COLUMN By DICK VanOLINDA The York Dispatch
Keith Warehime traveled to Iowa last summer to compete in a wrestling tournament.
He also wrestled in the Keystone State Games.
Nothing too unusual about the two trips. Lots of wrestlers travel to competitions on a regular basis.
What’s unique about Warehime’s involvement in a sport — that’s never been confused with a lifetime one — is that he’s 45 years old. “I’ve always loved wrestling, “said the Littlestown resident, who couldn’t find anyone his age to wrestle at the Keystone Games. So he had to take on two 20-something guys.
“The one-on-one physical aspect of the sport appeals to me, “Warehime said, “plus I feel the dedication I learned while wrestling in high school, I’ve been able to carry over into my job and other things I do.”
When Warehime isn’t mixing it up on the mat, he stays connected to his favorite sport with his own Web site. YAIAAwrestling.com will turn five years old on Jan. 18. The site is a nuts-and-bolts one. It features individual rankings, results, photos and links.
“I’ve tried to keep the site as simple as I can, and just try to keep adding to it. I’ve never really searched for advertisers, “Warehime said.
As much as he enjoys wrestling, it isn’t Warehime’s life. He earns a paycheck at C-Span in Washington, D.C. Warehime leaves home at 5:15 a.m. every day and usually arrives back home around 5:30 p.m. He usually updates the wrestling site on the weekend.
“A lot of people have helped me over the last five years, “Warehime said. “If it weren’t for Don Lehman from West York, I wouldn’t have been able to obtain half the scores from the York area.
“Scott Tucker from Dallastown is someone else who’s helped me. I don’t put stuff out that says I’m an expert. I’m just one guy out there. ”
One guy who attends as many wrestling matches and tournaments as he can.
“I use some of the time I’ve accumulated at work to attend the district, regional and state tournaments. During the season, I try to see every team at least once.”
Warehime was a three-sport athlete at Littlestown High School (football, wrestling and track). His two stepsons also wrestled for the Thunderbolts.
“The fact that they were wrestling had something to do with me getting into a site, but, actually, the idea intrigued me as far back as 1996, when the World Wide Web was just starting to take off, “Warehime said. He plans to keep the site going, but he always welcomes assistance.
“I can’t do it all by myself. That would be unfair to everyone I live with, “he said. “But I’m really glad I got into doing a site. I’ve had a chance to get to know so many parents and kids from different areas. To me, high school sports are the purest of all sports. If my site gives kids recognition, that’s great.”
Dick VanOlinda covers high school sports for The York Dispatch. He can be reached at dvanolin [email protected] or at 505-5407.
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