Kanyi & Fatty fighting for final to state Wrestling championship
Gambian kids are beginning to make a mark in US sports; from soccer, basketball, football, track and field and now wrestling among other sports, children of Gambian immigrants are excelling in many fronts. Although Gambians are relatively new immigrants to the United States compared to other nationals they are beginning to make good headlines in many fronts. Already there are several Gambians playing in the National Major league soccer, many Children are now entering college and high school playing these sports at a very promising level… Below is an inspiring story of local kids in Washington state who are involved in high school wrestling. The two kids featured by Everett Herald’s contributing writer Brian Adamowsky tell of an interesting story of young Gambian kids who are competing in the same sports with unique background from the Gambia.. below is a synopsis of Brian’s brilliant story..
EDMONDS — At the 2014 3A Region I wrestling tournament, Edmonds-Woodway teammates Sidat Kanyi and Ebrima Fatty, then sophomores, squared off in the consolation bracket at 106 pounds. Teammates, longtime training partners and friends, Kanyi and Fatty were now opponents in a match with the fulfillment of an improbable dream at stake.
The winner would advance to the state tournament. The loser’s season would end.
Kanyi and Fatty took different routes to get to the center of the mat that day, but their journeys started in the same place. The Gambia is the smallest country on the mainland of Africa and at 4,363 square miles, it’s roughly twice the size of Snohomish County, to which the families of Fatty and Kanyi immigrated in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
The Fatty and Kanyi families’ moves to Edmonds were part of a migration of Gambians to the greater Puget Sound area since the early 1990s, as people sought refuge from the political instability of their homeland. For more onn this inspiring story please visit the Everett Herald (http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160131/SPORTS01/160139890)