From the sidelines

Congratulations to the Christiansburg wrestling team for another state title. Sixteen straight championships and counting is pretty amazing.

We should be proud of this program and its legacy, and we also should be proud enough to throw them a ticker-tape parade through the streets of Christiansburg.

Businesses need to herald these young men and their accomplishments.

I’m even suggesting we proclaim a special day or week to salute this team and what they have brought back to our community. They deserve a lot more hoopla then they have received.

Many visitors pass through this fair little town in southwest Virginia, and most never know that this is home to one of the best high school wrestling programs in the country.

“Welcome to the home of the greatest high school wrestling team alive.” “Welcome to the town where wrestling is the king of the roost.” “Welcome to the 16 time state wrestling champion.”

But that type of signage is not found.
These boys know how to wrestle, and we should be very proud of the awards they have gotten and brought back to the community.

Radford is a great example of the support given to the local high school after they win state titles. As you exit Interstate 81, visitors are greeted with a sign that salutes those champions.

I was a big proponent last year when the wrestling team won number 15 that the town should recognize them with at least one sign as visitors entered here. Town council said they would think about it.

Even a banner or two would suggest we care about our wrestling team, and I can bet there are not many other communities that have received this much attention as a “grappling capital.”

The time to recognize the town for its great state of wrestling was long ago, but it still needs to be done.

I encourage local residents and especially Christiansburg wrestling supporters to call or email town leaders and again ask for this recognition.

We should be proud to be known as the “only place to wrestle.” Contact council through the following emails and ask for a sign: mbarber@christiansburg.org ; sbishop@christiansburg.org; hcollins@christiansburg.org; attorney@cordhall.com; shuppert@christiansburg.org; hshowalter@christiansburg.org and bstipes@christiansburg.org.