Wrestlers from across the region gathered at Grundy High School June 15–18 for the annual Grundy Wrestling Club Summer Camp.
More than 150 wrestlers representing multiple states attended the camp, which has grown into one of the premier youth wrestling events in the Commonwealth. Participants came from Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio this year.
The camp featured an experienced group of clinicians led by Chris Marshall, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American widely regarded as one of the nation’s top youth instructors.
This year’s Grundy Wrestling Camp was really great. We had kids of all ages,” Grundy Wrestling Club president Tass Robertson said. “They came from several states. The youth got to have individual instruction from Chris Marshall (2x NCAA All American), who is nationally known as the best youth clinician in the country.”
Marshall, who once attended the camp himself in the 1990s, was joined by a group of accomplished wrestlers with strong ties to Grundy. The staff included Ethan Smith, a former All-American at Ohio State; Wyatt Bush, a former Grundy standout and current Bloomsburg University wrestler; Carson Griffey, now competing at Reinhardt University; Bryce Looney of the University of Pikeville; and Gabe Fiser, a Grundy assistant coach and collegiate All-American.
Camp sessions were divided by age groups, allowing wrestlers from pre-kindergarten through high school to receive focused instruction. Athletes worked on fundamentals such as takedowns, escapes, positioning and match strategy, while also participating in live drills and competition.
“We had over 150 kids for the duration of camp,” said Southern Gap High School head coach Travis Fiser, who previously led the Grundy program. “The camp continues to be a great opportunity for our young kids to get better. It was a very successful camp.”
Beyond the mats, the event included community activities such as a free movie night and a pool party at the YMCA, bringing together athletes and their families throughout the week. The camp concluded with a pig roast and alumni gathering, which was moved indoors due to weather.
“It’s been a bittersweet last year of Grundy High School,” Robertson said. “The last camp for GHS was the best way possible to close the doors on an amazing chapter in our history, before we open the doors to our future.”
For many instructors, the camp also served as a chance to give back to the program that helped shape their careers.
“It was awesome, man. We had kids from eight different states show up,” assistant coach Gabe Fiser said. “It was awesome to see Alumni Wyatt Bush giving back to the camp and to see him grow. The same goes for seeing Carson Griffey and Bryce Looney; seeing them give back is awesome. Ethan Smith and Chris are true professionals; you can always expect the best when they show up.”
With the transition to Southern Gap High School ahead, leaders say the mission will remain the same.
“We will be back next year in a new school, but we will keep the same commitment to helping kids grow towards becoming successful adults,” Robertson said. “The future is bright, and the best is yet to come.”
