OUR STORY

Dedication and Service

It is incredible how youth and high school wrestling has grown in just seven years. In 2015, we moved home after living in Tennessee for three years. And, let me tell you, youth wrestling was almost non-existent in North West Florida. To compete we drove our son for six to ten hours to compete in youth wrestling tournaments. Practice partners were scarce and travel coaches were not available. So, I got my coach's card. And off we went.

​

We were blessed to network and meet talented coaches from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee whom all volunteered to help coach our son at various tournaments. We were beyond grateful for their help. Returning home to limited opportunities for practice was frustrating. We kept grinding, networking, and reaching out to as many people as we could to help our son stay competitive. 

Slowly, something truly special began to happen. Small clubs started to form and coaches started traveling with kids to tournaments. We were absolutely thrilled! We joined as many clubs as possible to achieve maximum time on the mat and remain competitive.

You might wonder how all our efforts were funded. Well, we paid for travel, lodging, entry fees, and food. And, when we could find a coach, we paid for them to come with us to coach our son. Many of these tournaments would cost $1000.00 or more depending on the location and the number of days in a hotel.

Over the years, beginner tournaments started coming closer to North West Florida. Still, to compete against top wrestlers in our son's age bracket, we had to travel to South Florida, Georgia, North Alabama, and Tennessee. 

​

Next, our community started embracing the idea of bringing top college coaches and college wrestlers to the area to train with local wrestlers and setting up more local tournaments with higher-level competitors. 

​

Most recently, we have realized that local high school teams are not financially supported by the school districts, and the budget to pay for them to compete has not been supported by a booster's club. So, once again we find a few dedicated coaches and parents who have shouldered the financial burden; and fought to keep our kids on the mat. 

Our North West Florida wrestlers dedicate themselves to rigorous physical training, nutrition training, technical training, and mental mindset training to win state and national championships. Wrestling does not reward kids for showing up or participating.

If kids want to win on the mat, they have to commit to working harder and longer than their opponents.

Our first wrestling coach in Tennessee taught us to teach our son that you either win or learn. When you are learning, get up and keep learning, keep training so you will win next time. We were amazed that this message crossed many of the wrestling families we met along our journey.

​

Wrestling parents watch our kids put blood, sweat, and tears into training to win state and national titles. Our wrestlers rise to the occasion every match because they fight and get up and fight again until they find victory. 

​

So, wrestling parents of North West Florida have banned together for our wrestlers and formed Wrestling is Life, a booster club dedicated to funding dreams, building character, and teaching our kids that in life you will not always win. But, you get up and keep fighting for your dreams.

Our name represents the lessons our children learn in wrestling that will carry them far beyond the mat. It will prepare them for life. They will keep fighting for the best college opportunities, the best careers, and the best of everything in life. Our wrestlers know that there is no such thing as failure only stepping stones to success. 

​

Wrestling Is Life is rooted in the belief that we all have an inherent responsibility to make a meaningful difference for our kids. We celebrate their hard work, dedication, their perseverance, and their grace, and their humility.

With a variety of active projects and a community dedicated to advancing the quality of wrestling programs for youth and high school, we harness our skills and resources to successfully achieve our goal of breeding champions on and off the mat.

We have been proud to witness how our activities have benefitted the wrestling community and beyond. We invite you to be part of something truly special, a wrestling family.

​

Want to take part?

Contribute to our work by donating or volunteering today.

Thank you for your generosity, 

Delvon and Neina Ferguson