Bleckley County took a big first step into the world of wrestling with its inaugural youth wrestling camp held June 23–24. Over two days, 50 kids ages 5 to 14 participated in the county’s first-ever organized wrestling event, learning the fundamentals of a sport that has never been offered locally—until now.
Hosted at the Cochran-Bleckley Rec Department gym. the camp focused on introducing young athletes to wrestling basics, including stance, takedowns, positioning, and pins. Each camper had the opportunity to participate in a live match against a peer of similar size and age on the final day, with those earning a pin awarded a special “golden pin” as a trophy.
Each participant received a BC Wrestling t-shirt and embossed Bleckley County Wrestling wrist bands to show their pride, and plenty of snacks and hydration throughout the day. The camp was made possible through the support of 8 business sponsors, 10+ individual sponsors, and 10 dedicated volunteers, along with multiple key community partnerships from organizations like CBRD and STORM Wrestling.
The coaching lineup featured a mix of experienced professionals and dedicated local volunteers. Gerald Carr and Bryce Carr from STORM Wrestling—both elite-level college wrestlers—led structured technical sessions throughout the camp. They were joined by several volunteer coaches who brought both competitive wrestling experience and a strong connection to working with youth:
• Mason Fleming, a standout wrestler at Paulding High School with 119 career wins, now competing at Brewton-Parker College
• Chris Dyer, who competed for Hueneme High School in California; he has coached football and baseball and brings additional experience from serving as a youth minister
• Jessie Figueroa, former West Laurens High School wrestler and current 8U softball coach, active in youth sports
• George Del Vecchio, a Pine Bush High School (NY) alum from Section 9 under Coach John Scesia; he has coached at TitleTown Wrestling Academy in Valdosta, Windsor Academy in Macon, and currently serves as Head of Wrestling Operations at Stratford Academy in Macon
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with parents praising both the experience and the energy behind it. “My son has enjoyed himself and wished it could’ve been longer,” said Amber Adams. "I'm so proud of my grand boys for participating and having a blast! They’re already looking forward to the next event and I'm excited to cheer them on again!" exclaimed Bonnie Kitchens. “We would be first in line to sign up again!” added parent Heather Zaresky.
The camp was made possible through the support of CBRD, which generously opened its doors and welcomed something new to the local scene. Additional partners, including Houston County and Westfield schools, provided mats for the event.
Though wrestling is still brand new in Bleckley County—with no existing martial arts or wrestling programs beyond small children’s ninja classes—the momentum is real. Organizers are already planning a fall event and working toward forming a youth team for the upcoming season.
For community updates, more photos, sponsor highlights, and a fun “Wrestling 101” series breaking down what the kids learned, follow the public Facebook group: Bleckley County Wrestling.
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by BleckleyProgess.com
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