MANSFIELD — An athlete can’t wrestle without the appropriate shoes.
Jesse Palser, a 2015 Mansfield Senior graduate and now wrestling coach for his alma mater, had his heart break recently after one of his younger athletes was declared ineligible at a meet for not having proper shoes.
“I didn’t want that to happen to anyone,” Palmer said. “Especially not one of my kids.”
On Dec. 15, the 24-year-old decided to start a project to avoid that very scenario.
His North Central Ohio Wrestling Shoe Drive is looking for donations of wrestling shoes for those who don’t have them.
“When I started wrestling, I had someone give me shoes,” he said. “Wrestling saved my life. And I want to pass on the favor.
After graduation in 2015, Palser continued wrestling for Lake Erie College.
“I have a learning disability, and it made me not like school a whole lot,” he said. “Learning is hard. I was a rebel. Wrestling helped me stay on task. It was something to look forward to every day.”
Palser said the shoe drive’s goal is to help locate shoes for those in need. He hopes he’ll be able to have a bank of shoes soon to help those who reach out to him.
Palser said he has already had a few pairs dropped off by local businesses.
Those interested in donating shoes are asked to send the shoes to his P.O. Box 801 in Mansfield 44901.
