Crescent City Wrestling

Little known fact: Doug Hanson was on the whistle for this match!

Pro athletes always hold some degree of cultural significance, not just now but in civilizations long past. Archaeologists excavating an ancient town in Turkey may have found proof of this from thousands of years ago in the form of a grave that may belong to a beloved wrestler.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and reporting by Live Science, researchers excavating a newly discovered cemetery near ancient Aspendos uncovered a stone-slab tomb dating to roughly 475 to 300 B.C. Inside was a human skeleton accompanied by coins depicting two wrestlers locked in combat.

Turns out, adding a picture into a grave showing off a very specific act is a strong hint at what that dead person did when they were alive.

I'm fighting every instinct to call this guy a professional wrestler, because that immediately conjures images of modern-day beefy people in tights, silly gimmicks, and fake grudges. This was Greco-Roman-style wrestling—the "real" wrestling, the kind eventually seen at the Olympics.

Still, even though the evidence strongly suggests this person was a wrestler, the researchers aren't fully ready to declare him the John Cena of his day. Live Science spoke with a historian not involved in the study, Sarah E. Bond, who said that coins were a common currency used by everybody, so their presence in the grave doesn't necessarily mean the deceased was a wrestler.

Maybe people in this region of Turkey liked wrestlers so much that they printed them on their money? Researchers are going to need to find some stronger evidence that this guy was a professional wrestler, like evidence of injuries consistent with the sport, to definitively claim that wrestling was this guy's claim to fame, but there may be something linking the two ideas.

Aspendos minted silver coins depicting wrestlers for more than a century, suggesting to the researchers of the sport had some importance to the city and its people. The settlement also had an ancient gymnasium and eventually built itself a stadium big enough for thousands of fans to come watch sporting events.

So, maybe two things can be true: maybe this guy was a wrestler, and his significance was honored by the inclusion of coins depicting what he did in life in his grave. Whether the answer is this combined explanation or not, either way, it goes to show that humanity has been holding athletes in high regard for thousands of years.

Raider Wrestling Club is back! Starting with our boot camp that includes agility, strength training, high intensity drilling, and high level technique. USA Wrestling card required! See you there!

Our Louisiana wrestling officials had an excellent time this weekend at our training clinic hosted by Big10 Coordinator of Officials, Mike Hagerty! We want to give a special thanks to Rummel High School and Coach Rod Cusach for being our gracious host and to Roy Fontenelle for organizing the event. And of course thank you to Mike for sharing his invaluable experience and knowledge with our state officials. If you are still interested in giving back to the sport and joining our great group, please reach out, and we look forward to seeing everyone this upcoming season!

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𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 🤼

From assistant coach to head coach — Joe Johnston has been named the next head coach of Air Force Wrestling.

🔗 Read more about Coach Johnston through the link in our bio.

A huge THANK YOU to Vinnie’s Caddy Shack Bar & Grill in Metairie for generously providing the food for the 2026 LSHOA Officials Clinic! 🙌🍽️

Events like this are made possible by great local businesses stepping up and supporting our officials and the wrestling community.

We truly appreciate Vinnie’s generosity and support! 🤝💚💛

Please support the businesses that support Louisiana wrestling! 🤼‍♂️⚜️

Hahnville Wrestling
Informational Meeting

📅 Thursday, August 27
⏰ 5:00 PM
📍 HHS AAA Alumni Center

Big pickup for the Broncos!

Welcome Coach Ben Kritsonis to the Bronco Family! Coach Kritsonis joins the Zachary Wrestling coaching staff alongside Head Coach Ben McHugh, and assistant coaches Chris McNamara, Trevor Beach, and Michaela McHugh.

Kritsonis brings knowledge and expertise from some of the greatest minds in the history of the sport. He has wrestled with and coached under some of the greatest wrestlers and coaches in the history of the sport.

Zachary Head Coach Ben McHugh describes Kritsonis as a “Louisiana wrestling Mount Rushmore type of guy. He’s done everything in this sport you can do, and I can’t wait to see how he brings the best out of our program for years to come.”

‘Coach K’ is teaching elementary PE as a full time faculty teacher at Rollins Place Elementary School and will be coaching both the boys and girls at Zachary High School.

🔥 NCAA Champion. 3× NCAA All-American. U.S. Open Champion. U.S. World Team Member. 🔥

Before starring at the University of Iowa, Chicago-area native Tony Ramos was a 3× Illinois State Champion and 4× State Finalist at Glenbard North.

Now he’s bringing that experience to Metairie for TWO DAYS at the Southern Regional Olympic Training Center! 🤼‍♂️

📅 October 3–4
💰 $35 one day | $50 both days
⚜️ Open to any and all!

Louisiana wrestlers — opportunities to learn from someone with this résumé don’t come around often. Don’t miss it! 💪🔥

Also, shout out to for guessing Tony Ramos. Shoot us a DM for your free camp entry and swag!