Memorable Experiences in Wrestling

by coaches, wrestlers, parents, and fans

A Family Title
Brandon Grasty, Senior at Orange High School, competed in his 2nd State Championship tournament this past weekend and took home the Championship in the 4A 215 lb weight class after finishing 2nd in the tournament last year. It wasn't just a victory for Brandon but also for his grandfather, Gary Bateman, who he calls "Papa" ..... continued

Submitted by Kathy Palmer

What a Great Sport!
During the past 3 or 4 years, a close friend of mine has tried to get me interested in wrestling. He had been a high school/middle school referee and now is currently coaching at he middle school level. His son had wrestled in middle school and now is currently on the Orange JV team. We had coached our sons together in little league baseball and we had all become very good friends. Not too long ago, my son lost interest in baseball ..... continued

Submitted by Greg Morton, Riverside parent

A Wrestler to Remember
I coach at Bandys High School. Four years ago there was a middle school kid that came out for our wrestling program. He was one of the hardest workers on the squad. He was polite to both coaches and wrestlers and always demonstrated good sportsmanship.. ..... continued

Submitted by Ronnie Sigmon, Bandys

Patrick Willard normally wrestles 215 for Providence, but on Wednesday, Jan 17, vs. Myers Park he wrestled HWT. Providence had 2 guys at 215 or below so they had a choice going into the final 2 matches as to where to put each guy. ..... continued

A Model to Live Life by
Considering the fact that wrestling is probably the most basic human contest and the truest test of individual strength and skill, the lack of animosity usually seen between wrestlers--especially high school-aged--is surprising. ..... continued

Submitted by Dan Harris, Clayton

If the Shoe Fits
Over Christmas Break last year, we had arrived at a tournament and weighed in when my heavyweight realized he had left his wrestling shoes at the school. Unfortunately, he wore a size 15 and the next largest shoe size on the team was a 12. ..... continued

Submitted by Coach Duncan, Southeast Raleigh

A Champion in Life
Not all champions leave the competition with a medal. Most recently at the North Carolina 4A Mideast High School Regional Wrestling Championships I witnessed an athlete that conducted himself with such class and indomitable spirit that I am inspired to laud his actions to everyone I meet.
The wrestlerƒs name is Kevin Fields, a 160 lb senior at Millbrook High School in Raleigh , NC ..... continued

Submitted by Lynn Oeser

South View JV wins Warrior Classic

Rode in on a Broom Handle
On February 13, 1999, the West Brunswick Wrestling team was on its way home from a long road trip to Williamston, N.C. We had just finished second in the East Regionals, and after about 4 hours on the highway, we were just outside Wilmington on Hwy. 17. Suddenly, the bus began to lose power..... continued

Submitted by Aaron Hewett

I had a wrestler named Dominique Carter who was getting ready for the AAU States but was a quarter of a pound overweight, so I asked him to go urinate. So he left and came back to the scales and he was a pound and a half over. I was bewildered and asked him did he use the bathroom and he said yes so I asked him why did he weigh more now than he did before the first weigh-in and he said that he had to drink plenty of water to help him pee.

Submitted by John Carothers

Fike Coach Saves Wrestler's Life
Quick thinking Tuesday night by a high school wrestling coach skilled in cardiopulmonary resuscitation may have saved the life of a high school wrestler whose heart stopped beating following a match. Charles B. Aycock High School wrestler Justin Moore, a junior, was competing in a dual match with Fike High School Tuesday at Aycock. Moore was pitted against Rashon Johnson of Fike in the 189-pound weight class. Johnson had just pinned Moore, but as the match ended, Moore was unresponsive. He did not get up from the mat .... continued

by Keith Barnes, Wilson Daily Times

Superstitions
When I was the coach at Tarboro HS, I had the pleasure of coaching Lee Carroll. Even though Tarboro brought back wrestling in 1992-93 (after having cut the program in 1986), Lee's sophomore year, he was quick to learn and very dedicated. As a junior, Lee was a state finalist. In his senior year, Lee gradually overcame his personal doubts concerning his success the year before and the external and internal pressures to win the states as a senior. He rolled to a 50-0 undefeated season and state championship. We never talked about the record he was breaking.... continued

Submitted by Butch Sadler, head coach, Wake Forest-Rolesville High School

Before wrestling season begins, one can find me on the football field like many other coaches. I coached DLine and was also one of the designated bus drivers. I always drove the defense to pregame meals. Well, one afternoon as we were heading toward dinner, Gerard Warren (three years at 189 and one at 215)--one of my favorite wrestlers, mind you--asked in all seriousness, "Coach, why don't we have pregame during wrestling season?" I can't repeat what I said to him, but he never lived it down. When Gallop takes a poll of all-time stupid questions, that one will be on it!

Submitted by Greg Tuttle, head coach, East Forsyth

When I went out for wrestling in high school we were first taught the single leg and the double leg takedowns. A wrestler by the name of Scott Hager worked at Hardees after school. So one day a man came in and made all the employees get in the freezer while he robbed the place. I asked Scott why didn't he shoot the double leg takedown and Scott said he thought about it, but the guy probably would have shot the double barrel takedown.

Submitted by John Caruthers, head coach, Pit Bull Wrestling Club

Champions in Our Eyes
Morehead High School's Jason Stewart and Rockingham County's Jeremy Thomas have been friends all their lives... Jason's dad Bobby and I worked together for many years. We both remember the days each others' sons were born, and we've watched them grow up into two fine seniors. The sport of wrestling has seen their teams go against each other in the spirit of competition many times, but the boys never wrestled each other. Until this season.... continued

Submitted by Jim Thomas

David Nobles: Defining Never Quit
David Nobles was 28-6 as a freshman at 103 lbs. He was bumped out of the lineup at the end of the year when Steve Wiggins dropped to 103 for Regionals. His sophomore year, the same thing happened again. Steve dropped down and knocked him out of the lineup. His junior year, his break out year, a freshman came in by the name of Mike Valldeperas, and kept David Nobles from starting again. Mind you, Nobles could start on any team in the state with maybe a few exceptions.... continued

Submitted by David Culbreth

No Matter how Hungry...
Heading into the 1996 State Championships, I was one of the favorites to win the 1A/2A 103 pound weight class. After working out in Charlotte I weighed 101 on the dot. That night, two former all state wrestlers - Jason Kimble (95, 96, 97) and Troy Matthews (95, 96) and myself went to a mall in Charlotte. I ate a cookie there and that was all.... continued

Submitted by Mac Heffner

In 1982-83 while I was an assistant coach at Hoggard High School, a wrestler I will call Winky was on weight about an hour before weigh-ins. He told me he was going to relax until time to weigh in and I replied "OK". Weigh-ins were at six and it was about 5:45 as I saw Winky and his 112lb. stocky frame bouncing down the hall with a drink in his hand. Being a little upset I replied "what on earth are you doing with that drink". With the most serious look you could imagine he said "It's OK coach I won't gain any weight, it's a Diet Coke".

Submitted by Alan Sewell

As we approached the Christmas holidays and the looming conference battles which rapidly followed, in my best inspirational voice I told my high school team (1979-80) how important the holiday workouts would be and how upon returning our schedule would require that we become "intense." A hush fell over the wrestling room as my seniors contemplated the task that lay ahead. From the back of the room came the squeaky pre-puberty voice of a freshman: "Coach are we going to put those tents down on the football field?" I realized then that sometimes it's not what you say but making sure that everyone understands what you mean that counts.

Submitted by Herman Norman, Forbush High School

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