analytical, says Smitson, showing a clear passion for the sport. "They're very low key and they don't get rattled on the mat, or at least you can't tell it visually," he says. "If there is defeat involved, they analyze what they did wrong and fix it. They use defeat to figure out how to win next time." And winning is something they both enjoy. In fact, it's what Danny likes most about wrestling. It's also what makes their weight maintenance - no sweets, pop or fatty food, the running, the practices - worth it. So much so, that Danny hopes to continue that winning streak in college, wrestling at Indiana University. He won't have big brother D.J. to stand up for him, though. D.J. is likely headed to the Marines after high school. Perhaps they can convince younger sister Trinity to take up the sport and coach Danny in D.J.'s absence.