Not everyone can say they’ve trained with a world champion, but about 30 Lexington County youth wrestlers can.

Two-time NCAA and former U20 World Champion David Carr visited town to be a guest instructor at the Mighty Warriors Wrestling Academy clinic at River Bluff High School. 

 ”The point of bringing in a high-level wrestler is for the kids, so that they can get exposure to somebody that they look up to. Somebody that they aspire to get those same accomplishments,” said Kevin Emily, owner and head coach of Mighty Warriors Wrestling. “Then also to learn some new technique that they don't know, that I'm not able to show them or just get a different look, a different angle.”

Emily has hosted many clinics throughout the years, including one last year with Olympic silver medalist Jamill Kelly. 

By introducing his wrestlers to someone who has achieved great success, he hopes to inspire hard work and ambition in them.

“ It's good inspiration too. Anytime you put on a clinic or a camp, you want the kids to take something away from it.” Emily said. 

The group consisted of a wide range of wrestlers aged five to 18 years old. The clinic ran from  9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as the wrestlers worked on set-ups, defense, takedowns, warm-up drills and more. 

Carr led the group through drills they had never done before and taught them the techniques that put him at the top of his game. 

While this was the first time Carr taught at one of Emily’s clinics, it was not the first time the two met. 

Emily is a long-time friend of Carr’s father, three-time NCAA champion and Olympic bronze medalist Nate Carr. Emily first met David while coaching at a wrestling camp in Chattanooga. 

“ I looked at him and I asked him, I said, ‘Hey, man, are you gonna wrestle? Are you gonna follow in your brother's footsteps?’ And he looked at me, he was playing with a little truck and he goes, ‘Nope,’” Emily said. “I was like ‘okay.’ Fast forward, Nate's done four of my camps, and I just thought that this time with David on the rise, he's a hot ticket.”

David was a hit with the kids. Many were star-struck and stuck around after the clinic to get photos and autographs. Emily praised Carr's teaching skills and positive interactions with the group. 

“ David Carr was so humble, always smiling, always playing with the little kids. He's the real deal,” Emily said. 

Carr is still carving out a highly successful wrestling career post-college. He recently earned a spot on the World Championship team after winning Final X. He will travel to Croatia in September for the event. 

While Carr’s story is still being written, Emily acknowledged there is still a lot to learn from his journey so far. He wants the kids to have picked up on that too. 

 ”If you don't win, don't give up and say it's all for nothing because that's not why you should wrestle. You shouldn't wrestle to win every tournament. You should wrestle to do your best, and that's what he said,” Emily said. “ No matter how old you are, you have to learn to persevere. Wrestling is about more than wrestling. Wrestling is about teaching life lessons and that's what David did.”