Another Adam Frey fundraiser set for Canonsburg, Pa., Saturday, Aug 15
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by Gary Abbott
Building off the success of a fundraising event held in New Jersey in July, the wrestling community in Western Pennsylvania is getting together this Saturday for a clinic and exhibition matches to raise funds for the Adam Frey Foundation.
The WPIAL NCAA National Champs Camp, along with numerous exhibition bouts, will be held at Canon McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa., Saturday, Aug 15.
Cornell Univ. wrestler Adam Frey has been waging a public battle with cancer for more than a year and a half. Frey is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. and currently lives there, where he is receiving treatment for his illness.
This clinic and exhibition wrestling event is being put together by those from Adam's hometown community, many who know him personally and others who want to help him and his family during this difficult time.
The event is being organized by Mike Nelson, a wrestling parent from the community whose sons have known Adam Frey and his family for many years. Adam's father coached the Nelson boys during their elementary school years, and Adam was a mentor to them as they grew up.
"We are from the same neighborhood. Through my boys, I have known Adam since he was seven years old. I keep in close contact with the Frey family. We saw the success of the event in New Jersey. We have a great wrestling tradition here in Western Pennsylvania, and we want to raise even more money for Adam here," said Nelson.
The clinic will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and run through 4:00 p.m. The exhibition matches will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until they are completed. The cost for both the clinic and wrestling matches is $30. Those who want to just watch the matches will be charged $15.
The clinic will feature past NCAA champions Teague Moore of Oklahoma State, Robbie Waller of Oklahoma and Damion Hahn of Minnesota, plus NCAA All-Americans Ray Brinzer of Oklahoma State and Iowa as well as Jay Robison of Edinboro. All of these clinicians are now top coaches on the college and youth levels. They also are Pennsylvania natives, except for Hahn who hails from New Jersey.
This will be a hands-on clinic for the youngsters with the mats open for workouts and to drill technique.
The matchups for the exhibition bouts have not yet been completed, but will be posted shortly. Athletes from 16 different college programs have made commitments to compete, most who have a connection to Western Pennsylvania. See the list of athletes at the end of this article.
The organizers have set up a number of fundraising activities at the event, including t-shirt sales, a 50-50 raffle, Chinese auctions and a silent auction.
Among the auction items is an autographed helmet from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Scholarships to wrestling camps have been donated by J Robinson, the Cavalier Club in Virginia, as well as from camps affiliated with Clarion and Washington and Jefferson. Another auction item is a free month of clinics at respected wrestling clubs including from Jim Akerly (Quest), Rob Waller, Sr. (All-American) and Sonny Abe (Pitbull).
Nelson indicates that people who could not attend, as well as local companies, have already donated between $2,000 and $2,500 to the Adam Frey Foundation as part of this fundraising effort.
Adam Frey is intending to attend the event if he is physically able to do so. Nelson expects more than 700 people to attend the event, but hopes for even more.
"I have told everybody that we are going to raise even more than they did in New Jersey," said Nelson. "My goal is to raise $22,000."
Those who would like to donate to this event can mail a check made out to the Adam Frey Cancer Foundation to: Mike Nelson, 203 E Genessee Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15223.
Those who would like more information on the event, or to help out in any way, can contact Mike Nelson via email at Mikenelson6@hotmail.com or by phone at 412 670-3448.
For information on the Adam Frey Foundation, visit the website at:
http://adamfrey.us/
WPIAL NCAA National Champs Camp schedule
At Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa., August 15
12:00 noon - Doors Open
12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - WPIAL NCAA National Champs Camp
4:30 p.m. to conclusion - Exhibition matches
Athletes, by college, who are expected to compete in exhibition matches
Clarion - Scott Joseph, Jay Ivanco, James Fleming, Joe Waltko
Virginia - Nick Nelson, Mike Salopek
Virginia Tech - Brock LiVorio
Maryland - Brian Letters
North Carolina - Ian McLaughlin
Missouri - Troy Dolan
Lehigh - Shane Welsh
Duquesne - Ryan Sula, Alex Martinez, Tony Clark
West Virginia - Colin Johnston, Matt Ryan
Pittsburgh - Ethan Headlee, Matt Wilps, Phil Sorrentino, Dane Johnson, Anthony Zanetta
Mercyhurst - Eric Fulmer, Josh Shields, Jordan Shields
Notre Dame - Ashton Primus
Bucknell - Rob Waltko
Boston University - Abbie Rush
U.S. Naval Academy - Dustin Haislip
Washington and Jefferson - Zach Cecchetti, Dom Demor
The WPIAL NCAA National Champs Camp, along with numerous exhibition bouts, will be held at Canon McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa., Saturday, Aug 15.
