West Virginia Wrestling

WEST VIRGINIA MAT THOUGHTS

KIRK MOORE, JR.
"A BRAVEHEART OF THE MATS"


By Bill Welker

A sophomore wrestler at Morgantown High School, Kirk Moore, Jr. is a force to be reckoned with on the mats.

His second year as a wrestler, Kirk has a winning record and he has placed second in a tournament. And having observed him competing on the circle-lined mats for the last two years - Kirk Moore, Jr. is most certainly the "truest of heroes" as a West Virginia matman.

You see, this good-looking kid with long dread-locks was born with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency or PFFD. In layman's terms, Kirk's left femur did not develop in the womb, leaving that leg eight inches shorter than his right leg.

However, the word "can't" isn't in Kirk's vocabulary. While attending West Fairmont Middle School, Kirk Moore, Jr. was a member of the school's football team and also participated on the basketball squad.

At the beginning of his freshman year, Kirk's parents, who are both Christian clergy, moved to Morgantown to be closer to their church and congregation. It was at Morgantown High School that Coach Tom Powers introduced Kirk to the mat sport.

Under the tutelage of Coach Powers, Kirk has gradually improved his mat skill strategies over the last two years. In fact, Coach Powers recently said of Kirk, "Not only is he one of the hardest workers in practice, but Kirk also inspires all the other wrestlers on the team with his work ethic. I'm proud to be his coach."


It looks like Kirk has found his athletic niche - the sport of wrestling. A varsity performer, last year he wrestled at the 120-pound weight class and this season he is competing at 126 pounds for the Morgantown "Mohigans."

I'm guessing that one of Kirk's wrestling icons is Anthony Robles, 2011 NCAA Division I Champion from Arizona State University, who competed with only one leg. Anything is possible when one believes in himself, and Kirk Moore, Jr. is the epitome of such "believers."

It has been a personal pleasure to watch Kirk perform on the mats with genuine individual grit. He totally demonstrates the truest spirit of athletic sportsmanship and courage.

Kirk Moore, Jr. is not only a hero on the mats, but he has also chosen a positive path that will make him a man of honor and an undaunted "Hero in Life."

KIRK MOORE'S MESSAGE
"TO SUCCEED IN ATHLETICS OR LIFE…THE FIRST OBSTACLE YOU MUST OVERCOME IS YOURSELF."
- W.A.W.


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