Mar 19, 2019 3 min read

Like a lot of people who wanted to keep their hand in the sport, Ulysses Davis decided to offer his help coaching wrestlers.

It began three years ago with a few hopefuls working out with the former Beth-Center High School standout in his basement.

That few turned into a handful.

That handful turned into a group.

That group turned into many.

Suddenly, Davis had a problem. He either had to buy another house with a bigger basement or find another place to train wrestlers.

He chose the latter, moving into a building on Jefferson Avenue then switched to a place on East Maiden Street at the entrance to Washington Park and, most recently, switched to a location on West Chestnut Street near the center of town.

Business is booming with around 60 club members, mostly from Washington and Greene counties.

“It started with a few wrestlers needing extra work,” Davis said. “They brought some of their friends, and kept bringing more friends to the point where everyone couldn’t fit in my basement.”

Davis’ club is dominated by younger wrestlers, but he will welcome anyone who’s goal is to become a better wrestler. Ages run from 3 to 16 years old now.

Many of his wrestlers are in the Washington and Trinity school districts and some could play key roles in the surge of these programs soon.

Wash High had a re-emergence in the sport and needs a strong youth program to continue that. The Prexies, with an infusion of young talent, earned their first appearance in the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament since 2006.

Heavyweight Gerald Comedy Jr., became the first Prexies’ medalist in the West Mifflin Tournament in more than a decade and at the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association Tournament since its inception in 2006. He was the team’s first state qualifier since 2007.

Success stories such as those are critical for a program that was nearly discontinued a few years ago.

“I tell kids I want them grounded in the basics,” he said. “That’s the driving factor in winning matches at every level.”

Davis was a four-year varsity starter at Beth-Center High School. He compiled a 118-24-0 record with the Bulldogs.

As a 103-pound sophomore, Davis made it to the state finals, where he dropped a 7-3 decision to Chris Fleeger of Loyalsock in 1998.

He did not place in Hershey as a junior but was fifth at 130 pounds as a senior in 2000. Davis was a two-time WPIAL champion and two-time regional champion.

He was recruited by Pitt but it fell through. He had a stop at Edinboro University before returning to Washington County.

“I work a full-time job then go to practice five times a week,” he said. “My goal is to have this club be a force in Western Pennsylvania. I want it to be a place where you learn but still have fun.”