- Wednesday, November 8, 2023
The Higher Calling Youth Wrestling Club received a $17,500 donation from the Allan Jones Foundation. Pictured, from left, are Higher Calling Youth Wrestling Club Head Coach Josh Bosken and Bailey Jones, Vice President of Development and Web Marketing for Check Into Cash. ? ?
The Higher Calling Youth Wrestling Club of Cleveland continues to raise funding at a record setting pace and recently celebrated a large financial contribution from the Allan Jones Foundation.
Josh Bosken, head coach of Higher Calling, announced that his club received a check from the Jones Foundation for $17,500. The donation was a match to funds the club raised earlier this year.
“We fund raise constantly and as a result, we are the best-funded kids wrestling club in the United States,” said Bosken. “Thanks to the Allan Jones Foundation and others who step up to help these kids, we are celebrating the end of a great year.”
Higher Calling is a wrestling program that gives young wrestlers of all skill levels, grades K through 8, a chance to learn the essentials of practice and competition. The goal of the program is to train and maintain the highest-quality athletes to help continue the finest wrestling program in Tennessee.
The Foundation requires the club’s members to earn money themselves, which is later matched dollar-for-dollar, said Bailey Jones, Vice President of Development and Web Marketing for Check Into Cash. The Foundation is also the largest donor to the kids’ club of Cleveland’s crosstown rival Bradley Central.
“Our donation to Higher Calling along with the club’s own fundraising efforts, make it the highest funded kids club in the county,” said Mr. Jones. “We give the club the challenge to raise money on their own and we are always ready to double what they raise.”
Businessman Jones said Bosken is the primary the reason that Cleveland won state championships in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and again this year when the boys made history with a TSSAA record of six state wrestling championships in a row. Cleveland was also the first school nationwide to win both boys and girls state championships in wrestling.
Bosken also announced this week that on Nov. 20 at 10 a.m., the Cleveland wrestling program – along with Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks – will host its first-ever “Media Day,” to celebrate the the beginning of the TSSAA Wrestling State Champions season.
Cleveland Blue Raiders, led by NHSCA National Champion Logan Fowler, have won the TSSAA State Championship the last six years and are looking to break the state’s all time record for consecutive State Championships, Bosken said.
“The Lady Raider Wrestling team, led by World Champion Piper Fowler, are also the returning State Champions and are looking to repeat in 2024,” Bosken said. “Media Day is an exciting opportunity to meet our champions and cover their record breaking journey.”
Members of the media will have the chance to interview talented student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. Hear their stories and insights into what it took to become State, National, and World Champions.
“We believe that this Media Day event provides an excellent platform for highlighting the dedication, hard work, and intensity of our student-athletes,” said Bosken. “Coverage from the media will not only honor their achievements but also inspire and motivate young athletes in our community.”
For more information, contact Bosken at JBosken@clevelandschools.org or call (513) 646-4435.
