Newsletter - Summer 2006 ·
Ladies and Gents,
I know that this has been extremely past due and that you probably gave up hope, everyday looking for a new newsletter from me. I apologize for not being on the ball this year and only sending out two newsletters. Now on to the update!
I last spoke to you in the November range, to remind you I had just finished second at the Sunkist International Tournament. After the short lived success the year became long and grueling. I was struggling with school, wrestling, and just keeping up with life in general. I found out that I had been suffering from mono. During that time I did not place at three tournaments. I also went on a wrestling trip to Hungary during this time and wrestled in a tournament which was paid for in full again by Bobby Wright. These trips are always the most humbling. You always learn so much from these trips with the foreign teams coming in from all over the world.
After a full recovery I got back on track. I placed 7th at the Senior Nationals which was down from last year when I placed 5th, but none the less qualified me for the world team trials. I then went to University Nationals and won my first but definitely not my last national title. I then prepared for my best finish yet which was at the World Team Trials. The winner of the tournament will represent the USA at the World Championships in Azerbaijan. The second and third place finisher will be alternates and be named as members of the US National Team. I started of the tournament by avenging a loss from Senior Nationals against Jason Tolbert of the US Army by scoring a five point throw in the first period and a three point throw in the second, winning 5-0, 4-1. My second match was against teammate Joe Betterman, who was able to pin me in the first period. From here on out I had to fight back to achieve my goal of being on the National Team. My next match was against Andrew Hogan of the Marine Corps who I was able to handle easily 4-0, 6-0. I then drew Tolbert as we both were sailing through the consolation bracket. It was one of my more exciting matches as I won the second and third period with time winding down winning the match 0-7, 4-0, 3-0. This set me up for the third place match and the chance of National Team status. Willie Madison of the Gator Wrestling Club and a former teammate was my final match. I had recently beaten Willie at the Senior Nationals and was thinking of the same result here. Unfortunately he got the better of me that day wining 5-2, 1-1 and I finished the day with a forth place finish. This was a bitter sweet finish; it was the best finish in my three appearances at the World Team Trials. But I will be happy with no finish but first no matter the tournament.
I am currently in Chicago training with my roommate Jacob Curby to prepare for our next overseas tour. On July 4th I will be heading to Madrid, Spain with three (Jacob Curby, Chas Betts and Andrew Besik) of my teammates and a coach (Dr. Curby) where we will be wrestling in the Madrid Grand Prix. From the Madrid Grand Prix we will fly to Tbilisi, Georgia where we will be wrestling in another tournament. These overseas tours are absolutely the best possible thing to become a great wrestler. The only problem is these are fairly difficult to put together and expensive. When a tour arrives, even when I do not have the money to pay for it, I do my best to attend knowing that this will help my climb to the top. I would like to thank Ty and Linda Moore for putting time and effort into helping me raise money for this tour.
Over all it has been a good year. I was able to spend some quality time with my parents as they came up to Northern Michigan to visit. Mom had a couple of great days of relaxing and photographing. And Dad was in absolute heaven with the luck of having the Red Sox on TV three of the days they were visiting, fishing all day and also seeing me workout and wrestle. It was also very refreshing and a thrill for me to see my parents and have them experience my life for a couple of days.
The weekend of August the 10th we will be having my annual fundraiser. Not everything is set in stone, but I can guarantee that there will be a luncheon on Friday and a dinner on Saturday evening. You will be receiving an invitation after I return from Europe. It will be great fun along with mighty feasts, a highlight video and the famous silent auction with many keepsakes. If you would like to donate your time, some food or something for the auction please be sure to call myself or my mother. This fundraiser keeps my parents and I afloat when it comes to my grueling financial demand of traveling. This fundraiser is not just about raising money but it helps you understand what I do everyday and what it takes to become an Olympic Champion. Please come support your local Olympic hopeful.
Recently my good friend Jason Scarborough has put up a website for me. The website is www.kerryregner.com it is devoted to my wrestling and will have details of the fundraiser including directions and times. It will also keep you up to date on what is going on with my life and career. It will be my new newsletter so to speak. I hope all is going well with you and your families please feel free to reply to this email asking questions etc… until next time friends and family.
Sincerely,
Kerry Regner
