In late winter of 2021, two old friends sat across from each other in a restaurant in Media, Pennsylvania, sharing stories over lunch.

Steve Bell (Class of ’74) and Kevin McGuigan (Class of ’85) were both proud Upper Darby High School alumni. Decades earlier, wrestling had taken hold of their lives in the halls of Beverly Hills Middle School and Upper Darby High School and forged them into resilient men. It gave them grit, focus, and a sense of belonging that carried them through every challenge life would throw their way.

But as they talked about their old hometown that night, the mood shifted.

Wrestling in Upper Darby, a tradition stretching all the way back to 1933, was in trouble. The eastern part of the township had been underserved and under-resourced for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic had dealt a crushing blow. The Drexel Hill Raiders, a storied youth program that had introduced generations of kids to the sport, folded. The middle school programs had been forced to pause, and the high school team was struggling to offer off-season opportunities.

Steve and Kevin knew what happens when kids lose access to positive outlets. Without structure and mentorship, doors close. The socio-economic gap in the community was widening: families with resources could send their kids to elite private clubs, while local kids without those means were left sitting on the sidelines.

They couldn't let their hometown tradition fade away. What started as a conversation about raising a little funding quickly turned into a movement: They were going to build a brand-new youth wrestling association from scratch.

Building the Circle

Steve and Kevin officially founded the Upper Darby Wrestling Association (UDWA) as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, rallying a crew of passionate alumni and community leaders to join the board: Mat Chacko, Joel Edwards, Dennis Morgan, Zac Pierce, and former police officer James Reif, later joined by Regina Baker, Tommy DelRossi, Jim Knapp, Allison Mangan, and Sean McCormick.

They had a single, clear mission: Empower youth to build resilience and realize their potential through the sport of wrestling.

To make that real for the kids, they anchored everything around a simple word: GRIP.

  • Gratitude: Recognize every opportunity and appreciate the people in your corner.
  • Respect: Hold yourself, your peers, your opponents, and adults in high regard.
  • Integrity: Stand by your word and honor your commitments.
  • Perseverance: Keep pushing forward when things get tough.

Now, all they needed were kids, a gym, and a coach.

50 Kids and No Shoes

When registration opened for the 2022–23 season, the community spoke loud and clear. 50 kids signed up immediately. Every single one of them was in 4th through 8th grade, and every single one was a complete beginner.

Finding a place to train wasn't easy. Gym space was tight, and practices shuffled between Upper Darby High School and Drexel Hill Middle School. But while securing mat space was a struggle, finding elite leadership wasn't.

Mikey Wallace, a 2010 Upper Darby High School alumnus, didn't hesitate. He stepped up as head coach, bringing on dedicated coaches John Rush and Khaled Weston.

"For me, this organization isn’t just about wrestling," Coach Mikey says. "It's about helping these kids become better people. I want them to have a place where they feel like they belong, where they know somebody believes in them, and where they can grow both on and off the mat."

Many of these young athletes walked into the room without wrestling shoes or gear. The UDWA stepped up, funding shoes for dozens of middle schoolers and giving every single wrestler, from elementary to high school, their own official GRIP shirt.

The message to the kids was clear: You belong here, and we've got your back.

From Novices to Champions

What happened next blew everyone away.

That first group of 50 beginners grew larger and in their second season joined the Intercounty Wrestling League as a novice team. They learned how to tie up, how to shoot a double-leg, and how to bridge out of a pin. They worked hard, learned how to handle losing, and kept coming back to the mat.

By the end of their very first year in the league, these novice wrestlers won the Intercounty Wrestling League Championship.

The momentum grew like wildfire:

  • The Big Stage: The kids stepped into the national spotlight, competing against Beat the Streets Philadelphia at UPenn’s historic Palestra, the "House of Wrestling"
  • National Success: In 2026, the hard work yielded national glory when young Khaled Weston, Jr. became an Eastern National Champion.
  • Bringing Back Rivalries: UDWA revived the beloved Drexel Hill vs. Beverly Hills Middle School dual meets, restoring community pride.
  • Year-Round Support: They reactivated summer wrestling programs, subsidized elite camps for local athletes, and brought in national-caliber clinicians to teach local kids for free.
  • Giving Back: Off the mat, the young wrestlers rolled up their sleeves at Murphy’s Market, a local food bank, helping pack food for local families in need.

"Somebody Believes in Them"

Today, UDWA supports well over 100 youth, middle school, and high school athletes.

When President Steve Bell looks out across a packed practice room, he doesn't just see kids practicing takedowns, he sees the continuation of a legacy that shaped his own life when he was young.

“Wrestling taught me hard work, sacrifice, and discipline—qualities that extend beyond the sport and have served me well in every part of life,” Bell says. “It warms my heart to see these programs grow and to witness the positive energy they are creating throughout the community.”

Coach Mikey echoes that same passion every time he steps onto the mat to tie a young wrestler's shoes.

"I decided to become a wrestling coach because I'm going to teach them a lot; how to work hard, how to handle losing, how to get back up, and how to keep going when things get tough. Those are things they’re going to carry with them for the rest of their lives."

The Upper Darby Wrestling Association started with two alumni having lunch and asking, "What about the kids?" Today, it's a thriving family showing an entire township what happens when you give young people a chance, a support system, and a firm GRIP on their future.