Incoming Gopher Wrestler Mitch McKee will participate in the prestigious "Beat the Streets" wrestling matches this Thurs. May 19th in New York City. What an honor this is for him and for Gopher Wrestling!!Here are two articles that discuss the event:

Mitch McKee Set to Wrestle at Beat the Streets

The incoming Gopher will be featured among the “United in the Square” main event matches which pit top junior- and Olympic-level American wrestlers against opponents from world wrestling power Iran

Gophersports.com
May 16, 2016

Incoming Gopher Mitch McKee, the four-time Minnesota state champion and recently crowned UWW junior freestyle national champ, will wrestle in the star-studded field at Beat the Streets “United in the Square” event this Thursday night in Times Square.

On a night that will celebrate wrestling and the positive impact the sport has on young men and women, the main event will pit junior- and Olympic-level American grapplers against opponents primarily from world wrestling powerhouse Iran. McKee is one of four junior wrestlers representing the U.S. in the event.

McKee is slated to wrestle freestyle at 60 kilograms in the USA lineup, taking on Peiman Biabani from Iran. Like McKee, Biabani is an accomplished junior wrestler. He captured the 2015 Asian junior championship and also won gold at the Dan Kolov tournament in Bulgaria earlier this year, a senior-level event.

In addition to McKee, junior standouts Daton Fix (55kg), Mark Hall (74kg) and Zahid Valencia (84kg) will take on wrestlers from Iran during Thursday night’s matches.

Five American Olympians will be on the mat in Times Square as well. In men’s freestyle, Jordan Burroughs (74kg) and J’Den Cox (86kg) will take on Iranian opponents. In women’s freestyle, Helen Maroulis (53kg) and Adeline Gray (75kg) will take on a pair of Canadians. Finally, in a special exhibition of Greco-Roman, Andy Bisek (75kg) will take on Olympic champion Kim Hyeon-Woo from South Korea.

The main event matches will begin at 5:30 p.m. Central on Thursday night. Prior to these matches, the celebration will feature youth exhibition matches and the New York City Girls’ Freestyle Dual Meet Championship final. Following the action on the mat, Beat the Streets will hold its annual gala.

Fans can watch the event live on Flowrestling.org. Streaming video requires a FloPRO subscription. An update on McKee’s results will be available to those who follow Gopher Wrestling on Twitter, and a brief recap will be shared right here on GopherSports.com after the event.

All of the activity on Thursday night is part of the annual fundraising and celebratory gala for Beat The Streets. The mission of Beat the Streets (BTSW) is to develop the full human and athletic potential of urban youth and strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTSW works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to help New York City's student-athletes achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTSW and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life skills of physical fitness, teamwork, and self-empowerment. The goal of fostering strong, dedicated, and optimistic kids is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, and summer camps.



2016 Olympian Robby Smith to Emcee Beat the Streets Event in Times Square Thursday

Published on Monday, May 16, 2016 | 5:10pm




This article is reposted from PRLog.org.

NEW YORK, May 16, 2016 – Robby Smith, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling heavyweight, has become a fan favorite worldwide because of his exciting style of wrestling, and his outgoing and enthusiastic approach to the sport and to life. There is no doubt that when he is in front of the media and the general public, he is very inspiring and entertaining.

Smith will put those communication skills to work on Thursday as he serves as one of the emcees for the 2016 Beat the Streets “United In the Square” international wrestling event, which will be held in historic Times Square.

“It is a great opportunity. It’s a wonderful thing I get to do, to promote wrestling and represent Greco-Roman wrestling. You have to take the opportunity when it presents itself to help promote the sport. It’s mostly a freestyle dual with a Greco-Roman match, announced by a Greco-Roman wrestler,” said Smith.

He will work with Olympic public address announcer Kenny Berger as part of the announcing crew, helping introduce the athletes, identify celebrities on hand, and entertain the thousands who will see top-caliber Olympic wrestling in one of the world’s most iconic locations.

“I have never done this before. Why not do the first one with a bang, in the middle of Times Square? That’s how I do things. Go big or go home. I am going to give it my best shot, be myself with my big personality,” said Smith.

