NORFOLK, Va. — Bubba Ashley has been one of the main reasons for the resurgence of wrestling at Granby High School. At 132 pounds, He's led the comets back to the top of the Eastern District and he's only a freshman. "I try to hype everybody up and keep them calm when they're on the mat, he says. "I tell them to go out there and wrestle your best." First year head coach, Caleb Richardson says he's amazed at his advanced abilities. "He has a great feel and flow for the sport. He's a performer too and I think you know, he's good in the practice room of course. He's a good wrestler, but he really brings his level up when it when the lights come on."
As Ashley has tried to develop his wrestling skills, he's also grappled with cooking for the past few years. He feels the two go hand in hand in his drive to be a better athlete. "If I eat healthier I'm able to perform to the best of my ability." Richardson understands how the sport has changed over the past three decades. "Nutrition is a huge part of the sport. We've come a long way since the '80's, 90's earlier 2000's. That's part of the reason why the sport keeps evolving."
For example, Ashley says he eats up to 5 ounces of chicken a long with 1 1/2 gallons of water everyday. "It was very hard at the beginning, but it gets easier over time. So it's more to the point where it's I'm doing something in my regular life. It's just something I'm use to."