By Dagen Gilbreath, Graphics Editor
A huge wrestling event is slated for Saturday, June 2, at 6 p.m. in the FFHS gymnasium. The Wrestling Youth Club Fundraiser is an intense event featuring multiple special bouts. From grudge matches to the marquee Derby Junior vs. Derby Senior competition, there are a lot of entertaining battles to behold.
For $10, viewers can watch matches featuring Jeremiah Derby facing off with pro MMA fighter — and father — David Derby; two-time FFHS state champion Carlos Martinez going up against Pasquotank’s first-ever state champion, Darrien Stutz; state champion Alex Monaco returning to face off with third-place finisher Cliff Phelps; former state champion Connor Hughes battling state runner-up Johnathan Zafra; and state champ Arien Leigh meeting Corey Smith, who wasn’t able to attend states this year due to school complications, but has previously beat Leigh. Both hope to settle the score on Saturday.
On top of these special events, there will also be exhibition matches with the OBX Elite “little league” wrestling team, which will be facing nationally ranked opponents. These matches are back-to-back solo events for fun, and should be both exciting and interesting for all those attending. Weigh-ins for competitors are at JJ Brewbakers on Friday (June 1) at 5 p.m.
For the main event, Derby will be facing off with his father in a match 18 years in the making. This match is all for fun, but it does mean something pretty significant for Derby. His father has been a great influence for him on the mat, and is a big reason why Derby got into wrestling in the first place.
“I’m not going to say I wouldn’t have wrestled without him, but he pushed me to start wrestling when I was young. But he didn’t have to push me much because it’s what I love to do,” Jeremiah said. “(My dad’s) a pro MMA fighter, pro boxer, and he boxed in college. He’s definitely been a great inspiration for me, but he also just keeps me focused so I don’t make the same mistakes that he did. He always makes sure I’m doing the right thing. He’s been very instrumental to my success in high school and I’m sure he will be throughout the rest of my life.”
Derby’s father has been a role model and influence on him, but he’s also a rival: “We always challenge each other and spar all the time… Yesterday we had a radio interview on 98.1 The Sound and there was a lot of trash talk,” Jeremiah said with a laugh.
“(This match) means bragging rights… I want to show that I’m my own man now and I’m doing my own thing. It’s good to have his support, but I want to be the new do-or-die, I want to be the new Derby that people think about when they hear the Outer Banks,” Jeremiah said. “I just wanna be able to say (to my dad), ‘Remember that day? Remember that day that I beat you?’ when he’s old and giving me a hard time.”
Derby and many others will be competing on Saturday to generate funds to support wrestling on the OBX. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to find parking and get settled in their seats, as a dance recital will be taking place in the auditorium beginning at 5 p.m.
Senior Dagen Gilbreath can be reached at gilbreathda0518@daretolearn.org.
