Wrestling is growing on the western coast of Africa

From CNN

Dakar, Senegal (CNN) -- In most of Africa, football reigns supreme among sports, but in Senegal wrestling challenges it for popularity. It provides entertainment and exercise, and offers young men dreams of fame and fortune.

Wrestling's popularity in Senegal makes it big business. For the sport's superstars the rewards can be huge, with the biggest names earning up to $200,000 per contest. In a country where unemployment is pushing 50%, some young men see it as a way out of poverty.

Gris Bordeaux is a star in Senegal, a wrestling champion who also teaches at a wrestling school in the capital Dakar.

He says wrestling is a mental, as well as physical, discipline and that reaching the top of his profession takes dedication.

"It's all about making sacrifices," says Bordeaux. "It requires training and meditation; your mindset is important. You have to educate yourself well.

"Not all wrestlers get to realize their dreams, because on the bigger level it is few that get to where I am. You need to be focused on the sport -- like over 5,000 wrestlers you will get only 10 that make it."

See also: Senegal island exposes horrors of the slave trade

Bordeaux credits wrestling with changing his life, bringing him success and wealth.

"What I do know is that it has given me a lot of opportunities," he says. "It has opened doors for me because I am able to take care of myself and my family and especially to help the young people in the community."

It's perhaps a desire to emulate the likes of Bordeaux -- as well as a desire to keep fit -- that motivates young Senegalese men to work out on the beaches of Dakar.

Wrestlers fight to unite world's newest nation

Lacking the money to use a proper gym, some men have built a makeshift gym of their own. On the city's public beaches they have set up workout benches, using whatever materials they can -- be it car tires or wheel rims loaded with rocks to make them heavier.

Some of those training at Bordeaux's school and pumping iron on the beach may one day make it onto the professional wrestling circuit, earning the right to wear the wrestler's traditional pre-fight regalia.

Bordeaux describes the costumes as art. He says: "The way we dress is to show harmony -- we dress for the fight and we become different. When we wear the full attire for a fight, you won't recognize me!"

To the South, Ohio, and congrats to Burak Boys

Exciting news we are on our last 10% of support and have just booked tickets to what we are hoping is our last big support trip to Texas and Oklahoma March 20th to the 29th, and Ohio raising funds and looking at housing from March 29th to April 3rd. Please be praying for the details of the trip, that we could find people to meet with who are open to the possibility of partnering with us, AND that we would be able to get an idea of where God would have us live in or near Xenia, Ohio and the AIA HQ!!!




Also congrats to both Gabe and Micah Burak(son's of Steve Burak AIA Wrestling Camp Director)

who qualified for the NCAA tournament in St. Louis March 15th to 17th. Both boys were a match away from All-American status last year and we are praying for strength and that they would continue to honor God as the compete. They are such great examples!

Northern Colorado wrestler's Faith is key to his drive

"Faith" is the word that best describes UNC senior wrestler Gabe Burak.

Burak, who won three Colorado high school state championships at Coronado High School in Colorado Springs, transferred to the University of Northern Colorado for his fifth and final year of wrestling from the University of Pennsylvania, and the move influenced the Bears' wrestling room from day one.

"Gabe is a quality guy," UNC head coach Ben Cherrington said. "He practices what he preaches in every walk of life. That's the type of person you need in a leadership role. We are very fortunate to have him on our team, even just for one year. He has made a huge impact on our young guys."

Redshirt freshman Charlie McMartin, Burak's roommate, said Burak challenges people around him to have big goals.

Burak, who was raised with a strong faith in God, has applied that faith to every facet of life, fueling the fire that propels him to succeed. Belief is one thing that Burak said will always sit inside him.

"My faith is the most important thing in my life," Burak said. "It allowed me to seek and guide every aspect of my life."

Burak has gone 19-2 for the Bears this season, which is not surprising considering how athletic his family is.

His father wrestled at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, his mother was a gymnast at the University of Minnesota and his two little brothers both wrestle. A devout religious family, the Buraks were taught to know God personally. Burak attributes his successes in life and athletics to the Lord.

His teammates and peers easily notice that belief.

"Gabe is a guy who cares a lot about people," McMartin said. "The qualities of the people around him are enhanced when he is around them. He doesn't domineer or overshadow them but encourages them to be who they are."

With teammates and coaches, and much of his family and friends, watching, it is difficult for Burak to please everyone, although he said would like to. But Burak said he looks to please more than just them.

"When you're just living to serve and please those around you, if no one is watching then you might not give your best," he said. "I still struggle with that, but I know that God is with me wherever I'm at, so I want to seek to give my very best, to have a passion, whether that's here in the wrestling room, doing school, whatever area it's in, to do my very best that is done to the Lord. As I'm doing that, I do hope that others see a difference and it affects my teammates."

Burak will look to earn All-American honors at the end of this season, a distinction he's fallen just short of in years past. Cherrington found himself in the same position as Burak at Boise State but managed to earn the status in his senior year. Burak looks to follow in Cherrington's footsteps.

"This is his last chance, and he is going to throw all the cards on the table," Cherrington said.

With high goals for not only himself but also everyone around him, Burak heads into the upcoming Western Wrestling Conference Championships with few worries.

"He's is not a guy that is afraid, or (shies) away from the hard things in life," McMartin said. "He'll face those head on.