There will be a full card of world-class competitors on display, as Team USA takes on Iran in six men’s freestyle matches, faces Canada in a pair of women’s freestyle bouts and also battles an Olympic champion from Korea in a Greco-Roman match.

One of the reasons that Smith was invited to do this announcing gig was his public interview in front of the crowd after winning the Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City. He fired up the crowd with his enthusiasm and genuine joy.

“My whole life I have been confident in how I speak to people in public. It is always fun for me. I am big on showing emotion, and that is what happened at the Olympic Trials. After the Trials when I won, Kyra Barry of Beat the Streets said they loved what I did there. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, that is what I do. It was inspiring as an athlete to go out there with people cheering you on. I felt I had to thank the crowd there. It hit a lot of people the right way. My parents raised me to be a humble athlete and to be a thankful person,” said Smith.

Joining Smith at the Beat the Streets event will be five of his teammates on the U.S. Olympic Team who will wrestle in the event. 2012 Olympic champion, three-time World champion and 2016 Olympian Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg and 2016 Olympian and two-time NCAA champion J’Den Cox at 86 kg will face opponents from Iran. 2016 Olympian and three-time World champion Adeline Gray and 2016 Olympian and 2015 World champion Helen Maroulis will battle Canadian stars in women’s freestyle. Two-time World bronze medalist and 2016 Olympian Andy Bisek will battle an Olympic and World champion from Korea at 75 kg in Greco-Roman.

Three other members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team will be in attendance. 2016 Olympian and 2015 World Champion freestyle wrestler Kyle Snyder will be on hand to receive the Beat the Streets Man of the Year Award during the Gala event. The two other members of the U.S. Olympic Team in women’s freestyle, 2012 World champion Elena Pirozhkova and Cadet World champion Haley Augello will also be on hand to support their teammates on the mat.

Top Beat the Streets youth wrestlers will take the mat showcasing their skills in exhibition matches beginning at 3:45 p.m. to start the evening. A new feature to be held is the PSAL Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships finals, featuring the two top New York City girl’s freestyle wrestling high school teams from the spring girl’s freestyle season. Then it's Team USA vs. Iran and other guests at 6 p.m., followed by the Beat the Streets Gala Celebration.

The Beat the Streets competition requires a ticket for reserved seating in Times Square, but is an outdoor event. Pedestrians and non-ticket holders are encouraged to watch. Admission tickets may be bought in advance at www.btsny.org or 212.245.6570. A ticket is required for the Gala Celebration at the PlayStation Theater. More details are available at http://www.btsny.org/gala. The Gala Celebration will follow the wrestling competition.

This unique and electrifying annual event helps Beat the Streets (BTS) raise significant funds to further its mission. Whether it’s providing a safe, constructive outlet for our urban youth, fighting childhood obesity, empowering women, or uniting entire nations, wrestling teaches persistence, dedication, and the value of working hard to achieve one’s goals, creates opportunities for personal and universal growth. BTS currently serve over 3,000 student-athletes every year.

The entire competition will be broadcast live on Flowrestling.

“United In The Square,” Beat the Streets Matchups In New York City, May 19, 2016

Main Event match-ups in order of presentation

Greco-Roman 75 kg/165 lbs. – Andy Bisek (USA) vs. Kim Hyeon-Woo (Korea)

Women’s 53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Helen Maroulis (USA) vs. Samantha Stewart (Canada)

Women’s 75 kg/165 lbs.– Adeline Gray (USA) vs. Justina Di Stasio (Canada)

Junior men’s freestyle 55 kg/121 lbs. – Daton Fix (USA) vs. Kheyrollah Ghahramani (Iran)

Junior men’s freestyle 60 kg/132 lbs. – Mitchell McKee (USA) vs. Peiman Biabani (Iran)

Junior men’s freestyle 74 kg/163 lbs. – Mark Hall (USA) vs. Ahmad Bazrighaleh (Iran)

Junior men’s freestyle 84 kg/185 lbs. – Zahid Valencia (USA) vs. Mojtaba Goleij (Iran)

Men’s freestyle 86 kg/189 lbs. – J’Den Cox (USA) vs. Meisam Mostafa Joukar (Iran)

Men’s freestyle 74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Pehman Yarahmadi (Iran)

Note: Event will be broadcast by Flowrestling

Wrestling Schedule

3:45 p.m. – Beat the Streets Youth Exhibition Matches between 42nd and 43rd Streets

