Days after a fire destroyed a wrestling facility at Blackman Middle School, wrestlers set their sights on fundraising in order to help the school system rebuild.
"You don't really understand all the time you've put in there until it's gone, " said wrestler Brooks Sacharczyk. "Then you just can't believe it."
Fire officials said the fire sparked near an exhaust fan inside the building late Sunday night. By the time the flames and smoke were under control, the building was a total loss.
The facility served as a practice space and housed equipment for wrestlers of all ages, including elementary, middle school, and high school teams.
"It’s just a bunch of memories that are burned up in that building," said Blackman High School Wrestling Captain, Landon Fowle.
"I’ve been wrestling there since I was five. My dad coached here. My grandpa coaches here. My uncle coaches here. Just a bunch of time and memories that are gone," said Fowle.
To help, wrestlers launched a gofundme account, aiming to raise $100,000 to help the school rebuild. They hope to launch a t-shirt fundraiser as well.
In the meantime, wrestlers said area schools have offered them temporary practice spaces.
