USA Wrestling raises support for Puerto Rican wrestling community

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico late September, 2017. It is regarded as the worst natural disaster to ever hit the island and has caused over $95B dollars of damage.

Families and communities are still working to recover and create some level of routine for the kids.

United World Wrestling has asked USA Wrestling and our wrestling community to help re-supply their youth programs with wrestling gear to get them wrestling again.

The USA Wrestling for Peace team has responded and launched a donation drive to collect new and used equipment for the people of Puerto Rico.

USA Wrestling for Peace Program Director, Patrick Bennett said, “This is a great service that we can do for our wrestling family. Our mission is to come alongside those struggling and share what we have with them to let them know they are not alone in their time of need.”

The program is collecting new and used shoes, shirts, shorts and singlets, as well as, weight lifting equipment and wrestling mats.

USA Wrestling’s sponsor, Nike, had a drop-off site for wrestling gear at the USMC Junior National wrestling tournament in Fargo, ND this week.

Thank you to Jason Bryant from Mat Talk Online and Fred Franklin and the entire Nebraska USA Wrestling family who brought a great amount of donated items for the kids in Puerto Rico.

Wrestling gear can also be sent directly to USA Wrestling c/o Patrick Bennett, 6155 Lehman Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

For weightlifting equipment and wrestling mats, please send information and a picture to Patrick at pbennett@usawrestling.org.

USA Wrestling is partnered with the U.S. Wrestling Foundation to support this cause. More information on USA Wrestling for Puerto Rico can be found at USWrestlingFoundation.com/puertorico