4:45 p.m. – New York City Girl’s Freestyle Dual Meet Championships Finals between 42nd and 43rd Streets

6:30 p.m. – World Class Wrestling: Team USA vs. Team Iran, Team Canada and Team Korea between 42nd and 43rd Streets

Followed by Gala Celebration

About Beat the Streets

The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full human and athletic potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTSW works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to help New York City's student-athletes achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTSW and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life skills of physical fitness, teamwork, and self-empowerment. The goal of fostering strong, dedicated, and optimistic kids is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, and summer camps. More information can be found at www.btsny.org.

About USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. It has over 220,000 members across the nation, boys and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is James Ravannack, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at TheMat.com.


Go Mitch!!
Kick some ass in NYC!!!
Go Gopher Wrestling!!!

Since the spring evaluation period began on April 15, the staff has offered 19 PSAs, two of them in the class of 2018.

Many of the offered prospects are from the southeast region: Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, but has also offered prospects in Michigan, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Louisiana, Missouri.

New offensive line coach Bart Miller said he wanted to create a recruiting fence around Minnesota and Big Ten country, specifically for offensive lineman, but its apparent the staff is extending their presence in the southeast, which produces a majority of the talent in college football.

With the departure of Mose Hall and knowing the team will graduate Timms and Ekpe after this season, the defensive line will be a big concern for the team in 2017. The answer so far has been targeting and offering Ellison Hubbard, a junior defensive lineman at Grayson HS. Minnesota is his first Big Ten offer; Broward County defensive lineman Jacob Lichtenstein, who got his 26th overall offer when Minnesota entered the sweepstakes and Brett Kitrell, a DT from Nebraska. The Gophers were Kitrell's first from a FBS program and third offer overall.

UMN is DBU and the Gophers are going after some of the nation's best. The prize offers so far seem to be Kam'ron White, the four-star safety from Mississippi. White is apparently high on Iowa State and Tennessee and his list of offers seems low for a 4-star, but his profile could just be outdated. There's also Alabama DB AJ Harris, a three-star prospect. Harris has roughly a dozen offers, which include Florida State, Michigan, Mississippi, Duke, Louisville and Nebraska and Mississippi. Another Alabama DB is three-star DB Jordyn Peters. 6-1 DB also has offers from Louisville, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Southern Miss.

The most intriguing offer is Keegan Cossou, the three-star TE from Michigan who is already committed to Central Michigan. Cossou, whose stock will most likely rise this summer, said he wants to visit Minnesota and admired Maxx Williams.

Some may ask why they continue to offer players who already have 20 or 25 offers, but keep in mind, the recruiting chart for every other team fluctuates throughout the year, as some kids commit or teams begin to focus elsewhere, so there's a possibility Minnesota can grab these kids who are talking to Auburn and Notre Dame now, but who may not receive the same kind of attention and interest Minnesota will invest.

I think the staff has done a good job of targeting prospects that are realistic signees and potential different makers. I give them a B+, only because I thought they would have more kids from the Midwest committed by now.

I saw the article on Todd Oakes, pitching coach of the Gophers.. On all accounts, I heard he is a fantastic person.. I cannot fault the article in the Twin Cities' paper that talks about the heart wrenching story that Oakes is now in home hospice care from cancer. At 56 years of age...

He has inspired so many with his fight as this is his 3rd bout with cancer.. His team loves him as does Coach John Anderson.. I always cheer for the Gophers, regardless of sport, and this will make me cheer a bit deeper for the Gophers' baseball program as these kids will be dealing with the reality of a person they care about deeply, besides the opponent.. I pray it focuses the guys as the article states that Oakes does not want it to be a distraction to the team but would rather they honor him by focusing their energy on their opponents.. I know I have criticized the Twin Cities press but this was an excellent article in the Star Tribune.

Claeys says team will introduce small brick helmet stickers for 'big team plays'. Love it!

I see that under his profile He is still listed as undecided. I was under the impression that He was going to Harvard. Has there been a change of heart or is the profile not up to date?

