On March 20th, Abilene High School hosted the inaugural wrestling “Alumni Dual” to help raise funds for the new practice facility that is currently in development. Current and former Abilene wrestlers alike participated in great matches that’ll help lead the program into a promising future; proving the bond of the program goes past graduation.

“The atmosphere was electric, lots of people are here and excited to see what’s going to happen and where we’re going to go with [the facility],” former three-time state champion and Abilene business owner Ross Taplin said.

The rapid growth of the sport of wrestling, and strong support from the Abilene community facilitated the apparent need for a new practice facility.

“We have 120-130 wrestlers 50-60 coaches in the kids club, girls team is blowing up, so we need a new facility, and we decided to come together as a community and privately fund this new facility on school grounds,” Taplin said.

The dual wasn’t just for setting up the future but became a way for veteran athletes to dive into their past—adding to the novelty of the event. The dual felt less like a competition and more like a homecoming for the alumni.

“It was almost a reunion, which I thought was great because some of those guys I never see or haven’t seen for twenty-plus years. So, that was pretty special,” high-school wrestling coach Corey Casteel said.

Wrestling isn’t just a sport to these athletes; it’s a lifelong commitment to the sport and the community it breeds. Specifically, 72-year-old alumni Maury Flynn wrestled, and finding himself back on the mat was a natural progression for him.

“There’s no end [to a wrestling career] just the gap between your last match and the next,” Flynn said.

After the success of the event, Abilene Wrestling Club will make the dual an annual tradition. Once the facility construction is complete, future proceeds will be reallocated to support other club affairs, ensuring that the community continues to have a platform to support the athletes they love.