Carr brings championship pedigree to wrestling camp

Where do high school wrestling matches take place? On a mat. So, where would the most logical place to be time and again for one who wants to succeed in this sport? The mat.

That was one of numerous lessons Gerald Carr, once a champion of wrestling who is now training champions left and right in middle Georgia, instilled into the campers at Perry High School this past week. The camp was put together by Panther wrestling coach Randy Moss, and joining in the teaching staff were Kelvin McDavis from Northside High (formerly of Perry) and Carr’s son Bryce, a recently crowned national champion of junior college wrestling.

Those who follow high school wrestling in the central Georgia area are familiar with the powerhouse that is West Laurens High School. That’s not just a recent phenomenon, for Carr is from Dublin, attended West Laurens and got into wrestling. He proceeded to win every match after a state semifinal loss at 160 pounds in his freshman season. So, before graduating in 1992, Carr won three state championships (171 pounds as a senior).

Like his son Bryce, Carr first became a junior college national champion wrestler in California. He went on to earn All-American status with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

“I started in the seventh grade,” he said. “I’m 41 now, so that should tell you I’ve been in this sport a long time. Still, I’m learning stuff new every day. The kids (I coach) keep me young and energetic. I love seeing kids develop in this sport.”

Carr, on a year-round basis, runs training centers called Storm Wrestling both in Warner Robins and Dublin. His Houston center is located at the former Southside Baptist Church building on Pleasant Hill Road, and he’s coaching there two days a week.

“I train kids from high school all the way down to 4 years old,” he said. “One thing I’m proud to say is we teach the proper fundamentals. If I’m going to coach somebody, I’m going to put my heart into it and try to teach them the right way. The results speak for themselves.

“My own kids have been through it and been successful. We’ve had numerous state champs, national champs. Even one of my old wrestlers is in the UFC. He just competed for the lightweight title. He was one of the first kids I coached when I got back to Georgia.”

That is Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, also from Dublin, who is 19-4 in UFC. Carr said he won two state wrestling titles at West Laurens High.

“I’m realistic,” said Carr about his training philosophy of constant mat time. “I know people have stuff to do. Whenever you have an opportunity to bring your kids, especially during the season, and give them extra work, that’s how you get ahead. The more you are on the mat, the better you will be as long as you are working hard and doing the right thing.”

It’s coaches like Carr who deserve credit for wrestling’s growth spurt in Georgia, and not just in areas like Atlanta. His son Bryce, in that 165 weight class, was NJCAA champion representing Darton College, and now he will attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to continue his career.

“The sport has grown tremendously let’s just say over the last six or seven years,” said Carr. “The knowledge of the sport. You have people from different states moving in – Ohio, Pennsylvania – bringing that knowledge with them. You can see it in the kids in Atlanta and filtering on down. Georgia is one of the up-and-coming states.

“There is actually a combine up in Atlanta now where they have 12 colleges scouting Georgia wrestlers. That’s how much it’s improved in Georgia where scouts from all over the nation are coming to a combine to look at Georgia wrestlers.”

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