He's now in San Francisco for the third WWB wrestling tournament hosted by Golden Gate Wrestling Club, and will be reporting on his experiences there for the Gay Games blog.
Here's his first installment:
After a seven-hour plane ride and two subway trips, I finally arrive in Castro Street in San Francisco. I'm taken aback by all the sights and sounds of this famous place so much gay history has been made. I make my way to the Eureka Valley Recreation Center for my first-ever practice with the Golden Gate Wrestling Club. The smell of wrestling mats hits me in the face as I head upstairs, where I finally meet Roger Brigham in person. Greeted by a handshake and a hug from a fellow Ohioan makes me feel very welcomed. After shaking hands with other members of GGWC and some visiting Aussies, it was time to hit the mats. Its been about five months since I hit a wrestling mat and sitting on a plane all day didn't help my back at all. But as we wrestlers do, I sucked it up and gave it our all. After some takedowns and throws I was feeling great. The feeling of hitting the mat is second nature to me.
Then I finally got to meet Gene Dermody, who has been a part of the Gay Games since it started. It was truly an honor to meet him after reading about GCWC and the Gay Games history. After some wrestling and chatting it up with some other wrestlers, I went out with Gene, Roger, and another great wrestler Calvin, to have something to eat the Castro. I went back with Roger to his house in Oakland where i would be staying for the week. His husband Eddie welcomed me in with a handshake and a big hug. I was so tired from the flying, walking, and wrestling I just crashed... looking forward to another day in a community of wrestlers when I woke up!
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