tornado99 345 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 How did Grundy become such a wrestling powerhouse? DavidFus and JamesTriard 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Hard work, dedication(by athletes, coaches, and community), and money that allows them to do what other programs can't in our area like coaches from prestigious backgrounds, travel, wrestling the best competition, and very good facilities. All of that said, it comes back to kids wanting to strive to be like the state champs that paved the way before them. fingernail 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan4VT 4,554 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Hard work, dedication(by athletes, coaches, and community), and money that allows them to do what other programs can't in our area like coaches from prestigious backgrounds, travel, wrestling the best competition, and very good facilities. All of that said, it comes back to kids wanting to strive to be like the state champs that paved the way before them. Dresser (VT coach....until tomorrow morning) was a big part of it, I think. 8 titles in his 8 years there in the late 90s early 2000s kind of set the foundation, to me anyways. I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Late 80s through to late 90s. They brought in another Iowa alum Travis Fiser when he left. Having resources to pull those two off is awesome. But they were pretty good before Dresser too. Dresser without a doubt rose then to National prominence. Ryan4VT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado99 345 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 I had often heard financial backing was a major advantage in getting it started before the hard work and dedication became consistent. I assume that is what brought Dresser and Fiser from Iowa. Not discounting the efforts of school and community. Just interested in the story and history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EH31 2,518 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 I had often heard financial backing was a major advantage in getting it started before the hard work and dedication became consistent. I assume that is what brought Dresser and Fiser from Iowa. Not discounting the efforts of school and community. Just interested in the story and history. I was curious as well. Where does the money come from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 http://miningpeople.org/old_coalpeople/august08/red_robertson.htm This will shed a little light... EH31 and redtiger 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado99 345 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Thanks for the background. That was a great article. barondawg77 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 No problem. Grundy wrestling has helped many other local teams as well. Lending wrestling mats, offering a free wrestling camp every summer, attending youth tournaments to help local schools fundraisers are just a few examples of their generosity. Love em or hate em, they have helped a lot of people through the years. gwave0333, GMan and EH31 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Football 1,532 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Dresser (VT coach....until tomorrow morning) was a big part of it, I think. 8 titles in his 8 years there in the late 90s early 2000s kind of set the foundation, to me anyways. I could be wrong. Is Dresser leaving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan4VT 4,554 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Is Dresser leaving? Making his decision this morning. Iowa St wants him. VT counter-offered with a contract extension and raise. He's set to announce today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado99 345 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 No problem. Grundy wrestling has helped many other local teams as well. Lending wrestling mats, offering a free wrestling camp every summer, attending youth tournaments to help local schools fundraisers are just a few examples of their generosity. Love em or hate em, they have helped a lot of people through the years. Thanks to Mr. Robertson and his supporters for the many years of service to our area. I appreciate your sharing, Barondawg. How does a Tazewell County boy take advantage without moving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Thanks to Mr. Robertson and his supporters for the many years of service to our area. I appreciate your sharing, Barondawg. How does a Tazewell County boy take advantage without moving? What do you mean by "take advantage" exactly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado99 345 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Poor choice of words. If a kid from another area wanted to participate in youth wrestling, is it open to those outside of Buchanan County? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Yes, but there are some opportunities in Tazewell county that aren't bad choices either. If you would like some better info, I can point you in the right direction by PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Football 1,532 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Jamie Shelton has started a wrestling program in Richlands I helieve. Joey Stiltner in Tazewell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan4VT 4,554 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Jamie Shelton has started a wrestling program in Richlands I helieve. Joey Stiltner in Tazewell. Quake is family. He knows his stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado99 345 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Quake is family. He knows his stuff. I know him as well, but didn't know Richlands had a youth program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado99 345 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Jamie Shelton has started a wrestling program in Richlands I helieve. Joey Stiltner in Tazewell. I know them both, but didn't realize they had programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan4VT 4,554 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 I know him as well, but didn't know Richlands had a youth program. I think it's relatively new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Quake and Joey do a great job. Tazewell has a lot of area youth that works out with them. Free of charge as well. There are kids from Tazewell, graham, bluefield, Richlands, and Lebanon that work together. Ryan4VT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slap the Mat 32 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Graham has had an AAU Wrestling Club since 1993. Coach Dresser and Red Robertson were instrumental in helping the Graham Club get started. Mr. Robertson contributed towards buying mats and Coach Dresser helped with set up and coaching the kids. Kids from Tazewell & Mercer counties have participated over the years, sometimes with numbers over 80. The need for youth wrestling is very important in building a successful program. The days are past when a 9th grader can step on the mat and be competitive with no exposure to the sport. The Club as a feeder to the the High School Team is very apparent. All three of this year's Graham's State Place winners came up through the Club from elementary school. Eight other members of this year's team also had been in the Club from an early age. One thing that hurts Tazewell County Wrestling is the lack of Middle School Teams. Several counties near us have Middle School Teams and this is a big help in getting kids of that age group interested and participating. It is very encouraging that Tazewell and Richlands are getting into youth wrestling. Wrestling is a tough and demanding sport and participation seems to be growing smaller. Many high school teams across our area can't field a full team and have several empty weight classes. It is very important to get the younger ones out on the mat and wrestling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 It's not like Tazewell and Richlands haven't had youth wrestling in the past, it's just beginning grow again in those areas. Graham had ha Floyd of success in the past few years at the high school level. You guys should be very proud of that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slap the Mat 32 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Yes, both Tazewell and Richlands have youth programs in the past. They were quite good, but had fallen off over the years. It is great that both are actively involved again. It has been my experience with youth wrestling that many come out, but the number that stick with it dwindle as they grow older. Too many distractions and competing sports. Wrestlers are a different breed, tough, driven, and hard nosed. Some kids don't like the the one on one competition or how physical the sport can be and drop out. The ones that stick are there for the long haul. Wrestling is not easy. Like the T-Shirt says: "Wrestling is not easy. If it was, everybody would be doing it". barondawg77 and old_school 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 If you can get 4-5 kids per grade to stay involved from youth in to high school, you can be very successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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