Grundy man named Official of the Year by National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Virginia Chapter
GRUNDY, Va. (WJHL) — The Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has named Grundy’s Mike Elswick the Official of the Year.
A social media post by the organization said Elswick was a state qualifier in his wrestling days and a Grundy alumnus of 1994. He’s been officiating on the mats for 24 years and counting.
As told by Elswick’s wife Samantha, his love of wrestling began when he was 12 at Harman Elementary School in Buchanan County.
Elswick listened to wrestling matches on the radio as a kid and went on to wrestle for Grundy High School, seeing great success.
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“He was a state qualifier for the same VA State Tournament that he would later officiate at the Salem Civic Center in front of about five thousand people,” his wife, Samantha told News Channel 11.
Elswick then attended Emory & Henry College and eventually joined the Grundy Wrestling Club in 1997 under Coach Kevin Dresser. While at Emory, Elswick learned about the Appalachian Officials Association and was taken under the wing of its then-Commissioner Moe Weaver.
The rest was history, as Elsewick went on to have a successful career officiating regional wrestling matches for students of all ages. Along with his current job, Elswick mentors youth wrestlers and serves as an executive board member of the Southwest Virginia Wrestling Officials Association.
Since 2020, Elswick has been the Voice of Grundy Golden Wave Wrestling radio and its online broadcasting, where he creates content and reports on Grundy High School Wrestling. He also works as a workforce specialist with SWVA Works, helping adults in Buchanan County find career paths and career development.
Elswick’s wife Samantha told News Channel 11 she’s constantly in awe of the many paths Mike has crossed in and out of wrestling.
“He never misses a chance to talk about wrestling,” she said. “When we go out in public, it’s difficult to get away because people know him and people want to stop and talk. It is comical, people call me ‘Mike’s wife’ or ‘Mrs. Elswick’ instead of Samantha. I love it though. I always giggle.”
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