UNION COUNTY, N.C. -- The wrestling team at Monroe High School is made up of fighters but the wrestlers battles aren't just fought on the mats.

“It is a sport that the kids have to provide most of their own gear," says Monroe Athletic Director Tim Niedermeier.

Affording the supplies can sometimes be tough. Coach Charles Johnson often spends his own money on players equipment. Recently, in a search for some old shoes, he called the coach of a competing team.

"He asked me if I could get all my wrestlers at the end of the season and bring in their used wrestling shoes,” says Marvin Ridge High School wrestling coach Troy Spencer. Marvin Ridge's wrestling team usually beats Monroe. The supplies are also easier to come by. It's why Spencer had a mixed reaction to Johnson's request.

“I didn't feel right about making them buy old shoes,” Spencer says. This month Spencer and a couple of his players surprised Johnson and his players with 40 pairs of shoes. The team had raised $1,400. The shoes weren't only a donation they were almost all brand new.

“I was in shock,” says Monroe junior Amir Joseph. Wrestlers on both teams say it was sort of a wake up call.

“Seeing them and how much it meant to them, it kind of made me realize to help people out in the community, you don't really need to do something super complicated, you just need to do a simple gesture,” says Marvin Ridge senior Dheeraj Pannem.

The goal of wrestling may be to bring down your opponent, but when your rival is looking out for you off the mats, who comes out on top just doesn't seem as important.

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