Raising money for new Knott County Central wrestling mat in honor of Aaron Crawford a real possibility

Junior Aaron Crawford, right, was a football player and wrestler at Knott County who was helping flood victims when he had health issues and later passed away.

The death of 18-year-old Knott County Central High School junior Aaron “Mick” Crawford after he started feeling ill while shoveling mud and doing other work for eastern Kentucky flood victims has touched hearts across Kentucky.

Crawford hoped to be a starting offensive lineman on the football team this season. He also was one of those who helped convince athletics director Justin Amburgey to start a high school wrestling team last year.

“He really was a big part of his starting a wrestling program. He came up to me saying we needed to have a program. I didn’t even know who would coach but it turns out we had hired a guy (Jonathan Aldana) as a teacher who had wrestled at Belfry and then in college.”

It was too late for the school to order a new wrestling mat, so Knott purchased a mat that Lexington Christian had used for about one year — and had the LCA logo — with the idea that possibly this year the Board of Education would buy a new mat for the team with an estimated cost around $10,000.

Vaughtsviews.com contributor Keith Peel read about Crawford’s passing and his love for wrestling and had a thought.

“Do you know if there has been any kind of fundraising to buy a new wrestling mat for Knott County, maybe with Aaron’s name on it? I know I’d be happy to contribute,” Peel wondered.

What a great idea? I have a feeling others would be willing to help as well to not only honor Crawford but help his teammates since the LCA mat was lost in the flood.

“We would certainly be interested in some help there,” Amburgey said. “I think it would be awesome if we had our own mat and in the corner honored him (Crawford). I know our wrestling coach would feel the same way.”

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If you would have any interest in donating, reach out to me here and I will contact Amburgey but he also plans to let me know when a definite fundraising plan/goal is in place.