By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
AnchorPoint Christian School in Wyoming is excited to announce that 4th grade student Dahmari Lee will be moving on to the MYWAY State Championships. Dahmari is AnchorPoint’s first student to move on to the championship round.
“I’m so proud of all the wrestlers this year!” said Coach Ed Harris in supplied material. “Each one has grown in a number of ways whether it is learning new moves, self-confidence, or how to handle adversity.”
Challenges and growth
For the past two years, Dahmari has wrestled as a novice. The 2024 regional tournament at Grandville High School was his first taste of open wrestling, competing against opponents with two or more years of wrestling experience.
Dahmari enjoys wrestling with his dad at home, so when AnchorPoint’s 5-6th grade teacher Ed Harris formed a school wrestling team, he immediately signed up.
“He’s really into sports, so when they started a wrestling program here he wanted to try it,” John Wierenga, Dahmari’s father, told WKTV. “I told him we probably wouldn’t do any tournaments the first year, just practice. But after three practices, he was ready [to try] a tournament.”
Dahmari said he enjoys working hard and receiving medals (of which he has earned several) at competitions. The young wrestler is looking forward to participating at the State Championships, in part because he will wrestle open.
“Open is a little bit harder because you have to wrestle a couple years ahead of you,” said Dahmari, admitting that he likes the challenge of competing against more experienced wrestlers.
Andreen Wierenga, Dahmari’s mother, said watching her son wrestle is very emotional for her because she doesn’t want him to get hurt.
Despite her nervousness, Andreen supports Dahmari by attending his matches.
“When he’s winning, I like to cheer him on,” said Andreen. “But when he started to get the hang of it, he said, ‘I don’t like the excitement. You can stay home, and Dad can take me,’” said Andreen.
Andreen attended a recent match with the promise that she would sit quietly and not cheer. When Dahmari won his match, however, Andreen admitted that her emotions ran high.
“He came up and hugged me and said, ‘See? This is why I told you not to come,’” said Andreen with a laugh.
Dahmari’s willingness to accept challenges placed before him has garnered the notice of his coach.
“[Dahmari] is always willing to challenge himself in practice and in competition,” said Harris. “The fact that he placed 4th shows he belongs with those open wrestlers, and will continue to grow as an athlete and a person going forward.”
Iron sharpens iron
Launching AnchorPoint’s K-6 grade wrestling program stemmed from Harris’ own love of the sport.
Harris began wrestling in high school and quickly fell in love with the sport. A Division 2 Team National Championship win at GVSU was followed by coaching positions at Godfrey Lee Middle School and then Wyoming High School.
When a donor purchased mats for AnchorPoint from Michigan State, the school’s youth wrestling team began.
“I love the sport of wrestling, and with a donor coming forward to help get the mats here, and my sons going to this school [and] with the opportunity to coach them, God’s timing was perfect,” said Harris.
Harris is also excited to incorporate faith into the wrestling program.
“I have always loved Proverbs 27:17: ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ because it is so true in wrestling,” said Harris, adding that a good partner provides refinement, but a bad partner creates stumbling blocks. “It is amazing how much faith and wrestling are connected, and we talk about that in our devotions before every practice.”
Life lessons
Faith is only one life lesson AnchorPoint’s wrestlers learn through the program.
Strengthening their bodies as well as relationships with their peers as they work together in a competitive setting is also a focus of the program. Giving students a positive outlet for working through emotions, physical stress or anxiety, and learning the art of winning and losing gracefully are also lessons the students will take with them throughout life.
But one of the most important lessons, Harris said, is perseverance – especially through tough times.
“Wrestling is super tough, especially when you first start out,” said Harris, commenting that he was proud of the wrestlers for showing perseverance during a recent scrimmage. “No matter the score, they just kept wrestling and working to improve.
“I hope they transition that thinking to life and that, no matter what is going on in life, you can always find ways to work to make it better.”
Preparation and anticipation
As Dahmari prepares for the State Championships at Wings Event Center Arena on March 22-23, anticipation is high for both student and coach.
“I’m excited to see where wrestling can take Dahmari and all of our students in the future!” said Harris.
For more information on AnchorPoint Christian School, visit www.anchorpointchristian.org.
