It was designed to be a reward for team manager Philip Crowe when New Richmond Middle School wrestling coach David Smiddy set up an exhibition wrestling match for Philip against NRMS wrestler Lane Dees.
It ended up being a bigger reward for coach Smiddy, his team and the NRMS crowd that watched Philip, a multiple disabilities student at NRMS who has down syndrome, get his chance to wrestle.
"In all of my years of coaching -- about 25 years total -- I have never experienced anything close to that," said Smiddy. "There was so much emotion and positive energy in that gymnasium that night. The gym was electric,"
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Smiddy has Philip in science class and and invited him to join the wrestling team as a manager.
"He came to practices on Mondays and Thursdays and after a few practices he started to join in on some of our daily drills," said Smiddy. "The boys on the team encouraged him and gave Philip positive praise."
Smiddy came up with the idea of rewarding Philip with an exhibition match during an I.E.P meeting with his parents, Richard and Annette Crowe.
"Why not have Philip wrestle an exhibition match at our last home dual?," Smiddy asked Philip's parents. "They were very, very excited about this."
Smiddy had Philip wrestle Dees at practice first and then spread the news to his classes about Philip getting a chance to wrestle at and invited them to attend.
"Several students made "Go Philip" signs," said Smiddy. "There was an unbelievable amount of support by our student body, Philip's teachers, and the wrestling team."
Philip won his first match with a pin as the students led the crowd in chants of "Philip, Philip."
"I saw Philip's father tearing up and I had goose bumps all over my arms," said Smiddy. "The gym was electric and Lane Dees was outstanding during the match. Philip is truly a remarkable young man -- we just let everyone else know it!"
