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PHOTO: Emmett Ogden, 8, of Winslow, gets the upper hand under the watchful eye of referee Chris Fraser during the Raider Rumble Tournament on Jan. 29. (Kevin Giguere/ Central Maine Photography photo)
By Mark Huard
WINSLOW — The Winslow Raider Rumble Youth Wrestling Tournament was back in full action this year, with a full slate of action on Jan. 29 at Winslow High School.
The tournament is a joint fundraising effort co-hosted by Winslow Area Youth Wrestling and Winslow Varsity Wrestling to benefit youth and varsity wrestling teams and help cover the cost of equipment, competition fees and on occasion, travel expenses.
The Raider Rumble reached its 300-wrestler cap a week before the meet. Wrestlers from prekindergarten to eighth grade represented 27 teams in more than 800 matches.
Winslow varsity wrestlers, Winslow alumni wrestlers and other experienced wrestlers from local high school all banded together to help make this youth tournament a success.
Ely Yang, 19, a former Raider wrestler returned this year to referee.
“I did wrestling for all my years of high school,” Yang said. “I came back this year to help out with the tournament. It was great to really make a difference. These tournaments are the kinds of healthy competition that kids need, so it’s very rewarding. The coaches and the families of competitors told me how much they appreciated it, and that was really great to hear. I was very nervous as it was my first time refereeing so their words of encouragement meant a lot.”
PHOTO Winslow Youth Wrestling teammates Jackson Wilkes, 4, and Bella Whitman, 5, shake hands before their match while referee Chris Fraser prepares at the Raider Rumble Wrestling Tournament on Sunday, Jan 29. (Kevin Giguere/ Central Maine Photography photo)
