Wrestling is a Heavyweight in the Next Bobby Bell Awards

Wrestling is a Heavyweight in the Next Bobby Bell Awards

Three Wrestling Recipients

By Donna McCoy

The upcoming Bobby Bell Awards on Saturday, September 15, 2018 in M’Cann Gym will be represented by the wrestling community. Coach Tom Koenig is known for his back to back State Champion wrestling teams. The first one in 1975, known as the best wrestling team in Bloom’s history, was sweetened by 2 individual State Champions(Robert Fleming and Keith Hulbert) and Coach Koenig being named Wrestling Coach of the Year by the Illinois Wrestling Association. He is coming back to Bloom from Georgia to receive his award after teaching at Bloom for 12 years and making history for the Bloom wrestling program and touching many students in the process.

Joining him is one of his athletes from the State Championship team, Walter Futrell. Walter placed 2nd in 1976 at the State meet. For his Senior year, Walter had a choice of graduating from Bloom or transferring to the newly opened sister school Bloom Trail. Walter chose to go to Trail where he became the first ever Bloom Trail State Champion. Walter is currently a Pastor and works with youth to start them young learning the basic techniques of wrestling. He also passed on his talents to his son B.J. Futrell who was a two-time State Champion and twice All-American.

Last, but not least, you may get an opportunity to interact with Tom “The Big Cat” Erikson, Bloom wrestler graduating in 1982 and becoming NJCAA Collegiate Champion twice and twice NCAA Division I Collegiate All-American wrestler. He took up mixed martial arts and joined the MMA in 1996. He then coached wrestling at Purdue University and Lyons College in Arkansas. Erikson, along with Futrell, has come back to Bloom during the Bloom Alumni Athletic Association summer camp to mentor and teach future Bloom Township athletes.

All honorees will be accepting their awards for dedication and passion for Bloom and their sport, “giving back" to the youth and going on to successful lives. Come join us to relive some of Bloom’s greatest stories. Just one week left to buy your ticket. Doors open at 5:15, dinner at 6 and the program starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50.00. Write checks out to Bloom Trojan Nation; mail to the Bloom Archives 101 W. 10th Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411. All proceeds go to the youth summer camps sponsored by the BAAA.

For more information call 708 755-1122 ext. 2103 or ask for the Archives.