The wrestling community is a close knit family, with a strong bond of respect and loyalty. Few things get wrestlers more motivated than when one of their own is in trouble.

Mike Fusilli, a former Freestyle Team USA member and college wrestling coach, is on a mission to assist a wrestling friend in need. He has organized a fundraising project to raise money for a very good cause.

Five weeks ago, Sherwood Fendryk, a Div. I wrestler who is a 2006 graduate from Sacred Heart University, was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in his home community in upstate New York. As a result of the injuries suffered in the accident, Fendryk has gone through a series of operations, which has resulted in the amputation of his left leg below his knee.

Fendryk is undergoing a challenging recovery and rehabilitation because of the severity of his injuries. In addition, he is facing the financial burden of his extended hospitalization and medical needs. A recent college graduate, he unfortunately does not have medical insurance. 

Mike Fusilli is doing something to help.

Fusilli, a star wrestler at Ithaca College and the former head wrestling coach at Binghamton Univ., knows Sherwood Fendryk very well. While coaching at Binghamton, Fusilli tried to recruit Fendryk, who was a state high school champion in New York prior to going to Sacred Heart. Even more personally, Fendryk is also a close friend of Fusilli's daughter and has become well known within his family.

"He is an outstanding young man. If my kids grew up to be the kind of person he is, I would be very happy. He is generous, kind and thoughtful. He is the All-American kid," said Fusilli.

Fusilli says that he wants to help Fendryk deal with the financial hardship he now faces, to allow him to concentrate on his recovery. 

He is doing a fundraising walk from on September 15 from Ithaca, N.Y. to Binghamton, N.Y. to raise money for Fendryk's medical expenses. This is a distance of 50 miles. Fusilli is actively seeking per-mile pledges or a donation for this project, with all funds going directly to Sherwood Fendryk's medical costs.

"If I had the resources, I would do more for him myself," said Fusilli. "This is the least I can do for him for what he has done for my family, and for the kind of person he is."

Fusilli's walk is gaining support from a variety of sources, including from 1984 Olympic Greco-Roman champion Jeff Blatnick, an upstate New York wrestling legend. Blatnick has made a commitment to walk with Fusilli that day to help promote the fundraising effort. 

Blatnick, who attended the same high school as Fendryk's college coach Andy Seras, got to know Fendryk when he went to Sacred Heart to train with the team's heavyweight, 2006 NCAA All-American Payam Zarrinpour.

"Jeff got to know Sherwood when he went to down to Sacred Heart to help Andy Seras train with Payam," said Fusilli. "Jeff has also been working with the New York state freestyle and Greco-Roman team, which trains here in Johnson City. He is developing a relationship with the wrestling community in this part of the state. In addition, he told me that he lost a brother to a motorcycle accident. Jeff is very busy with work and his family, but he worked it out that he can come and take part," said Fusilli.

Others within wrestling will also be walking a portion of the route that day to support the cause. Marty Wyckoff, a Div. III All-American from Binghamton, who set the record for the most Empire State Games wrestling medals, will join in on the walk. Marty Nichols, the wrestling coach at Ithaca College, will walk alongside Fusilli. Others who know Fendryk's family from the local community have also signed up to put on their sneakers and walk on Sherwood's behalf that day.

"There are 10-12 people who have agreed to walk with me," said Fusilli. "It is nice to see this outpouring of direct support for the walk. They want to be out there, hitting the pavement as well."

Fusilli, who has visited Fendryk numerous times each week since the accident, has the support of his family for this fundraiser.

"He has been very appreciative," said Fusilli. "Being the unselfish person that he is, he said not to let this project affect my life. He would say something like that."

So far, over $1,000 in cash has already come in, a good start for the project but still just a small dent in the medical expenses accrued so far.

"My goal is to raise over $5,000 for Sherwood. With Jeff Blatnick on board and all the other support, I believe it will be easier to hit that mark. The $1,000 we have raised so far does not include the pledges made for the walk. I won't count that until the money actually comes in. Every day, a little bit more comes in for the effort," said Fusilli. 

Sherwood has been very determined and is making progress in his recovery, according to Fusilli. He credits Fendryk's personal character as well as the lessons that he learned from his successful wrestling career. Fusilli says that he has been doing pushups in his bed and has been working out hard in the gym in the hospital where he is undergoing physical therapy. 

His most recent surgery was earlier this week, a skin graft from thigh which was used to cover the wounds from the amputation. The family has been told that Fendryk, who is getting around with a wheelchair at this time, may be released from the hospital by September 7.

"He is intent on getting better fast," said Fusilli. "He does what he can to improve quickly and get out of the hospital. He wants to be independent."

In addition to financial support, Fusilli says that many encouraging emails have been sent to Sherwood, which he reads every few days. One of those emails tells the kind of support that wrestlers are willing to offer to a brother who is having challenges.

"One came from a 2003 West Point graduate who wrestled and is in Iraq right now. He pledged $200. He is an avid motorcycle rider. He had four friends in Iraq who lost limbs. He is in Iraq battling the war for us. But he has the time, energy and will to make a pledge. It is that kind of people in our sport who would do something like this," said Fusilli.

Those who seek more information or wish to make pledges can email to:
SherwoodFendrykBenefit@yahoo.com

To make a donation, send checks payable to Sherwood Fendryk to the following address:
Sherwood Fendryk Benefit
c/o 452 East Main Street
Johnson City, NY  13790