Max learns more

The clock read 1:30am, but Max was still wide awake.

As he stared at the ceiling, memories fluttered through his mind, punctuated by the noise of his new roommate's snores.

He's a genius, Sam had said. Totally invented a whole new strategy that's yet to fail us.

It sounded like a joke--the wrestling team using flatulence like a weapon. But the more Max learned, the more the truth became clear.

Sam provided bits and pieces of context that only a team veteran could. From the conversation, Max learned that the University's wrestling team had been one of the worst in the nation. Until Ryan showed up.

Ryan astounded his teammates and coaches with his adept skills, nimble maneuvers, and novel pins, catapulting the team into the championship and gaining Ryan MVP status--the first time a freshman had been awarded the title in the University's history.

With his newfound clout, Ryan was the obvious choice to lead the team; he was unanimously voted team captain his sophomore year. But he wasn't satisfied. Sure, the team had made it to the championship, yet they still lost to the rival school. Now in charge, Ryan was determined never to lose again.

He quickly identified a major team weakness: low moral and lack of social cohesion. The wrestlers all showed up to practice and went through the motions, but they never really bonded meaningfully, never thought like a team, didn't have any team traditions. So Ryan decided he would make one.

That's where his particular background came in: a little known fact amongst his teammates was that Ryan had a talent that predated wrestling.

He'd always been incredibly gassy. It was a trait that he honed to perfection, gaining the ability to seamlessly fart on command. Growing up, he put the skill to good use, farting on his three younger brothers whenever he pleased. In fact, he got so good at it that he started a YouTube channel that grew relatively popular. Videos of Ryan farting on his brothers were interspersed with those honoring requests from commenters. Farts on surfaces, close up farts, toilet farts--Ryan indulged his fan base with zeal, enjoying the attention and the opportunity to showcase his talent.

This was the beginning of Ryan's penchant for domination and humiliation. That he could get his brothers to rub his feet or do his chores, all due to the fear they had of his farts--it was just too perfect. He felt like a god.

So, naturally, Ryan gravitated to a sport where he could similarly dominate his opponents, bending them to his will, twisting them into embarrassing positions, all while receiving adoration, cheers, and accolades. By the time his wrestling career had ramped up, he mostly believed those farting days were behind him. It wasn't until he noticed a pathetic looking freshman named Cody that it all suddenly clicked.