By JOSH FRYE
News Sports Writer
The Escambia County High School wrestling team recently received a $3,000 donation from Rewarding Educational Athletic Choices Helping Each Sport (R.E.A.C.H.E.S.).
According to Blue Devils wrestling team coaches Roland Hall and Joel Gonzalez, the funds received from R.E.A.C.H.E.S. were used to purchase a large number of much needed equipment for the team. With the funds, the team purchased 20 singlets, 17 pieces of headgear, 14 gear bags and three pairs of wrestling shoes to be made available to team members who have trouble finding proper wrestling footwear.
According to Gonzalez and Hall, the addition of gear will help team members focus more on the fundamentals of wresting.
“Without this program, we could not have been able to fund the team,” Hall said. “These funds really help the team take the focus off being able to afford costs of gear and uniforms and more on wrestling itself.”
As wrestling season officially begins in November, the 2021 season will mark the first year ECHS will field a sanctioned wrestling team. Last year the team made its entry and gained much success in several unofficial meets.
R.E.A.C.H.E.S., a non-profit 501(c) organization, was founded in 2007 in an effort to promote, protect and preserve the integrity of amateur athletics by provided athletic and educational opportunities to all athletes of all ages and abilities. All profits received from R.E.A.C.H.E.S. are used to support specific needs in each sport.