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Dinner Keeps Wrestling Club Going Strong
BBQ
Getting the bottles of barbecue sauce ready to place on the individual tables at the Escalon Community Center were eighth grade helpers Madelyn Page, left, and Mya Scott. Their dads coach with the Escalon Wrestling Club.Times Photos By Marg Jackson

Saturday evening featured a major fundraising event for the local Escalon Wrestling Club and EWC President/head coach Derek Scott said the community turned out by the hundreds to support it.

Staged at the Escalon Community Center, the 12th annual rib and oyster barbecue dinner saw roughly 350 people come to eat in or take out. Those that stayed to eat in also enjoyed live music following dinner. All could take a look at the wide variety of raffle and silent auction items.

“We did really good,” said Scott. “It has grown every year.”

Scott has been overseeing the rib and oyster dinner for the past eight years and said he was extremely pleased this year with the support, not only from the community, but those working to put on the dinner.

“The fun part for me, we have four or five people that come back and help us, their kids haven’t wrestled in years, but they keep coming back to help us, that part is how I know we are doing something right,” Scott said. “Everybody gets so busy, this gives a chance to see each other and catch up.”

Along with the headlining barbecued ribs and oysters, diners enjoyed baked potatoes, salad, beverages and more, with the prep work starting several hours in advance of the dinner being served.

Some 400 pounds of ribs and 32 bags of oysters made sure no one went away hungry.

Several people also went home as winners, making successful bids on such items as four packs of San Francisco Giants tickets, a weekend at Black Oak, autographed photos of athletes and more.

Scott said he didn’t have final numbers yet, but felt they did very well with the fundraiser overall.

“We had two barbecues going,” Scott added of cooking up the items outside the Community Center. “Over half the people that come (to eat) aren’t wrestling people, we make it a fun party and they keep coming back.”