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FEATURE: Wrestling leaders push to make wrestling a high school sport in Mississippi |
USA Wrestling
08/16/2008 |
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Biloxi, MS – Currently, a push is being made in Mississippi to be the 50th state to add high school wrestling. Following the lead set forth in Arkansas just one year ago, Grady Brown is attempting to be the man to facilitate the addition.
“I grew up wrestling and know the value it has had in my life,” said Brown, who grew up near wrestling-rich Lancaster, Pa. “I want kids down here to have the same opportunity that I did.”
Brown is not the first person to attempt to have wrestling expand in wrestling. Current Mississippi/USA Wrestling State Chairman, Chris Hubbard, has been at it for a few years in Jackson. Before Hubbard, USA Wrestling leader Bob Kranz also had the same goals.
However, Brown believes that the success will come when the athletic directors in the Biloxi see the efficacy of wrestling programs.
Brown plans on meeting with athletic directors, and presenting them with USA Wrestling’s Club Builder DVD, which shows action-footage and testimonials from current and former wrestlers. His hope is that other schools will follow the example set by Ocean Springs High School and its Superintendent Robert Hirsch and Athletic Director Mark Hubbard.
With Hubbard working in the north (around Jackson), and Brown, along with Kranz, attacking in the southern part of the state, the goal is for schools to have other teams to compete against, so there is a competitive schedule.
“We’re hoping that this catches on, and athletic directors will be thinking ‘I don’t want our school to be the last to add wrestling,’” said Grady Brown.
“This would be great for wrestling to catch on in Mississippi,” said Tony Black, Manager of Grassroots Development for USA Wrestling. “Just next door (in Alabama), wrestling has been gaining in popularity, and Alabama wrestlers just had their best performance at Cadet and Junior Nationals ever. A lot of the success can be attributed to the work of a few very dedicated people there. We are hoping that the same will be said in Mississippi."
At the 2008 USA Wrestling Cadet/Junior National Championships, Mississippi was one of the few states without representation. That was not the case, however, at the 2008 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals, as Mississippi had athletes in the competition.
“I know that wrestling, above any other sport, teaches skills that prepare kids for life in the real world,” said Brown. “By having schools add wrestling, I know that we will put forth many future contributors to society.”
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