Students take to mats for wrestling
Campus Times
October 23, 1998
An informal organization of wrestling enthusiasts at ULV hosted the
World Wrestling Rage Association (WWRA) exhibition matches Tuesday. Referee
Stephen Brame, a senior, called a victory for "The Chameleon,"
former student Jeremy Taylor, who won over "D.D.D.," senior Sean
Douglas in a three-second countdown as "Big Daddy J," senior James
Cumberland, got knocked out of the ring. Taylor and Douglas are each members
of three-man teams. About 15 participants wrestle on a monthly basis. The
WWRA hopes to establish a connection with a wrestling school in San Bernardino,
which will allow them to use the school's ring. The group began the competitions
last spring.
Showing off their jumps, flips, tumbles and other acrobatic abilities,
about 15 students from the University of La Verne unite weekly to participate
in or witness the World Wrestling Rage Association (WWRA).
The WWRA features everything from televisors, announcers, wrestling
figures, team managers and a valet in its rendition of mock wrestling matches.
It is held in the exercise area of the Supertents.
Former ULV student Jeremy Taylor, a junior communications major, has
been involved in the association since its birth early last year. As one
of the founders of the group, Taylor said the idea began when he and his
friends "always watched WWF [World Wrestling Federation] and WCW [World
Championship Wrestling], and tried to come up with a wrestling thing"
for themselves.
Similar to the WWF and WCW organizations, the victor of each WWRA match
is predetermined by a flip of a coin. Likewise, each character in ULV's
wrestling association is recognized by his special techniques and/or skills.
For example, Taylor is nicknamed "The Chameleon" he says because
of his versatility and ability to adapt to his opponent's moves. Taylor
said that, like his character, he "can beat anybody with any move."
"The move that I use to beat people is 'buzzsaw,'" said Taylor.
"It's a standing somersault where I land with my leg on top of the
[opponent's] throat area."
Taylor and 1998 ULV alumnus Lawrence Reyes participate as a duo. Though
both Taylor and Lawrence are not students at the University, they return
as often as necessary to take part in the wrestling events.
In addition to the duo rounds, WWRA features singles rounds, as well
as an occasional Battle Royale, by which all the wrestlers join in the ring
and battle one another until only one man is left standing. This particular
event is an "every man for himself" situation in which even duo
team members can fight each other.
The winner in last year's Battle Royale was junior David Edmond.
Edmond is best recognized for his all-black spandex attire, by which
he prefers to be recognized as "The Monkey" for several reasons.
"I think my character is a comic relief because it is funny, but
at the same time athletic," he said. "I am not as big as some
of the wrestlers, but the whole thing about 'The Monkey' is to taunt.
"I do everything like a monkey as if I was a man raised by monkeys."
Like Taylor, Edmond has a special wrestling technique of his own. The
"Monkey Mangler," as it is called, is a submission hold to subdue
the opponent. Edmond said that this move has been successful in the past,
but this year he will introduce his new move -- what he calls the "Banana
Split."
Though these events seem to be personal interest activities, they are,
in fact, part of television projects for students studying the area of broadcasting.
The equipment needed to televise the events is provided to students by the
University's Communications Department. All cameras, lights and microphones
are used with permission for project purposes only.
Junior Landus Rigsby, a broadcast major, said, "We check it out
and use the equipment within the television department. There is no way
we would be able to use it just because."
Senior Ryan Sones, junior Greg MacDonald and Rigsby are the three announcers.
As one of three, Rigsby is involved in producing the storyline, in addition
to setting up and planning the event.
Though battles for the WWRA are primarily staged, injuries or accidents
cannot be predicted. However, both Taylor and Edmond agree that injuries
are not common because no one takes the rounds seriously.
Taylor said that "everybody's in it for fun and it's a physical
version of role-playing, a little more extensive, but nobody gets hurt."
"It gives me a chance to just relax and have fun with my friends,"
said Edmond. "It brings [me] back to the days when me and my friends
used to play-fight."
Rigsby said, "I consider myself one of the biggest wrestling fans.
I've watched it since I was young and it's just grown on me."
"It is life imitating art," said Taylor, "and just an
escape from the normal pressures of studying and being a student on campus."
