Some will have a great Christmas and others will have a time where things are tough for various reasons, often times because of a loss. I thought a good idea to pay respect to some of those families, kind of as a Christmas present to them by some of us telling something positive about their loved ones in a place where they can see we are thinking of them, and are thinking of their loved ones. So this thread.
I still consider myself somewhat new to the Kansas wrestling family, but that don’t mean there haven’t been individuals who have touched me. I want to mention specifically two of them.
Tyler Graebner: What a blessing it was to get to know this young man. I still grieve over his loss and will forever know of the impact he had on the National Wrestling community, if but if for a brief moment in time. His family had the special blessing of knowing him from birth, I had the special blessing of knowing him for the last year of his life. Hopefully those of us in Kansas never forget of the impact this young man, who loved wrestling so much gave to us all.
Greg Grater: I have to admit, I didn’t always get along with Greg, but Greg was always honest and up front with me. I had as much respect for him for his integrity as any human being I have ever met. I know of this mans love for Kansas Wrestling and Kansas Youth. I also know, only briefly of his love for his family. I have to say, I have come to love the Graters and consider them family. I know they would do anything for me, and I in return would do anything for them. I know the children, learned their integrity from their father, and that Leanna and Greg were blessed to have each other for the time they did. I must say, when Kansas wrestling lost Greg Grater, we lost more than likely the greatest contributor to the sport this state has ever known, and possibly ever will know.
I miss both of these two individuals. Maybe someone has something else to share about them, or another member of the Wrestling family we have lost, or regarding a family that we want to let know we love them and appreciate them. I know this seems maybe hokey to some, but if we can’t share of the love and appreciation we have for each other during this time of year, we really don’t have a family do we?
Merry Christmas, and to the Graebner and Grater families, thanks for sharing of that which we know you loved. A very special time of year to you all.
