The wrestling career of Nate Carr Jr. is one that includes a 2007 National Junior College Championship, two years as a wrestler at Iowa State where he collected freestyle All-America honors prior to a coaching career that has taken him to where he is today as an assistant coach at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.
But before his wrestling journey took him to the midwest and now the east coast, it began in Gray where he was a three-time state champion for the Greyhounds with a 210-2 record
Last weekend, Carr was back home at a place that served as a key launching point for his wrestling career – Jones County High School.
“I have a lot of great stories and memories here. I remember on Fridays wearing our jerseys before football games, having pep rallies and slamming the mascot and all the fun things and obviously graduating and being a letter-winner in football and wrestling,” Carr said. “I’ve got some really good memories. It’s great to give back to the sport that has given me so much.”
Carr was back in town for a two-day camp on Friday and Saturday, working with wrestlers from the Greyhounds program and six other teams that also brought wrestlers to town for the opportunity to work with an acclaimed wrestler and coach.
“It’s my hometown. I grew up here, was raised here and went to high school here. My dad started a church here from the ground up. There’s a lot of good people here,” Carr said. “The county has done an amazing job with the football field, weight room and wrestling room, we didn’t have a wrestling room growing up. They are really supporting wrestling, so I’m glad to support them.”
Carr being in town came together after this past wrestling season after Greyhounds head wrestling coach had Carr speak to the team via a zoom session. The opportunity to have Carr in Gray to offer his expertise to local wrestlers was an easy opportunity to pursue. The Greyhounds will return the favor in a way next month when they travel to Pennsylvania for a camp hosted by Lock Haven.
“Nate walks in with so much respect. Not only has he done it as a wrestler, but he has also done it as a three-time state champion here,” Greyhounds head coach Adam Gillhouse said. “Not only is he coaching, but he is coaching at a D1 college program. To have him here to say, ‘hey, I did it here and if you keep working hard,’ it’s huge for our guys to see that it’s not unattainable for them to reach the next level.”
Wrestling or not, there’s one thing that Carr hopes that all camp participants take with them following last weekend.
“I consider myself a professional encourager,” Carr said. “Whatever it is you want to be successful in, your job, your studies, in sports, I want to encourage you to never give up and outwork those in your field.”
JCHS Wrestling Camp
June 21-23, 9 a.m. to noon Ages 5-14 $75 per person Registration Info: JCHSGreyhoundsWrestling.com
