State Wrestling Champ

Spencer Heald
Spencer Heald

— Spencer Heald of Bella Vista won the kids state wrestling championship in the Division IV, 95 pound weight class, held in Little Rock on March 12th. Spencer is a seventh grade student at Gravette Middle School.

He has been wrestling since he was 4. He wrestled in Kansas before moving to Arkansas and now wrestles for the NWA Knights Wrestling Club in Bentonville.

Wrestling continues to grow in Arkansas. Just 3 years ago the first kids state tournament was held. This year, more than 300 young grapplers participated in the tournament. Wrestling is also now in over 50 high schools in Arkansas. Spencer wishes Gravette had a high school wrestling program.

School News, Pages 11 on 03/30/2011