JCWC History
đź“ŤJunction City, Kansas đź“… September 8, 2025
The history of the Junction City Wrestling Club begins in the spring of 1968. That year, Garland Edmonson, a graduate of Junction City High School, started the first wrestling club in town. Edmonson was already a trailblazer in the sport. He was the first state champion from Junction City High School and the first Black state champion in Kansas.
Edmonson was joined by two JCHS wrestlers, Grover Edie, a senior, and Don Stevens, a junior. Together, they coached about 20 young athletes at the Junction City YMCA. That same year, the team competed in the State Tournament at Kansas State University.
In 1969, Junction City High School wrestling coach Ben Bennett took over the program. He set up a new system through the YMCA where each school in the city had a team. Two JCHS wrestlers and a parent from the PTA coached the teams for about three weeks, and then a tournament was held at the high school. The top two wrestlers in each weight class were invited to practice at the YMCA and later compete in the State Tournament at Kansas State University.
Between 1969 and 1972, the Junction City Wrestling Club was formally established. It came under the direction of head coach Billy Upham, who guided the program into the early 1980s. Under his tenure, the club became a recognized and enduring fixture in the community.
In 1987, the organization underwent a name change, becoming the Geary County Grapplers, with Jim Lindsley serving as head coach. During the 1980s, the club typically fielded between 20 and 30 wrestlers each season, maintaining a steady presence in local youth athletics.
The modern era of the club began in 2007, when the name was restored to the Junction City Wrestling Club. The team is now proudly known as the “Wrecking Crew,” a name that represents its toughness, dedication, and tradition of excellence.
Today, the Junction City Wrestling Club continues to thrive, serving between 80 and 100 wrestlers each year. Over the course of its history, the club has produced more than 60 state champions, building on the foundation laid in 1968. With its strong tradition and commitment to developing athletes, the club remains a vital part of the Junction City community and the sport of wrestling in Kansas.