Cornell Univ. wrestler Adam Frey has been waging a public battle with cancer for more than a year and a half. Frey is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. and currently lives there, where he is receiving treatment for his illness.
This clinic and exhibition wrestling event is being put together by those from Adam's hometown community, many who know him personally and others who want to help him and his family during this difficult time.
The event is being organized by Mike Nelson, a wrestling parent from the community whose sons have known Adam Frey and his family for many years. Adam's father coached the Nelson boys during their elementary school years, and Adam was a mentor to them as they grew up.
"We are from the same neighborhood. Through my boys, I have known Adam since he was seven years old. I keep in close contact with the Frey family. We saw the success of the event in New Jersey. We have a great wrestling tradition here in Western Pennsylvania, and we want to raise even more money for Adam here," said Nelson.
The clinic will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and run through 4:00 p.m. The exhibition matches will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until they are completed. The cost for both the clinic and wrestling matches is $30. Those who want to just watch the matches will be charged $15.
The clinic will feature past NCAA champions Teague Moore of Oklahoma State, Robbie Waller of Oklahoma and Damion Hahn of Minnesota, plus NCAA All-Americans Ray Brinzer of Oklahoma State and Iowa as well as Jay Robison of Edinboro. All of these clinicians are now top coaches on the college and youth levels. They also are Pennsylvania natives, except for Hahn who hails from New Jersey.
This will be a hands-on clinic for the youngsters with the mats open for workouts and to drill technique.
The matchups for the exhibition bouts have not yet been completed, but will be posted shortly. Athletes from 16 different college programs have made commitments to compete, most who have a connection to Western Pennsylvania. See the list of athletes at the end of this article.
The organizers have set up a number of fundraising activities at the event, including t-shirt sales, a 50-50 raffle, Chinese auctions and a silent auction.
Among the auction items is an autographed helmet from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Scholarships to wrestling camps have been donated by J Robinson, the Cavalier Club in Virginia, as well as from camps affiliated with Clarion and Washington and Jefferson. Another auction item is a free month of clinics at respected wrestling clubs including from Jim Akerly (Quest), Rob Waller, Sr. (All-American) and Sonny Abe (Pitbull).
Nelson indicates that people who could not attend, as well as local companies, have already donated between $2,000 and $2,500 to the Adam Frey Foundation as part of this fundraising effort.
Adam Frey is intending to attend the event if he is physically able to do so. Nelson expects more than 700 people to attend the event, but hopes for even more.
"I have told everybody that we are going to raise even more than they did in New Jersey," said Nelson. "My goal is to raise $22,000."
Those who would like to donate to this event can mail a check made out to the Adam Frey Cancer Foundation to: Mike Nelson, 203 E Genessee Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15223.
Those who would like more information on the event, or to help out in any way, can contact Mike Nelson via email at Mikenelson6@hotmail.com or by phone at 412 670-3448.
For information on the Adam Frey Foundation, visit the website at:
http://adamfrey.us/
WPIAL NCAA National Champs Camp schedule
At Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa., August 15
12:00 noon - Doors Open
12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - WPIAL NCAA National Champs Camp
4:30 p.m. to conclusion - Exhibition matches
Athletes, by college, who are expected to compete in exhibition matches
Clarion - Scott Joseph, Jay Ivanco, James Fleming, Joe Waltko
Virginia - Nick Nelson, Mike Salopek
Virginia Tech - Brock LiVorio
Maryland - Brian Letters
North Carolina - Ian McLaughlin
Missouri - Troy Dolan
Lehigh - Shane Welsh
Duquesne - Ryan Sula, Alex Martinez, Tony Clark
West Virginia - Colin Johnston, Matt Ryan
Pittsburgh - Ethan Headlee, Matt Wilps, Phil Sorrentino, Dane Johnson, Anthony Zanetta
Mercyhurst - Eric Fulmer, Josh Shields, Jordan Shields
Notre Dame - Ashton Primus
Bucknell - Rob Waltko
Boston University - Abbie Rush
U.S. Naval Academy - Dustin Haislip
Washington and Jefferson - Zach Cecchetti, Dom Demor
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