FCA Wrestling became the eighth national sports ministry for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Each of these FCA national sports ministries focuses on providing ministry to a community of people who are united around a particular sport by offering opportunities to serve athletes and coaches in that particular sport.
“It is an incredible opportunity,” said Boardwine. “When the task force first met, I felt there was a huge need for this in wrestling. I am humbled by the Board asking me to do this. With about 2 million people in the wrestling community, it is a great opportunity for FCA to reach into our sport and highlight the spiritual aspect of it. Nobody is doing this right now, and that is why it is so needed. It is a huge responsibility. I am excited to get involved at the grassroots level and to help build it right from the beginning.”
Boardwine, an Aurora, Ohio, native, has been a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for the past two years as a part of one of Morgan’s most productive wealth management teams in Northeast Ohio. He has continued to serve as a private trainer and part-time wrestling coach, helping motivated wrestlers reach their potential in his community.
Boardwine served as the associate executive director of the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) for three years, where he was responsible for all the day-to-day operations of the national organization. He was especially involved in the marketing, finance, information and human resources activities of the organization. During his tenure, the NHSCA saw tremendous growth in its programs, sponsorship and revenue. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the organization. Previously, Boardwine served as the Ohio State Chairman of the NHSCA for six years, where he developed a number of new initiatives and programs to grow the sport of wrestling in Ohio.
“Joe brings incredible wrestling experience and contacts to this newly created position,” FCA President and CEO Les Steckel said. “But more importantly, he brings a passion to infuse young people with the spirit of Christ.”
Boardwine began his coaching career at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (CVCA) in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He was named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year while at CVCA and coached teams with state finishes of fifth, third and second. Boardwine and Head Coach Dave Bergen worked together and developed eight individual state champions, 15 state qualifiers, and eight high school All-Americans in three years. Among the stars he mentored was four-time state champion and eventual two-time World Greco-Roman bronze medalist Harry Lester.
Boardwine also served as assistant athletic director, director of physical education and head wrestling coach at University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio. He rebuilt a program that had never made the top 20 in the state into a team that finished seventh and fifth in the state standings. He also coached the school’s first individual state champion.
Besides creating champion athletes, a number of wrestlers who Boardwine has coached have been successful wrestling coaches and administrators. Among them are Gettysburg College head wrestling coach Andy Vogel, Columbia assistant athletic director Chris Smolk, and Washington and Jefferson College assistant wrestling coach Jarrad Turner.
He attended Kent State University, where he was a four-year starter on the varsity wrestling team, team MVP and Golden Flashes captain for three seasons. Boardwine was a two-time Ohio state champion and high school All-American selection for Streetsboro High School in Northeast Ohio. Boardwine got his start in wrestling at the storied Longwood YMCA program in northeast Ohio.
“This is great for wrestling and for Christianity,” Boardwine said of FCA Wrestling. “Wrestlers understand sacrifice, discipline and integrity. Some of the key factors in wrestling are also important to the Christian faith. Wrestling kept me on the right path as a youth. Wrestling guided my life until I was able to establish my faith. It allowed me to avoid the pitfalls out there.”
It has been a successful first year for FCA Wrestling. In September 2008, a summit was held and a task force of wrestling leaders formed to discuss the national launch of FCA Wrestling. The task force, chaired by USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender, was asked to recruit a national leadership board to oversee the program.
In March 2009, the task force announced the selection of Jeff Pratt of Nashville, Tenn., as the volunteer Leadership Board Chairman for FCA Wrestling. Among his tasks was the completion of the formation of the volunteer Leadership Board.
FCA Wrestling has since named the members of its Leadership Board, all who are prominent within wrestling, successful citizens, and have a strong commitment to the mission of FCA Wrestling. Included on the Leadership Board are:
• Jeff Pratt, Director of Student Ministry Training for Lifeway Christian Resources
• Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director
• Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, World freestyle wrestling silver medalist
• Brandon Slay, National Freestyle Resident Coach for USA Wrestling, Olympic freestyle wrestling champion,
• Tim Johnson, FCA Director Midwest Region, national TV wrestling announcer
• Sean McNamara, FCA Vice President of Sport Specific Ministries
• Nate Carr, Head Wrestling Instructor for Prodigy Training and Fight Center, Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist
• John Peterson, Athletes In Action, Olympic freestyle gold medalist and Olympic freestyle silver medalist
• Dan Russell, Senior Pastor at Battleground Four-Square Church, four-time NCAA Division II wrestling champion
• Stan Zeamer, President and Owner of Utility / Keystone Trailer and Transport Auctions LLC, high school and college wrestling coach, Olympic Team Leader
• Mark Mestemacher, Officer of Ceres Consulting LLC, Edwardsville Wrestling Club coach
• Joe Slaughter, President and CEO of Herff Jones
The Leadership Board will hold its first full meeting at FCA World Headquarters October 28-29, and will discuss the official launch of the FCA Wrestling program.
About FCA
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives... one heart at a time. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is the largest Christian sports organization in the world. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.
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