No ring on this diamond

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Stride Pro Wrestling and Cape Championship Wrestling both got their starts in 2016. Stride began in March of that year in Marion, Illinois. CCW's start happened shortly after with shows primarily in Cape Girardeau. Both companies continue to grow and showcase some of the best independent talents in the country.

If you're a fan of both companies, you've likely seen some of the same talents on both rosters. Farmer Billy Hills, Roger Matheus, Sarah Summers and Joey O'Riley have competed in rings on both sides of the river. Dexter Roswell, Ace Hawkins and the late, great Red Daniels have also wrestled in both Cape and Marion.

But on Saturday (Aug. 18) there will be no wrestling, at least none planned as both companies go head to head on the softball diamond. Each promotion will have a team for a fundraiser softball game. All the proceeds that day will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

Farmer is behind the effort. He tells me the day is packed with activities that fans can be involved in as well. The day starts at 10 a.m. with a family and friends home run derby. Then at 11, eight representatives from Stride and CCW will participate in a home run derby.

There's a lunch break from noon until one. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be sold at that time. A 90 minute, five-inning softball game will follow between family and friends and the main event for the day is scheduled to start around 2:30. That's the softball game pitting Stride against CCW.

Entry to watch the activities is free. To participate in the home run derby it'll cost a dollars. Three bucks get you on the family and friends team. To do both, it's five dollars. You can learn more about the day here. Remember it's a fundraiser and all being done in fun. The park is located at 413 N. Appleknocker Street in Cobden, Illinois.

CCW gives back

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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If I've said it once, I've said it dozens of times (maybe more) one of the things I love about independent wrestling is the willingness for the men and women involved in it to give back. Stride Pro Wrestling and Cape Championship Wrestling both have big fundraisers coming up this month. Today, we're focusing on CCW as the company's annual benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis is coming up Saturday, May 19.

Ashlynn McClure

The Ashlynn McClure Memorial Cup is an eight wrestler tournament put together in memory of the girl who died of cancer in 2013. She was just two years old. Proceeds from this event go to St. Jude's, a hospital that works to help families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis. I've been to the hospital before for a news story and can't say enough about the work happening there.

Scheduled to appear: 

Ashlynn McClure Memorial Cup

Marko Stunt vs. CCW Champion "Best of the Best" Austin Lane
Brandon Barbwire vs. Justin "The Juice" Smart
"Farmer" Billy Hills vs. Van "The Man" Van Horn
Jacksyn Crowley vs. Hollis Giroux

CCW Women's Championship

"#Summertime" Sarah Summers
vs.
Marni Gras

Grudge Match

"Sexy" Sarge O'Riley
vs.
Blaster

The show is at the Delta Center in Delta, Missouri. You can get your tickets here. Doors open at 6 p.m. and bell time is 7 p.m. If you're able to make it to the show, please do and support indy wrestling and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

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Warrior Dash 2013

The 2013 Warriors

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @mycents on Twitter

In mid 2012 I decided I wanted to do something more than just a typical 5K race. Some of my fraternity brothers invited me to join them in the Warrior Dash.  It's a 5K, but with about 8 or 9 obstacles thrown into the course.  I did it last year and loved it, so naturally I wanted to return in 2013.

I expected the course to be the same or at least similar to last year, but much to my surprise, there were several different, and in my opinion more challenging obstacles.  Probably the most difficult was the muddy hills.  I don't know what the actual obstacle name is, but you start in a pit of muddy water and have to climb a hill of mud.  The process repeats three or four times.  But it's pretty much impossible (at least for an old balls like me) to make it up these hills without help. That's where the brotherhood of Sigma Nu kicked in.  My brothers helped me and my wife get up and over those hills. This was Lisa's first Warrior Dash and she was the only girl in our group.  I'm proud that she got out there and did it.

The rope wall

In addition to climbing the mud hills, there were also monkey bars to conquer over a small trench of water.  There was a new net wall this year that you had to go across instead of over.  There were walls to climb, trenches to crawl through, and fire to hop over.  The event ends with the pool of mud with barbed wire strung across the top.  This is where you truly get down and dirty, and just like last year,  I lost my footing and fell climbing out of the mud and the muck.  Lisa and I held hands as we crossed the finish line, proud of what we'd accomplished.

The medal

Volunteers stood at the finish line and put our medals around our necks.  This year's doubles as a bottle opener.  After spraying off with the hose and changing into a clean set of clothes, we toasted each other with the complementary beer.  It was a great day, and even better we were helping a good cause in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

I ran the race this year with a WingMan HD camera strapped to my forehead.  I'm sure I looked like a fool, but I think I got some great footage.  Check it out.