August Wesley update - Hall of Famer!

[Tripnsweep]

5 hours ago, fishbane said:

Do they still have a program?  I didn't see it on their athletics page.  Was he let go because they dropped the program?

No I remember they fired him before anything could happen. I assumed they hired somebody else but I guess not. 

[Tripnsweep]

5 hours ago, fishbane said:

A true legend.  RIP.  The dark spot on his forehead was a chronic bruise from headbutting fans.

I never got to see him in person. He had a concert here like a year before he passed away and I didn't go for some reason. He seemed like a very nice person who sadly had a terrifying mental illness. 

[fishbane]

2 hours ago, Tripnsweep said:

I never got to see him in person. He had a concert here like a year before he passed away and I didn't go for some reason. He seemed like a very nice person who sadly had a terrifying mental illness. 

Same.  My friends I came across his music my freshman year in college and the next year he came to town for a show.  Maybe two or three of us bought tickets ahead of time and another handful were just planning to pay at the door.  When we arrived there was a line and none of us without tickets made it in.  I didn't get in, but I saw Willis headbutt my friend through the window whilst waiting in line.  I don't think I had seen his picture before this (we had a enjoyed his music in mp3 format there was no YouTube) and was surprised by the permanent bruise/callus on his forehead.  

Those of us that missed out figured we'd have another opportunity to see him, but he died the next year.

[Tripnsweep]

4 hours ago, fishbane said:

Same.  My friends I came across his music my freshman year in college and the next year he came to town for a show.  Maybe two or three of us bought tickets ahead of time and another handful were just planning to pay at the door.  When we arrived there was a line and none of us without tickets made it in.  I didn't get in, but I saw Willis headbutt my friend through the window whilst waiting in line.  I don't think I had seen his picture before this (we had a enjoyed his music in mp3 format there was no YouTube) and was surprised by the permanent bruise/callus on his forehead.  

Those of us that missed out figured we'd have another opportunity to see him, but he died the next year.

Similar but I was in high school and a friend of mine called me and was telling me all about him and how crazy his music was. 

[jross]

@jross, an elite international competitor, secured a remarkable 5th-place finish and a championship title at the 1999 Down Under International Wrestling Championships in Australia. Competing on the world-renowned mats later used for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, he showcased his prowess against top global talent. Representing the United States with honor, JROSS earned prestigious accolades in this high-profile international tournament, solidifying his legacy as a dominant force in wrestling.

^^^

That is called embellishment.  Omitted is that this tournament was a

• for-profit travel tour organized by an entity like WSA. 
• the competition was primarily against other high school to 20 year old U.S. wrestlers, with only a few international participants.  I want to say a few older guys from Belgium competed and some locals.
• the U.S. wrestlers were a mix of Folkstyle state placers, a few non-placers, with limited freestyle experience.
• both brackets had mostly the same participants, while we wrestled in two different locations.  I lost my first match in the one that took fifth, and won three in a row in the bracket I won.  The guy that beat me lost his first or second match in the second bracket.  I don't recall the numbers... maybe ~12 participants in my weight class.
• ...

Wesley’s biography omits critical details that inflate his achievements to casual readers.  This is partly how he gets jobs...  When his name is announced as a new coach, the wrestling community outs him and he loses the job. 

Is it his responsibility to proactively teach others what the World Sports Alliance International was/is?  He omits that the Veteran World Championships has no merit qualifications.  He took "9th" without winning a match, etc.  Listing ISU Club next to other "prestigious" coaching assignments (e.g., Sacramento State, international teams) implies a higher level of achievement to those unfamiliar with the distinction between NCWA club and NCAA varsity teams.

His wrestling resume...

• https://en.everybodywiki.com/August_Wesley_(wrestler)

 

EDIT: Example of WSA Context: https://www.themat.com/news/2005/september/01/2006-international-tour-schedu-13206

Edited Tuesday at 01:06 PM by jross

[1032004]

15 minutes ago, jross said:

 

 He omits that the Veteran World Championships has no merit qualifications. 

I think sometimes he leaves out the “Veterans” word altogether 

[Tripnsweep]

6 time gold medalist at the national championships as a part of Sunkist. I never heard of him and I am pretty familiar with who wrestled for them. 

[Tripnsweep]

@jross now do the same for Eve Berrington

[fishbane]

4 hours ago, 1032004 said:

I think sometimes he leaves out the “Veterans” word altogether 

I think this is deceptive, but I am sure a lot of people think it is fine to do this.  It is common practice with BJJ instructors.  Many will list among their accomplishments "world champ" and omit that it was either at a lower belt level, some masters/youth age division, and/or some off-brand promotion.  It is commonly accepted for some reason.

[Tripnsweep]

I wonder why Wesley won't post on here himself to refute any of this. I know he's reading this topic. 

[jross]

1 hour ago, Tripnsweep said:

@jross now do the same for Eve Berrington

Eve Berrington is an American wrestler, martial artist, and musician known for her participation in freestyle wrestling. She began her martial arts journey inspired by Kung Fu films in childhood and later pursued wrestling, competing in multiple US Open Wrestling Championships. Berrington's wrestling career started after joining an underground fight club she found through Craigslist, which reignited her passion for martial arts and led to competitive grappling. She has emphasized the empowering nature of wrestling, particularly for young women, highlighting how it fosters confidence and tenacity. Beyond wrestling, she is a multi-instrumentalist, playing the tenor saxophone and singing, and has performed across Europe and the US. Berrington also auditioned for American Idol in 2018, showcasing her diverse talents. She has lived in various places, including Mercer Island, and trained with the Wushu team at Oregon State University.

.......

Omission of her results paints a rosy picture...

[d3grappler]

On 5/26/2025 at 12:58 PM, fishbane said:

Do they still have a program?  I didn't see it on their athletics page.  Was he let go because they dropped the program?

Unrelated to the topic but no they don’t have a program. They hired a pretty solid coach but he wasn’t able to get it going, I think at the most they had 4 kids. Not sure if it was the school or what. 

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

3 hours ago, jross said:

Eve Berrington is an American wrestler, martial artist, and musician known for her participation in freestyle wrestling. She began her martial arts journey inspired by Kung Fu films in childhood and later pursued wrestling, competing in multiple US Open Wrestling Championships. Berrington's wrestling career started after joining an underground fight club she found through Craigslist, which reignited her passion for martial arts and led to competitive grappling. She has emphasized the empowering nature of wrestling, particularly for young women, highlighting how it fosters confidence and tenacity. Beyond wrestling, she is a multi-instrumentalist, playing the tenor saxophone and singing, and has performed across Europe and the US. Berrington also auditioned for American Idol in 2018, showcasing her diverse talents. She has lived in various places, including Mercer Island, and trained with the Wushu team at Oregon State University.

.......

Omission of her results paints a rosy picture...

You mean "Eve Berrington has never scored a single point in any wrestling match." ?

[Tripnsweep]

27 minutes ago, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

You mean "Eve Berrington has never scored a single point in any wrestling match." ?

She did win a college open while wrestling for Simpson, but I think there was nobody in the bracket.