July 27 Walker, Minnesota

Finally I get to family and profession. It looks like family is taking a back seat to wrestling lately. Good thing the family has been hooked on wrestling or this wouldn’t be happening. In fact, this is how it’s been since the beginning, which is why I’ve been able to focus so much in this area.

Anyway, Walker, Minnesota is a place where my family vacations from time to time. I got wind of the high school wrestling program possibly getting cut. So, they needed a promotional event and that’s exactly the direction Mike Duroe (World coach 2005), Pablo Ubasa (Hawkeye Kids coach) and I headed.

We needed a main contact to work with my own personal contact (Mike Gavin from DanGable.com). Leah Crow of the Walker Polaris dealership was our contact. She has twin sons on the wrestling team so this enhanced her interest. The local newspaper – the Pilot-Independent also helped immensely. Thanks Leah and Dean Morrill (of the newspaper). Several phone contacts also created interest, for time was short for promotion.

A great turn-out! These 140 kids (mostly younger) will really help build for the future in the Walker area. Local wrestling coach Colby Marich hosted the event and many other coaches from nearby towns attended.

There’s a controversy in Minnesota about hockey and wrestling taking place during the same season. There is definitely room for BOTH hockey and wrestling in this area. In fact, they compliment each other considering hockey caters more to the team aspect of sports and wrestling comes down to one-on-one in the end. It’s great for kids to do both sports, especially early-on, and decide what fits better at a later date along with the other qualities needed for success in life (like academics!).
Overall, it was a GREAT event. Good decisions in keeping all the sports.

Now, let’s keep working on getting those walleyes back biting on Leech Lake! I didn’t see former wrestling coach Gary Storm—hope he’s working on this walleye issue. Wrestling and walleye fishing 00 love them both and especially with family!

Speaking of family, all of my immediate family was able to be at Walker together on the lake. That made it extra-special. Thanks Kathy, Molly, Mackie (and her boyfriend Phil), Brian, Jenni & Gable Mitchell, and Mike, Annie & Danny Gavin. Wow! The family is getting bigger!