This holiday season Foley Event Center is getting the gift of hosting a wrestling event for the very first time. The 2018 Alabama Youth Wrestling Organization (AYWO) Season’s Beatings All Card Invitational will be held December 29.
Not only is it the first time Foley Sports Tourism (FST) will be hosting a wrestling meet, it’s also a brand new event for AYWO. Tournament Director Greg Mathews said it’s an opportunity to link northern Alabama clubs with those in the southern part of the state. Though teams from Huntsville, Birmingham, Prattville, and Enterprise are expected, wrestlers from other states including Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana are also planning to make the trip. Mathews expects 300 to 350 wrestlers ranging in age from second to eighth grade.
Season’s Beatings will not only connect clubs in different areas, but Mathews hopes it will also help expose potential wrestlers to the sport.
“AYWO is excited to showcase this sport at the Foley Event Center in the hopes of recruiting future wrestlers from our youngest generation,” Mathews said. “Wrestling is tough, mentally and physically tough, but after you’ve wrestled for a couple of years you’ll realize everything life throws at you is just a little easier. Confidence, maturity, and drive are all developed on the mat as is the ability to defend oneself in the event of trouble. We have several active clubs south of Montgomery and are looking to grow more over the next several years. Wrestling isn’t just for boys either. We highly encourage young ladies to give wrestling a try!”
FST Deputy Director Don Dukemineer said the organization is excited about the opportunity to expand its horizons.
“This is our chance to welcome a new event to Foley that we haven’t hosted before,” Dukemineer said. “The benefits are two-fold, our residents get to see a new range of competition and our economy experiences a post-Christmas bump from visitors coming into town.”
The 2018 AYWO Season’s Beating All Card Invitational is open to the public. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 4 to 17.
To learn more about the wrestling tournament or any FST event visit our events page.
