Wrestlers giving more than just another camp for the summer

PLYMOUTH - Several Plymouth wrestlers may be able to write about changing people's lives when they write their "What I Did Last Summer" essays come fall.

Bob Read, Plymouth Schools wrestling coach, is combining three of his life’s passions - sharing his faith, helping build the characters of young people and wrestling. Fourteen Plymouth students along with their coach will spend a week of their summer vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Read, working with Score International, and their volunteers will be holding a multi-sport camp for students in the Dominican Republic the week of July 16-23.

“My prayer is that they will come back home changed for life,” said Read of his goal for the trip.

Read explained that the trip is not part of the wrestling program of the schools, but rather an opportunity for some of the Plymouth wrestlers to have a new experience. After meeting with interested junior high and high school aged students and their parents, the fourteen began the needed fundraising to make the trip possible.

Read said they will be using wrestling as vehicle to allow the young people to interact and get to know each other.

“We will also be interacting in pickup games of baseball, volleyball, and soccer,” Read said.

Wrestling and sports are only one component of the trip. Read said they will use a portion of the money they are raising to purchase groceries for those who are in need, visit the sugar cane village, and an orphanage while they are in country.

“They will be able to see people who don’t have,” Read said.

The group is actively seeking local sponsorships to help with the expenses. Read said, “We are pooling any money that we receive so that everyone who wants to make the trip is able to go.”

WTCA-AM 1050 Radio, located at 112 W. Washington Street in Plymouth will be accepting donations on behalf of the group.