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Topsail state wrestling champions have the crown but no ring
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TOPSAIL VOICE
DAVE BITTNER
HAMPSTEAD – As a high school athlete, each player begins their respective season with one goal. They strive through months of practices, hours of sweat, pain, blood, and injuries to attain that one monumental achievement – a state title.
In late February, the Topsail Pirates’ wrestling team attained that goal; it was never done before and will never be repeated again in the history of Topsail High. They won the 1-A State Championship title.
Next year, Topsail will rise to the 2-A classification and never have the chance to defend their title.
Every current or former athlete knows the price that’s put on a championship title. A high school level state championship is the highest most people are even able to hope for, and even then, it is a long shot.
But these athletes have made it happen. They are among the few and the proud that have the ability to say they are better at something than anyone else in the state; their hard work and dedication has immortalized them in history.
Every team “fights” for their state championship, but no team does so quite as literally as wrestlers do. They face an opponent one-on-one; they enter that circle and dictate their own future.
There is no ability to pass blame or hide behind the skills of a star player who can carry the team to victory. It is every man for himself on that mat, and Topsail had 23 people reach their summit over the course of a five month season.
These athletes laid their bodies on the line for 20 weeks. They traveled all over the state sacrificing themselves and earning recognition for their school and community; a plaque or trophy commemorating their accomplishment will be placed in Topsail’s trophy case forever.
The athletes that made this happen, though, are still fighting for their memorabilia.
They are struggling to find a way to attain the one thing that differentiates a state champion from any other athlete – The State Championship Ring.
“The ring is a huge symbol for the once in a lifetime achievement these kids have made,” said Topsail’s head wrestling coach Jake Pence.
“I want these kids to have something to show for their accomplishments,” he added. “That ring provides them with a memory for the rest of their lives. It also creates an even stronger family bond. They enter into a brotherhood for the rest of their lives.”
Despite Coach Pence’s desire, attaining the $300 ring for each of his wrestlers has become a quest in and of itself.
These wrestlers and their coaches are hitting the streets to find donations and raise funds, so they can finally wear that ring and continue to represent themselves and their community with pride.
The total cost of the rings is $6,900. The Pirates are dedicated to their cause, though, and are accepting donations of any size, no matter how small it may seem.
Several members of the community have already offered a helping hand. One man has made the generous donation of $100 per ring for a total of $2,300 while others have helped the Pirates with donations ranging from $20 to $300.
The Topsail’s Booster Club is also working on a flat, per-pupil donation to be made to all athletes when they win a state championship.
Businesses such as Domino’s have offered the wrestlers pizzas the team can use to sell as fundraisers. Bert’s Surf Shop donated t-shirts with the same intent; Coastal Carolina Sports has also made a donation.
Coach Pence and the wrestling team has been overwhelmed by the support of the community to help make this dream a reality.
“J. Michael’s Philly Deli donated $100,” said Coach Pence. “They just took it right out of the till then and there.”
Dr. Wendy Barnes of Barnes Dentistry donated $200.
“I have coached a long time,” said Pence, “and these kids are no average wrestlers. They are truly good kids who are upstanding members of our community. We have one aspiring minister and several students who are in the top of their classes.”
“Wrestling has also given some of these athletes direction,” added Pence. “They now strive to succeed in school, so they have an opportunity to compete on the mat.”
This symbol of accomplishment would reinforce to positive effects wrestling has already had on these athletes.
The Pirates are doing more than just hitting the streets for donations, though. They are scheduling a fundraiser outside Food Lion on Saturday April 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 18 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. where they will be hosting a hotdog sale.
If any business is interested in making a donation to the help support the Topsail Wrestlers reach their goal of attaining their State Championship rings for their entire team please call Coach Pence at 279-0501 or email him at pence77@aol.com.
They can also contact Topsail High School at 270-2755.
The Pirates are grateful for any and all donations the community is able to make.
HAMPSTEAD – As a high school athlete, each player begins their respective season with one goal. They strive through months of practices, hours of sweat, pain, blood, and injuries to attain that one monumental achievement – a state title.
In late February, the Topsail Pirates’ wrestling team attained that goal; it was never done before and will never be repeated again in the history of Topsail High. They won the 1-A State Championship title.
Next year, Topsail will rise to the 2-A classification and never have the chance to defend their title.
Every current or former athlete knows the price that’s put on a championship title. A high school level state championship is the highest most people are even able to hope for, and even then, it is a long shot.
But these athletes have made it happen. They are among the few and the proud that have the ability to say they are better at something than anyone else in the state; their hard work and dedication has immortalized them in history.
Every team “fights” for their state championship, but no team does so quite as literally as wrestlers do. They face an opponent one-on-one; they enter that circle and dictate their own future.
There is no ability to pass blame or hide behind the skills of a star player who can carry the team to victory. It is every man for himself on that mat, and Topsail had 23 people reach their summit over the course of a five month season.
These athletes laid their bodies on the line for 20 weeks. They traveled all over the state sacrificing themselves and earning recognition for their school and community; a plaque or trophy commemorating their accomplishment will be placed in Topsail’s trophy case forever.
The athletes that made this happen, though, are still fighting for their memorabilia.
They are struggling to find a way to attain the one thing that differentiates a state champion from any other athlete – The State Championship Ring.
“The ring is a huge symbol for the once in a lifetime achievement these kids have made,” said Topsail’s head wrestling coach Jake Pence.
“I want these kids to have something to show for their accomplishments,” he added. “That ring provides them with a memory for the rest of their lives. It also creates an even stronger family bond. They enter into a brotherhood for the rest of their lives.”
Despite Coach Pence’s desire, attaining the $300 ring for each of his wrestlers has become a quest in and of itself.
These wrestlers and their coaches are hitting the streets to find donations and raise funds, so they can finally wear that ring and continue to represent themselves and their community with pride.
The total cost of the rings is $6,900. The Pirates are dedicated to their cause, though, and are accepting donations of any size, no matter how small it may seem.
Several members of the community have already offered a helping hand. One man has made the generous donation of $100 per ring for a total of $2,300 while others have helped the Pirates with donations ranging from $20 to $300.
The Topsail’s Booster Club is also working on a flat, per-pupil donation to be made to all athletes when they win a state championship.
Businesses such as Domino’s have offered the wrestlers pizzas the team can use to sell as fundraisers. Bert’s Surf Shop donated t-shirts with the same intent; Coastal Carolina Sports has also made a donation.
Coach Pence and the wrestling team has been overwhelmed by the support of the community to help make this dream a reality.
“J. Michael’s Philly Deli donated $100,” said Coach Pence. “They just took it right out of the till then and there.”
Dr. Wendy Barnes of Barnes Dentistry donated $200.
“I have coached a long time,” said Pence, “and these kids are no average wrestlers. They are truly good kids who are upstanding members of our community. We have one aspiring minister and several students who are in the top of their classes.”
“Wrestling has also given some of these athletes direction,” added Pence. “They now strive to succeed in school, so they have an opportunity to compete on the mat.”
This symbol of accomplishment would reinforce to positive effects wrestling has already had on these athletes.
The Pirates are doing more than just hitting the streets for donations, though. They are scheduling a fundraiser outside Food Lion on Saturday April 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 18 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. where they will be hosting a hotdog sale.
If any business is interested in making a donation to the help support the Topsail Wrestlers reach their goal of attaining their State Championship rings for their entire team please call Coach Pence at 279-0501 or email him at pence77@aol.com.
They can also contact Topsail High School at 270-2755.
The Pirates are grateful for any and all donations the community is able to make.
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