Gable Connors Memorial Tournament hopes to pin suicide

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Maysville head wrestling coach Shawn Connors is turning a tragic life event into something that can raise awareness about the tenth leading cause of death in the United States.

It was almost five years ago that Shawn’s son Gable took his life. Last year Shawn started the Gable Connors Memorial Scholarship Wrestling Tournament to let anyone struggling know that they are not alone.

“We’re trying to raise awareness to let kids know that no matter what there is always someone that’s there to talk to them,” said Connors.

Connor’s said he was happy with the turnout last year at the inaugural tournament and this year they did even better. 180 wrestlers from three different states and athletes in age groups from kindergarten to college. In addition to the wrestling competition, a guest speaker spoke about the reality of suicide and a college scholarship was awarded to Muskingum University’s Tanner Walker.

Many people who were at the wrestling tournament have dealt with the pain of losing a loved one to suicide. Including OHSAA official Chris Minick who lost his father to suicide. When Minick heard about the tournament he volunteered to come from northeast Ohio to Zanesville to officiate.

“There’s a huge stigma in our society that’s attached to mental illness. If your arm is broken you go get a cast. But for some reason we shy away from something going on in your mind because we see it as a weakness,” said Minick.

Connors said that they plan on holding their tournament again in 2018.