A special needs wrestler from Brick Memorial with Down Syndrome scored a pin to get his first varsity victory in a 15th bout at Middletown North on Saturday, January 17, 2017.
MIDDLETOWN – A Brick Memorial wrestler made his varsity debut on Saturday and won his match. While that might not sound remarkable, it was a moment that won't soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it.
Moments after No. 17 Middletown North “officially” put a 32-29 victory over Brick Memorial in the books, David Richards, a four-year member of the Brick Memorial program with Down Syndrome, made his varsity debut and made a memory for anyone in the gym at Middletown North.
“He’s been in our program for four years, wrestled three years at Veterans Middle School and he just loves it,” said Brick Memorial’s first-year head coach Mike Kiley.
“This is a moment that reminded us all what sports are supposed to be. It was an opportunity for David, but it is why we coach and wrestlers wrestle. It was a special moment for David, for the coaches, his parents and our entire program.”
A collaborative effort by Kiley, Middletown North head coach Matt Sirchio and North freshman Rich Wall – the wrestler who volunteered for the bout – allowed Richards to win by pin using a cement mixer in the first period.
Richards let loose a roar after the pin was called.
“Everybody in the gym had tears in their eyes,” Sirchio said. “When Mike (Kiley) approached me a couple of weeks ago about doing it, I said absolutely. This was about doing the right thing. It was a moment that was bigger than all of us.”
Sirchio said he asked for volunteers earlier this week.
“Rich (Wall) had beaten the kid (Richards) in a JV match a couple of week ago and he understood what we were trying to do,” Sirchio said. “Rich is a class act and a great kid.”
Richardson scored a pair takedowns and before he hit the big move.
“We accept everybody in our program,” Kiley said. “David shows up every day, he works hard. To see the expression on his face, to see how is mom and dad reacted was amazing and made it all worth it.”
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