“Wrestling with Loss”
Posted on December 7, 2015.
By Matt Darrah, Head Coach Clarinda Academy
I received a call from a family friend of the Gremmels on Monday November 17, 2014, that you never want to receive. The news was not good, as the words I was hearing put me into a state of shock. I had been informed that Gavin Gremmel had passed away in an early morning car accident on the Julian Dubuque Bridge. He was a passenger in the vehicle that collided head on with a semi-tractor trailer.
Hopefully, through this article I can express how much this young man meant to my family and everyone else his life path crossed in his too short time we had him in our lives. There was a reason this young man ended up at the Clarinda Academy, and the ties between our two families are greater than anyone can imagine. God definitely had his hands all over this bond, as Gavin was given to us so that our lives could be reconnected.
Gavin came into our lives as a student at the Clarinda Academy in November of 2013, although the ties were forged many years prior in Chariton, Iowa. We were fortunate to have had this young man enter our lives, as each wrestling season brings 20-25 “new” boys to the Darrah family tree and we treat all of them as our own. Some leave a bigger imprint as special times are shared throughout the season, hopefully ending in a trip to Des Moines to compete in the Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships. Not to say that one group of wrestlers is any less important than others, however, it becomes more intimate with families being involved in sharing meals, a built-in cheering section and the bond of a strong faith. My three girls related to Gavin as the big brother they never had. Katelyn, my seven year old, announced to her Sunday school class one day during the run to the state tournament that she had a "wrestling brother" and his name was Gavin! Lindsay, my middle daughter, thought the world of Gavin and during a chance meeting at a restaurant in Red Oak gave him a big hug as he left the building. She was also able to attend his wake and funeral to say her goodbyes, grieve some and have closure. Maicy, the oldest daughter, thought it was cool to go to state and watch someone she actually knew compete. She is hoping to be a wrestling cheerleader to honor Gavin. Cindy, my wife, opens her heart to these boys and loves them as her own, and it's difficult when she sees them struggle. In the end, she keeps coming back because she knows how important it is for these young men to have positive relationships at this critical time in their lives.
Gavin was an exceptional wrestler as well as an exceptional young man who took great pride in his relationship with God and often led the team in pre-meet prayers. Granted, he was not perfect and had issues to work through, which he was doing while attending our school. I must mention that Gavin had been working out on his own, and indicated to several people that he was actually in the best shape of his life, and looking at options to continue his wrestling career. He had recently cleared the NCAA clearinghouse, again, and was working with some schools to possibly walk on to one of their programs. Gavin and his Eagle teammates, especially Ka’Ron, Dalton, Javarrious and Cory C, were like brothers. Realize that each of you were blessed by having had Gavin in your lives and you are better off for having known him. Rejoice for all of the great memories, struggles and shared experiences of our wrestling family.
On a final note, the Gremmel and Orwig families have worked hard to establish the G-Force Wrestling Scholarship established in Gavin’s memory. I have been asked to serve on the board of directors and we will fund many wrestling activities for wrestlers who demonstrate need as well as possessing the same passion that Gavin displayed on the mat. Our goal is to continue to raise funds for the scholarship throughout the rest of the year. We plan to have everything in place so that we can roll out the program in 2016 and begin awarding scholarships to deserving candidates. The Gremmels have been working hard to establish the proper paperwork and resolve legal issues as well as managing the contributions to date. To my knowledge, we have raised approximately $30,000 with a private donation matched by a corporate contribution. Some of the additional details are being worked out as another wrestling season approaches. Please contact Desiree Gremmel, Brett Haas or myself for more details on the program or if you would like to make a contribution. Thanks for your time and effort towards honoring a young man who left us way before his time.
Posted on December 7, 2015.
By Matt Darrah, Head Coach Clarinda Academy
I received a call from a family friend of the Gremmels on Monday November 17, 2014, that you never want to receive. The news was not good, as the words I was hearing put me into a state of shock. I had been informed that Gavin Gremmel had passed away in an early morning car accident on the Julian Dubuque Bridge. He was a passenger in the vehicle that collided head on with a semi-tractor trailer.
Hopefully, through this article I can express how much this young man meant to my family and everyone else his life path crossed in his too short time we had him in our lives. There was a reason this young man ended up at the Clarinda Academy, and the ties between our two families are greater than anyone can imagine. God definitely had his hands all over this bond, as Gavin was given to us so that our lives could be reconnected.
Gavin came into our lives as a student at the Clarinda Academy in November of 2013, although the ties were forged many years prior in Chariton, Iowa. We were fortunate to have had this young man enter our lives, as each wrestling season brings 20-25 “new” boys to the Darrah family tree and we treat all of them as our own. Some leave a bigger imprint as special times are shared throughout the season, hopefully ending in a trip to Des Moines to compete in the Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships. Not to say that one group of wrestlers is any less important than others, however, it becomes more intimate with families being involved in sharing meals, a built-in cheering section and the bond of a strong faith. My three girls related to Gavin as the big brother they never had. Katelyn, my seven year old, announced to her Sunday school class one day during the run to the state tournament that she had a "wrestling brother" and his name was Gavin! Lindsay, my middle daughter, thought the world of Gavin and during a chance meeting at a restaurant in Red Oak gave him a big hug as he left the building. She was also able to attend his wake and funeral to say her goodbyes, grieve some and have closure. Maicy, the oldest daughter, thought it was cool to go to state and watch someone she actually knew compete. She is hoping to be a wrestling cheerleader to honor Gavin. Cindy, my wife, opens her heart to these boys and loves them as her own, and it's difficult when she sees them struggle. In the end, she keeps coming back because she knows how important it is for these young men to have positive relationships at this critical time in their lives.
Gavin was an exceptional wrestler as well as an exceptional young man who took great pride in his relationship with God and often led the team in pre-meet prayers. Granted, he was not perfect and had issues to work through, which he was doing while attending our school. I must mention that Gavin had been working out on his own, and indicated to several people that he was actually in the best shape of his life, and looking at options to continue his wrestling career. He had recently cleared the NCAA clearinghouse, again, and was working with some schools to possibly walk on to one of their programs. Gavin and his Eagle teammates, especially Ka’Ron, Dalton, Javarrious and Cory C, were like brothers. Realize that each of you were blessed by having had Gavin in your lives and you are better off for having known him. Rejoice for all of the great memories, struggles and shared experiences of our wrestling family.
On a final note, the Gremmel and Orwig families have worked hard to establish the G-Force Wrestling Scholarship established in Gavin’s memory. I have been asked to serve on the board of directors and we will fund many wrestling activities for wrestlers who demonstrate need as well as possessing the same passion that Gavin displayed on the mat. Our goal is to continue to raise funds for the scholarship throughout the rest of the year. We plan to have everything in place so that we can roll out the program in 2016 and begin awarding scholarships to deserving candidates. The Gremmels have been working hard to establish the proper paperwork and resolve legal issues as well as managing the contributions to date. To my knowledge, we have raised approximately $30,000 with a private donation matched by a corporate contribution. Some of the additional details are being worked out as another wrestling season approaches. Please contact Desiree Gremmel, Brett Haas or myself for more details on the program or if you would like to make a contribution. Thanks for your time and effort towards honoring a young man who left us way before his time.
