The fifth annual Turkey Takedown was held at Iron Peak Sports & Events on Nov. 29, providing an opportunity for young wrestlers all around Central New Jersey to showcase the skills that they’ve worked on. This fundraiser is carried out to better Hillsborough’s K-12 Wrestling program. Hillsborough’s Head Wrestling Coach, Rhys Weinberger, said “The event was a huge success thanks to the help of all of our volunteers.”
Hillsborough High School wrestlers and team managers were required to volunteer at these tournaments to ensure this process ran smoothly and efficiently. Wrestlers showcased their abilities through set up, admissions, check-ins, tablework, and clean up to help provide new wrestlers with an understanding of how wrestling is normally planned out, giving them a head start of what to look forward to before the season began.
Wrestlers shared their perspectives on volunteering. “It just feels good to know that you helped,” senior Jana Abdalate said. “We’re a part of something bigger and united with your community over something you love. It’s just inspiring to see my teammates that I know worked very hard for this opportunity go out and try their best.”
“It feels good to become a team and unite over something we are all passionate about after so long of what sometimes feels like an individual sport,” junior Isabella Tauriello added.
Coach Rhys emphasized the importance of volunteering, not just for the Turkey Takedown, but at other chances where opportunities present themselves. He said wrestling is more of an individual sport, while volunteering is a chance to work together. “Whether brand new or a long-time member, we expect all of our program’s wrestlers and family members — despite wrestling being more of an “individual” sport — to come together, pick up each other’s slack, and do what is required to get the job done rather than one person’s individual job. That is one of the many ways that the “team” and “individual” aspects of wrestling overlap, and without that camaraderie, our Wrestling Program would not be able to achieve the success that we seek.”
Over 30 volunteers participated in the event, supporting youth wrestling and contributing to the fundraising efforts of the K-12 Hillsborough Wrestling Program. The sixth Annual Turkey Takedown Event is expected to continue to embark a world of success for youth athletes.
