'Pulling together for Tyler'

Wrestling clinic helps second-grader suffering from pancreatic, liver cancer

By Kathy Hanks

BUHLER - Limbs were twisted like pretzels in double chicken wings. Friends of Tyler Graebner were going to the mat for their wrestling teammate.

A battle with liver and pancreatic cancer kept the 8-year-old Buhler second-grader from attending the wrestling clinic Thursday night. The event doubled as a fund-raiser to help with his medical expenses.

Though not physically present, he was everywhere in Buhler High School's old gym. Some people wore T-shirts with his name embossed on the front. Others had picture buttons, with his face broadly grinning, pinned to their shirts. A photo of Tyler and his siblings proudly dressed in wrestling garb sat amid the silent auction items.

Tyler, currently a patient at Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., is undergoing a round of radiation treatment and receiving a constant morphine drip, his father, James Graebner, said. He will be hospitalized through March.

Meanwhile, about 40 wrestlers attended the clinic hosted by his team, the Buhler Lightning Wrestling Club.

"We're all pulling together for Tyler," said Eric Akin, a world team member and four-time NCAA All-American wrestler. Volunteering his time, he took off from work in Kansas City on Thursday afternoon so he could make the three-hour trip to serve as one of the clinicians.

"I'm doing this because this is the right way to live," Akin said. He has visited Tyler in the hospital and has come to know the family.

"They are just a hardworking family with kids like ours," he said.

At first, the doctors thought Tyler had a virus when he became ill in early November.

"They thought it might be something he ate," James Graebner said. "But by the day after Thanksgiving, he was screaming in pain."

Attending the clinic was Aaron Sweazy, 24, from Chapman. A college champion wrestler, he, too, was fighting cancer.

Though he couldn't get out on the mat and participate, Sweazy traveled to Buhler to show his support because wrestlers do that for each other, he said.

"All the stuff I've been through, it's very tough," Sweazy said. "You look in the mirror or find a picture of your former self and you lose it. I can't fathom what's going through Tyler's mind. But kids are upbeat."

Tyler was a champion wrestler at state last year in his weight class. Teammate Jalen Karber, 10, said he missed his friend.

"He's a good wrestler," Jalen said.

Tyler's 10-year-old sister, Amber Graebner, was practicing a double-leg takedown on another team member. Using her head, which was covered by protective gear, she shot into her opponent's legs.

"We were playing around, wrestling, rolling all over, and Tyler said we should get into wrestling," she said, explaining how the sport became a family activity.

Coming from El Dorado and Pratt, the 40 attendees each paid $10 to take part in the clinic.

Every dollar raised will help one of their own wrestle his toughest opponent.

'We're all pulling together for Tyler. I'm doing this because this is the right way to live.'

hey if you can could you send me a copy of that article. i'd really like one.

James

I got it online, someone in Hutch needs to get us a lot of copies. Where is Gossett when you need him?

probably playing with his wig standing on a corner somewhere. oh well.

Swayz, make sure you post it on the national forums too. Still needing volunteers to work the table for the silent auction at the Wichita Classic, come on now let's some make the effort to help a little. If people can drive from Chapman, Pratt, and KC surely we can have people in the Wichita area help out some.

Also would really appreciate the use of a lap top with CD/DVD capabilities to show off the T.C. Dantzler Highlight DVD we are auctioning, for computer only, and another combined television DVD player to show off the Real Pro Wrestling Pilot that starts airing later this month. Both have been so beneficial in helping us out, just wish there was another Eric Akin match on the Real Pro Pilot. I hope to be at the arena by 4:30 starting setting everything up for the auction. Will be there through the completion of weigh in's and will have volunteers at the table tomorrow through the tournament.

Another note, we need photo's from the clinic, if you have extra photo's please email them to me if you can, or I will pay for copies. Seems I left my camera at home last night trying to get everything in order so outside of what I took with Mike Juby's Camera I don't have but about 18 photo's to put on the web site, and none of the matches, the tag team photo's would be great.

hey we should get something to show the tag match up also and sell it. all money for tyler of course. i would sure buy one.

that or the tag champions get them for free.

I'm going down to the Hutch News today for an interview and if you guys want I can pick you up some actually copies and send them through the mail. Just get me your home addresses and whatnot.

Go for it shoes, would like one myself.

Mike, I can bring you a copy tomorrow to the Classic. If anyone else is going to be there that wants one I'd gladly bring it to them. For those of you who don't know who I am, I was the one taking the money last night at the clinic!! You all did a great job!!

Thanks soonermom, I'll be there for sure. Appreciate it and will see you tomorrow.

What all exibition matches took place at the clinic besides the tag team. And what were the results?

I think they need to have another exibition Clinic for tyler With Romero Cotton vs Andrew gosset I know alot of people around the hutchinson area who would pay to see that.

the mathcers were as follows
1: Gosset v Chenowith*
2: Fairleigh* v watts
3: gossettv Kreutzer*

keep in mind we werent intirly serios

We weren't. Just joking, we were putting on a show for the kids. And why does Clearwater always get left out of the articles. I mean seriously, are we that unimportant. lol.

Dude, I would love to wrestle Romero! Who are you Rocco? My name is GOSSETT not gosset and quit revealing my name its secret.

Dude, your GOSSETT. I had no clue.

from now on i'm calling you crabs for what you did. 3 people my butt. i highly doubt it. more like 300 people. i just feel sorry for you.

yes curtis you are that unimportant.

Ouch. You're lucky your my tag team partner.