Freedom Wrestling Academy unveils new building

MOSES LAKE - A new era for Freedom Wrestling Academy began Saturday when the club's new location was unveiled.

The new building - located on Debonair Street in Moses Lake - is roughly three times the size of the old room and boasts an upstairs area for future gym equipment.

Head coaches Matt and Mark Janke and corporate sponsor Dain Craver helped christen the new location with a ribbon cutting ceremony and barbecue.

Craver - who is a tree fruit consultant in Royal City and an avid participant in youth sports - helped the transition with a donation of about $5,000.

Craver grew up wrestling in high school and also has a wealth of coaching experience in several sports, including softball at Royal for 10 years, varsity baseball at Royal for two, little league girls for 30 and Grid Kid boys football for 10.

"I'm really involved with the kids and when these guys told me they needed some money to get this thing going to help the kids I just thought, 'Well, that's a good deal.'"

Craver was impressed by the enthusiasm of the Jankes and knows what kind of difference a coach can make in a young boy or girl's life.

"These guys are good guys," he said. "Any time I work and I can see the enthusiasm that people have such that I've had over 30 years working with youth sports ... If it wasn't for youth coaches when I was a kid I probably would've ended up in jail."

Moses Lake wrestling royalty - Dick Dean and Charlie Zamora, amongst others - were in attendance.

Also, current Chiefs wrestlers Nico Hernandez and Chase Clasen took in the event.

Hernandez in particular thought the new space - complete with about two and a half wrestling mats lined by a four foot wall ?- looked good.

"I think it looks really nice in here," he said. "I'm excited to get back in to wrestle here next week on next Monday when they open it back up."

Freedom Wrestling Academy's ultimate goal on its mission statement is to build future Olympians. The Janke's may have the talent on hand as 11-year-old Everett Ashley was introduced as the club's first All-American.

Ashley earned All-American status after his performance at a tournament in Reno, Nev. that draws around 4,000 wrestlers.

According to Matt, Ashley wrestled the best he's seen him wrestle all while missing about a month and a half with a broken hand.

"Last year I didn't do so good ... Well, I did OK at Reno, but I think it's 'cause I kind of took a break and I wanted to come back aggressive and I wanted to win," Ashley said.

Freedom Wrestling Academy is entering its third year and Matt is surprised by how quickly the club has grown.

"We started off in a small room and we're actually moving pretty fast," he said. "A lot faster than we anticipated. We're pretty proud about that. We're still looking for sponsors. Our sponsors are what makes us."

The academy practices every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Those looking to sign up or interested in information about the club can visit during those times.