I'm as upset as anyone over the Lynch situation. And the Star-Trib hit-pieces on Pitino throwing his toothpaste away before it's all gone. But the key is we need to start winning next year. Then....it would be fun to have an 'outlaw' program. Someone screws up, he's kicked out....and we just replace him with someone just as good. I want Pitino to be viewed as someone who doesn't care about anything except recruiting (within reason). Who ignores the BS. Who makes a boatload of money. In the mold of his dad. That would be fun. Let the haters hate. Recruits are intrigued by a coach like this.

Before ripping me...let me say I don't want cheating or sleaze. But I don't mind if the Trip and detractors hate him. Could work to his advantage.

This is a 6-ft-8 from Georgia with offers from half of the SEC schools and a third of the ACC programs.

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/lance-thomas

Minnesota offered him today. I will have more tomorrow.

Even though it was a great freshman year I feel Jordan has a lot of ways he can get better. And that Gopher fans is scary because that was a great freshman year.

https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/focus-on-16-17-2

Braydon Johnson was offered by Minnesota today. Plays at Bowie HS in Arligton, TX. Also has offers from Iowa, Kansas and Colorado State.

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Yesterday Coach Claeys told the Star Tribune that we should win 8-10 games this year and I don't think there is one poster on this board who disagrees with him. With that being said, this has got to be a year that we are better than Wisconsin at least record wise. They have beaten us twelve years straight on the scoreboard and in the Big Ten Standings, but their schedule is just brutal this season. If they win two of the following games I would be impressed. Please let us have one year better than the Badgers, the scheduling Gods have blessed us, now lets take advantage.

Week 1: vs LSU
Week 4: @MSU
Week 5: @Michigan
Week 6: Ohio State
Week 7: @Iowa
Week 8: Nebraska

will we see another *Texican* cry?

Man, he is playing great for the pens. Fun to see.

so the Minnesota twins have decided to honor the North Dakota hockey team at a game.

now officially a punter according to the Strib and based on Santoso's wishes. Will still be the long range FG kicker, >50yarders

Minnesota offered Lassiter High cornerback and safety Tyriq Hardimon today. Also has offers from California, Illinois, Iowa State, Northwestern, Rutgers, Western Michigan and West Virginia, to name a few.

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From the Fargo Forum-

On the plus side, rates of syphilis transmission dropped 16 percent statewide last year from the 2014 peak, state officials said in April.

Sconnie scores 11 of top 20 drunkest cities in America

http://wbay.com/2016/05/17/drunkest...n-bay-says-new-report/?cid=facebook_WBAY_TV-2

headed for K-State. Stay tuned.

dollars I've spent in the past few years were the Washingtons that went early on to purchase TSA Precheck. The security lines at the airport the last couple of months have been ungodly, much worse than last year or before, & I almost - ALMOST - feel sorry sailing through the Precheck lines right next to the grinder of the regular lanes.

It's even affected my airline choice. I often would use Frontier or even Spirit for a quick overnighter such as Chicago or Denver but since neither or those use Precheck I have been paying a little bit extra for mainline carriers just to avoid the security hassle. If you fly much at all, $85 for 5 years is more than a bargain...

Minnesota has offered Chicago Mount Carmel sophomore Houston Griffin. Already has 13 offers.

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Joshua Samuel, a running back at Central Gwinnett High in Lawrencevill, GA, received an offer from Minnesota today.

Samuel played his junior season at Mann HS in South Carolina and must have recently moved to Georgia. As a junior, he rushed for 1,762 yards and 19 TDs.

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I keep getting a pop up only for this site from an app mimicking Adobe attempting to down malicious software. Anybody else getting this issue? This has been happening for the last few days and I don't have time to contact Yahoo looking for solutions. Thanks in advance for a fix.

Terry said he has received an offer from the Gophers today. Its his first offer from a Big Ten school.

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BOXING DAY! ALL FOOTBALL ALL DAY LONG.

# Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts Last 6
1 Leicester City 17 11 5 1 37 24 13 38
2 Arsenal 17 11 3 3 31 14 17 36
3 Manchester City 17 10 2 5 33 19 14 32
4 Tottenham Hotspur 17 7 8 2 28 14 14 29
5 Manchester United 17 8 5 4 22 14 8 29
6 Crystal Palace 17 9 2 6 23 16 7 29
7 Watford 17 8 4 5 21 16 5 28
8 West Ham United 17 6 7 4 25 21 4 25
9 Liverpool 17 6 6 5 20 22 -2 24
10 Everton 17 5 8 4 31 24 7 23
11 Stoke City 17 6 5 6 14 16 -2 23
12 Southampton 17 5 6 6 21 21 0 21
13 West Bromwich Albion 17 5 5 7 17 23 -6 20
14 Bournemouth 17 5 4 8 22 32 -10 19
15 Chelsea 17 5 3 9 21 27 -6 18
16 Norwich City 17 4 5 8 20 29 -9 17
17 Newcastle United 17 4 5 8 19 32 -13 17
18 Swansea City 17 3 6 8 15 24 -9 15
19 Sunderland 17 3 3 11 18 33 -15 12
20 Aston Villa 17 1 4 12 14 31 -17 7
Last updated: December 22, 2015 1:16pm
Key
Uefa Champions League: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Europa League: 5th
Relegation: 18th, 19th, 20th

2016-17 incoming wrestling recruit Mitch McKee and his younger brother rising Junior Patrick (St. Michael-Albertville) both lost their father to cancer in December 2014. They have both overcome this tragedy and continue to excel at wrestling with Mitch claiming his fourth state title this year and Patrick his first. The author Steve Elwood has been following Mitch and his family for the last couple years and this is an update article on how well they have persevered!!

A wrestling family revisited

Steve Elwood, InterMat Staff Writer
5/17/2016

The wrestling world, and for that matter, the world is full of stories. Without a good storyline, there really isn't much of a reason to tune in. In Minnesota, we all want to know who will be the next team to knock off Apple Valley. Or will anyone ever win six state titles like Mark Hall pulled off this season? The storylines and how we describe them are what make life interesting and fun. Sometimes the narrative is heartbreaking and personal, and we can't help but want to lend a hand.


McKee family

Twenty-six months ago I asked Mitch McKee if he would allow me to follow him through the state tournament and write his story. He was gracious and politely agreed. He took a stunning upset loss the year before in the semifinals to Taylor Venz and found out the next day his dad, Steve, had cancer. It was the beginning of some of the darkest moments of his life. The following year, everyone in the stands knew about Steve's diagnosis, and there was hardly a person who wasn't pulling for Mitch to win. The pressure was immense, and he reminded me of the statue of Atlas with the world balancing on his back. He would go on to capture his first state title that year and subsequently went on to have the best wrestling success of his life over the next few months. He became the national folkstyle and freestyle champion that summer.

A love story

Nina met Steve McKee the old fashioned way, having a fun time at a line dance in a sports bar in St. Cloud, Minn. They dated for four years and were married on April 19, 1997. Like most couples they had to adjust to some opposite traits. Steve was fun loving and embraced the lighter side of life. Nina is more serious and goal driven. They were madly in love and set out to make a life together. They settled in Becker, Minn., opening a "gently used" sports store for Nina to run and manage while Steve worked in the wholesale oil business. They had a busy life. Steve dabbled in sports photography and coached at all levels of soccer, football and wrestling. Nina was busy with the store and raising two active little boys born 20 months apart. Soon it became apparent the store would have to close, and later they moved to St. Michael.


Mitch McKee hugs his father Steve after claiming a state title in 2014 (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

Wrestling came into their lives more by accident than design. Both Steve and Nina were athletes in their younger days. Nina (under 5 feet tall) was, of all things, a pretty good volleyball player. No, she wasn't a spiker but was a pretty good setter. Steve wrestled two years in high school. When the boys were around 5-7 years old, it was clear they were going to be very good wrestlers, and later they dropped other sports to focus on what they did best. Steve and Nina decided to expose the boys to as many tournaments as possible and they soon developed friends all over Minnesota and the nation.

Steve found out he had a health problem after looking at an X-ray taken by a friend, Andy, a chiropractor. These films were sent to a radiologist, and it didn't take long to realize this was a serious problem. An exhausting and thorough exam was done at Mayo Clinic, and the news was not good. He had cancer of the spine, and it was in stage 3, the highest number. Steve did everything a young man could to stay alive. He traveled countless trips to Rochester and took every treatment recommended. Along the way, he would lose his hair, his weight, but never his spirit. He decided to live out his life with courage and vulnerability. These lessons haven't been lost on Mitch and Patrick.


