Rallying around a Raider

Williamsburg wrestling displayed support and generosity for one of their own last week.

Traci Eckenrod, wife of Raiders Coach Grant Eckenrod, devised a 50/50 raffle to raise funds for the family of wrestler Chris Lehmkuhl.

Lehmkuhl's father, Monte, suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot in December. They held drawings at home duals last Thursday and then again Saturday while hosting the Raider Invitational.

Williamsburg has a close-knit group of supporters.

“It's like that here. It's a little of a cult following,” Grant Eckenrod said. “It's awesome.”

Craig Stanerson, of Williamsburg, won $230 the drawing on Jan. 19. Wrestling official Ron Terpstra, of Lacey, won $195 Saturday. Both donated the money back to the Lehmkuhl family. Waterloo Columbus, one of the teams involved in the Jan. 19 event, donated $100 from its kids' club.

“It says a lot about the kind of people wrestling people are,” Grant Eckenrod said. “They're hardworking and the type of people who stick together and look out for one another.”