Patrick, Nina and Mitch McKee

Losing a father at a young age is not normal. Most of us get to live a long time before we face the ugly truths about death. Steve and Nina made it a point to ensure the boys are able to keep living with their dad's memory. They recorded videos to be played at significant moments in the future. Mitch will be able to watch his dad congratulate him at his high school graduation this month. If Patrick gets married, there is a video clip of Steve talking to him and his future bride. If grandchildren come along, there is a warm and loving message waiting for them. Steve hasn't gone away in spirit, only in body.

While Steve was near the end of his journey, life became especially hard. He wasn't able to walk, and he needed to be lifted out of bed into a wheelchair. This was helped along by an army of St. Michael parents, as well as a few other wrestling communities. They were called the "lift train." Meals were arranged and delivered on a timely basis. This was called the "meal train." Steve and Nina's extended family were seemingly always there to lend a hand. There was a lot of love to go around, and some of it was overwhelming. Everyone wanted to help, and this became a job in and of itself.


Patrick McKee celebrates after winning a state championship at 106 pounds (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

Steve died on December 7, 2014. He was 51 years young. He leaves behind a pair of boys that loved him more than life. Mitch is a semi-stoic and serious 18-year-old senior. "I miss playing catch with my dad. He was a lot of fun, and he taught me how to enjoy life. If I had another day with him, I would spend it playing in the yard tossing a ball, tackling each other and laughing. Patrick is an emotional and fun-loving 16-year-old sophomore. He shows emotions like others flash their cell phones. He's often misunderstood as volatile and angry. It's far from reality. Patrick is a happy young man and his only spot reserved for aggression is the wrestling mat. He's the defending 106-pound state champion. "If my dad was here for a day, I would just want to be his son. I miss my dad, and I'm proud of how he raised me. I love him." When Nina is asked what she misses most, she doesn't hesitate. "I miss his friendship. I want to wake up in the morning and feel him next to me. I wish I could kiss him goodnight. I want to feel him next to me." The day he passed she remembers the long and lonely absence of the oxygen tank. It used to bring her comfort to hear it day after day. It stung to listen to the silence.

In a small town with a high profile family, there isn't a church big enough to fit all the mourners. Somehow Mitch and Patrick had enough reserve to get up and sing to the crowd that cold December day. Later, there was a service at the cemetery with pheasant feathers left behind on the burial site. There was an enormous chili feed and plenty of good story time. Mitch would go on to win two more state titles and become one of the nation's most sought-after recruits. He will join his friends at the University of Minnesota and likely will wrestle 133 pounds. Patrick will be alone with his mom starting in the fall, and his future looks bright. Both of these young men are stellar students, hunters, and singers in the all-male choir.


McKee family and their dogs

Recently Nina visited a medium. Steve was waiting for her and had plenty of messages. He congratulated her on adding a few dogs to the family and admitted he was wrong in advising her to, "Please don't get a dog when I'm gone!" Thirty years earlier Steve's sister Suzie died in an auto accident, and she was with Steve on this day. Nina is a complete believer in hearing these messages and doesn't have any doubt it was Steve and Suzie visiting that day. She hears his voice all the time in her home and feels blasts of love at the most unsuspecting moments. She's learned to stop and take them in and remember. "He was the love of my life. I'll never forget him."

The McKees live a good life. Fortunately, Steve had the foresight years ago to purchase some life insurance before he became sick. This allows the family to live a comfortable life and pursue the dreams they all have. It's comforting to know they are doing well and are happy. Do they miss Steve? Oh yes, more than they can accurately describe. But, he's there. Their home is warm. The dogs love the boys and Nina. The wrestling community is nearby to lend a hand as they should. It all works, and life just keeps moving. Until they meet again.

This story also appears in the May 6 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling.


Mitch McKee will take part in the 2016 "Beat The Streets" match in New York City this week on Thursday May 19th. It's quite an honor for Mitch to be part of this star-studded field and he has a tough match against Iranian competitor Peiman Biabani. I have posted this in another thread on GI.

Go Nina, Mitch and Patrick...you are excellent examples of how to triumph over adversity!
Our Best to You!!!